Best exercise to tone your abs/lose belly fat?

[Antonia]

I need to lose a fat roll that I have acquired over time. I have not been very active and I have started walking/jogging every morning to boost my metabolism.
What else can I do to concentrate on my abdominal area? Sit-ups,etc. but what is the absolute most effective exercise to tone the abdomen? I don't want to waste my time doing something that is not going to work.
I also prefer not to join a gym because I think it would be a hassle going there - I want something that I can do at home.
Anybody have any ideas????

 

[grinningghost]

I bought a really good treadmill and that's been the magic bullet. One 30 minute brisk walk a day, and the belly fat is melting off. Best money I ever spent.

 

[BobbinWeez]

I've always heard that doing cardio exercises is what tones your abs the best...walking, running, that kind of thing.

 

[Antonia]

Wel, hopefully the walking/jogging I'm doing is going to help. My overall body size is good - I just have a fat roll that prevents me from buying clothes that I like. Plus I am taking my nieces to the world in June and I'd like to be a little thinner around the middle by then.

 

[grinningghost]

Originally posted by Antonia
Wel, hopefully the walking/jogging I'm doing is going to help. My overall body size is good - I just have a fat roll that prevents me from buying clothes that I like. Plus I am taking my nieces to the world in June and I'd like to be a little thinner around the middle by then.

It should do the trick. Just be sure you get out there enough. Oh, and it's probably a good idea to skip the donut after the walk. Although I've been known to have a fat-laden snack after my workout myself.

 

[helenabear]

Combination of biking and Pilates has let me lost size in my middle... my husband has even noticed it Good luck!

 

[Robinrs]

Aerobics and drinking LOTS of water helped me!

 

[CamColt]

I combine watching what I eat, with jogging 3 miles a day, walking 3 miles 4-5 days a week, and about 10 minutes on the ab cruncher 5 days a week. I find this gets my stomach as good as its going to get after 2 kids.

 

[CEDmom]

Doing cardio is definitely your best bet. Just remember to focus on contracting your abs periodically as you're doing the cardio and that will help as well. Also several new studies have shown that upping your calcium intake can help eliminate belly fat. Either eat more yogurt or try a supplement.

 

[mtemm]

tae bo done right is excellent

 

[edcrbnsoul]

I'm not positive but from what I've heard you lose fat equally all over you cant target fat lose only muscle gain. So if you are working your Ab area through exercise you will lose the fat and your ab muscles will be firm when the fat is gone, someone can correct me on this if I heard wrong.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Keep up the cardio and try some pilates. I got a few pilates videos (mostly Denise Austin, but there are plenty of others if you find her annoying). Also, make sure to cut back on the calories. That is the fastest way to eliminate the belly flab, because you can have the strongest abs in the world and still have them hidden behing a roll of flab.

 

[fredms]

I think edcrbnsoul is right. You can't target your ab area to loose fat, but you can tone your abs. My favorite ab exercise (amd what I think works best) is to lay on your back and reach your hands over your head and grab someone's ankles. They are facing you. THen keeping your legs straight raise them to your partner and they should push them back down while you resist. This specifically targets lower abs.

Hope I made sense and good luck.

S

 

[TigerBear]

I recently heard that having a six pack really doesn't have as much to do with how hard your ab muscles are, but rather its about how much fat you have. If you have a lower body fat percentage, your ab muscles will show through.

 

[Kimickey]

One word: Pilates

 

[katerkat]

I've been slowly working mine off by a combination of bike riding and ab crunches/bicycles. (Crunches goes straight up, bicycles go side to side.) And I'm trying to modify my diet as well.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Another vote for Pilates here. I've lost 6.5 inches off my waist since i started Pilates. Also crunches are great. Don't bother with sit-ups though. Sit-ups use less than half the abs to pull you up, they utilize the hips mostly so they don't really do anything to tone the abs. But between the Pilates and less calories you should be able to lose that roll. BTW any good Pilates workout incorporates crunches into it.


Good luck

 

[bigsis1970]

I am trying the 6 second abs machine .. I used it for the first time yesterday and boy oh boy are my unconditioned abs crying today !!!