6 Ways to (Finally!) Get a Flat Belly

Contrary to what many people believe, doing thousands of sit-ups or crunches all day, every day, will not get you closer to achieving those washboard abs. Yep, you read that right. Both belly bulge and love handles are about excess body fat, NOT lack of muscle. That's why ab exercises alone are not the solution. Scoring a flat stomach is all about workouts that impact different muscle groups at the same time — so you're strengthening your entire body AND burning more calories.

This is why I'm such a huge advocate of circuit training and use them in my online workouts and in my DVDs. When done properly, circuit training builds lean muscle and improves aerobic fitness simultaneously, making this type of exercise the most effective fat-burning workout you can get. In fact, if you aren't already up on circuit training, it's time to get acquainted now because it should be your new weight-loss best friend.

Each circuit is a combination of strength training and cardio exercises (about four to five) that are performed directly after one another, with little or no rest in between. When a set of these moves is done, you go back to the beginning and do them again before moving on to the next circuit. A typical circuit-training workout will get your heart rate up and impact a variety of muscles — not just one body part — which is the BEST way to burn off that belly fat.

Get ready to start planking — and I don't mean the form of 'planking' that has gone viral. The plank I'm referring to is a powerful move that targets your core abdominal muscles, practices balance, and strengthens your chest and back muscles. This pose is not as easy as it looks or sounds, but trust me, the effects are well worth the extra effort it takes to master this move.

To do a basic plank, start in a push-up position, except keep your hands directly under your shoulders instead of outside your chest. Legs should be straight out behind you with feet together. You are balancing on your palms and the balls of your feet. Hold this static contraction for as long as you can. Work your way up to a minute, and then challenge yourself to hold the pose even longer. What I love about the plank is that there are so many different variations — side plank (pictured), reverse plank, plank-ups, plank twists and more. Different types of planks target different core muscles, so do yourself a favor and work a plank move into at least one of your daily circuits. You'll definitely see results.

There is nothing to love about love handles, and there's no quick fix solution to getting rid of them. Sorry buddy, but it's true. Targeting "problem areas" is tough because fat is burned systematically across the body according to your own unique genetics. Focusing on one region of the body won't make fat disappear altogether, but there are some exercises that will bring blood, and thus oxygen, to these problem areas and I believe that this oxidization will help break down the fat. For love handles, a major trouble zone for both men and women, try this side-bend stretch. Remember, it's not a magic fix, but it may help to break down the fat that builds up in that area of the body.

SIDE BEND
(Do this stretch at least three times a day throughout the day.)

Purpose: To stretch the triceps, upper back, abdominals, and obliques. Here's how you do it: Bend to one side, while holding your opposite arm overhead, then quickly stretch to the other side, raising the other arm. This drill should be done in a controlled, continuous fashion for 10 stretches on each side of your body.

Bloating isn't all in your head. It IS possible to carry extra water weight in your tummy. To beat the bloat, decrease your sodium intake to 1,500 mg a day and increase your water consumption. It's easy to start monitoring your sodium intake by reading food labels. Limiting the amount of sodium you consume will help you reduce your water retention and look leaner in your clothes.