Aerobic Exercises For Your Stomach

If you notice a jiggle above your jeans or a tightening across your T-shirt, it may be time to battle the belly. Flattening a flabby belly requires a balanced low-fat diet, targeted abdominal exercises and regular aerobic workouts. Aerobic routines enhance and sculpt your midsection by burning the layer of fat that covers your abs, thus shrinking love handles and creating a leaner, toned tummy.

Jumping Rope

Jumping rope is not just a schoolyard pastime. For the busy person on a budget, jumping rope offers an inexpensive and intense aerobic workout. The Mayo Clinic reports that a 160 lb. person can expect to burn 730 calories per hour. Not only does jumping rope burn lots of calories, but it also provides body-shaping benefits by firming and strengthening calf, thigh and abdominal muscles.

Choose a rope with swivel handles and make sure you have plenty of space. Jump with both feet, with no hops between jumps. Keep your back straight, elbows at your sides and swing with your wrists. Beginners can start out with five 60-second intervals, marching in place between intervals. Intermediate and advanced level jumpers can alternate between two or three minute sessions of one- and two-footed jumping.

Step Aerobics

Step aerobics offer high-intensity, low-impact moves choreographed on and around an elevated bench. It works the entire lower body including hips, thighs and buttocks. As you focus on contracting your abs while you step, your abdominal muscles will firm and strengthen. Flabby tummies become flatter and leaner with heart-pumping, fat-burning step aerobics. According to BuddySlim.com., a 154 lb. person can burn off 740 calories in one hour by stepping.

Purchase a step bench and beginning level step video. Videos explain everything you need to know, but the basic step movement repeats an up with the right foot, up with the left foot, down with the right foot, down with the left foot pattern. Remember to place your whole foot on the bench. Arm movements increase the number of calories you burn by up to 10 percent, so incorporate them into your routine when you feel comfortable.

Swimming

Swimming burns many calories, but you do not have to support the weight of your entire body in the process. Breasts and belly flab do not bounce around as they often do with other types of aerobic exercise. Additionally, depending on your speed and stroke, you can burn as many calories as you would by running, but without stress to your knees and bones. As a bonus, swimming not only tones your abdomen, but also enhances your hips, legs and arms.

For beginners, start by swimming freestyle laps for 10 minutes at a time, three times a week. Work up to swimming at least 20 minutes nonstop. Do not just use your legs and arms, but also roll your hips and midsection as you turn your head from side to side. Invest in a pair of fins, too, because fins create more resistance in the water, helping you to burn more calories.