¤ How to Get a Flat Stomach, Lose Weight and Become Fitter

There are few people that wouldn't like a perfectly flat stomach with washboard abs. Unfortunately it isn't easy to get and unless you know what you are doing it will be next to impossible. You may think that doing countless sit-ups and crunches will help you get there but on its own it won't be enough. You have to watch what you are eating and lose all the fat around the belly. If you are just exercising without dieting you will end up with rock hard stomach muscles although they will be covered with a layer of fat so no one will know!
There are lots of exercises you can do to get a flat stomach and here are some of the best:
Reverse Crunches
This is one of the best exercises to do as it targets muscles that can be hard to tone. It is great for toning the lower ab muscles and is pretty simple to do. Start by lying flat on the floor with your arms by your side. Then
lift your legs off the floor to a height of 30cm, breathe in and bring your knees up to your chest. Keep your stomach muscles engaged and breathe out returning legs to their starting position above the floor. Repeat as many times as possible.
Swiss Ball Exercises
Working out with a Swiss Ball can really help to improve results. Everything is a little tougher and it makes your muscles work harder to maintain balance and stability. You can get a good ball pretty cheaply and they can be easily deflated and stored away when you are not using them. Some good exercises you can do with a Swiss ball include:
Russian Twist
Starting from a sitting position work your way forward until just the shoulders and upper back are on the ball. Your legs should be in a bridge position. Then breathe in and rotate the arms and shoulders to the left. Breathe out return arms to starting position and then rotate them to the right. This exercise is particularly good for the oblique muscles and lower abs. You can also try ball jack-knifes and pikes using a Swiss ball.
The Plank
This is a simple exercise that is great for people who are just starting out. Start off by lying face down on the floor with your weight on your forearms. Then lift your body off the ground so just the toes and forearms are supporting weight. Keep the stomach muscles engaged and hold for 15 seconds. As muscles get stronger you will be able to do the exercise for longer.