Depending on genetic factors, body fat may tend to gather around your waist and midsection, particularly as you grow older. You can't spot reduce or eliminate that fat with abdominal and core exercises alone, but if you couple those exercises with regular aerobics, you'll likely be able to carve out a slimmer, toned waist and tummy.
Russian Twists
You need to work out your obliques if you want to sculpt your waist, and the Russian twist is one sure way to do that. For a beginner version, sit on the floor with your knees slightly bent and heels on the ground. Bend your elbows at your sides and keep your hands in front of you, clasped together. As you breathe out, turn to your left, originating the motion from your abs. Twist as far as you can go, pause, return to center and twist to the other side. To make the movement more difficult, hold a dumbbell or a weighted medicine ball while you do it.
Crunch Variations
A basic crunch works your transverse abdominis and rectus abdominis, but crunch variations also work the obliques and inner core muscles. Try a reverse crunch or a double crunch before building up to more difficult exercises, such as the bicycle crunch. To do it, lie on your back with knees bent at about 90-degrees, feet in the air and fingertips behind your ears. Keep your eyes on the ceiling and your neck neutral. As you exhale, draw in your left knee and twist to your left, bringing your right elbow toward your knee. Pause, return to start and twist to the other side.
Standing Crunches
Although it's most common to do crunch work on the ground, you can effectively target your oblique muscles and your waist area by doing standing variations. Start with a knee twist. To do it, put your weight on your left foot and tap your right foot out to the side. Hold your arms up with elbows bent. As you breathe out, lift your right knee over to the left and twist your torso to the right, moving from the abs. Return to center, lightly tap your foot back to the ground and do several more reps before moving to the other side.
Plank Work
The basic plank pose works stabilizing muscles as well as abdominals and obliques. More vigorous plank work that involves dynamic movement can bring about quicker changes in the body, however. Try plank jacks, a form of plyometrics. Washington State University defines plyometrics as exercises that allow muscles "to reach maximum force in the shortest possible time." Begin in plank position, with your hands directly under your shoulders and your body elevated and in a straight line from shoulders to heels. Bracing your abs and lower back, quickly jump your feet outward in a jumping jack motion and then quickly jump them back in. Repeat the motion for 30 seconds or as long as you can.
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