#5 Great Abs Are Out of Style.

All that beer you’ve been drinking, that belly you’ve been building up over the years? It’s finally time to shine, because you no longer have to hide it! It’s 2010, and fat is in, and you’ve got a free pass from the tastemakers and the trend-setters to let that fat belly hang right out of your shirt. Go ahead!

#4 Your Body Will Conveniently Hide Fat For You.

Yeah, fine, we gain some fat — but who has ever heard of anyone’s body ‘placing’ that fat in an unfortunate place? I know we just chatted about those pot bellies above, but really, it’s not a big deal, because our bodies figure it all out and send the fat to places that never really see the light of day. So just eat away and don’t really worry, you’ll be fine!

#3 No One Goes to the Beach Anymore.

Think about it. We’ve got global warming, we’ve got pollution, it’s all pretty crazy, and who really wants to go to the beach anymore? No one really spends any time there — I haven’t heard of anyone going to the beach in years, and I’m practically an expert about these things.

#2 Those ‘Pulsing’ Exercise Machines Do The Work For You.

Wondering why you see all those ads for those weird, pulsating ab workout machines that attach to your stomach? It’s easy! They just really, really work! Seriously, there’s no issue at all with them being inconvenient, fake, or prone to breaking down. Nope, you just attach a bunch of awkward electrodes to your flab and blast it away, we swear!

#1 What Could Ever Be Wrong With Diet Pills?

If using a pulsing robo-machine doesn’t fill you with excitement, why not fill yourself with those amazing diet pills instead? According to the people advertising them (who, of course, have no interest in anything but your health), they really work well, and are totally awesome! Sure, they might be placebos that do nothing at best and kill you at worst, but hey, someone’s got to try ‘em, right? Goodbye crunches!

If a fit and toned body is what you would like to achieve, then view Zuzana’s fitness videos at Bodyrock.TV. She also shares some fitness tips and nutrition information that will be indispensable during your battle for a body you dream of.

#5: Work Out in the Park, If You Want.

Instead of being locked into the gym itself, you’re free to go workout anywhere you want with a video. So not only can you do it in your own house, but it’s technologically feasible to take your workout videos on your iPod, head to the park, and do them there. Whatever you want.

#4: Get Instructions Without Queuing Up For A Trainer.

If you don’t know exactly how to do a certain move, you have to go ask someone at your gym. Trainers are usually busy, and even if they aren’t, there’s still a good chance they won’t know exactly what you’re asking. With good workout videos, the instructions (and alternate moves) are built-in.

#3: No Shame In Rewinding.

Ever had to re-ask a question about a certain exercise, over and over? Then, after the explanation was done, were you still not sure you had it right? Asking a trainer who you might not be paying $500/month to is only going to work so many times, whereas with workout videos, you can view them to infinity.

#2: Few Gyms, Hundreds of Videos.

A gym is a gym. Besides staff changes, major renovations, or the creativity of the trainers, it doesn’t change so much. Whereas with a set of workout videos, you can pick and choose from dozens (hundreds?) of different routines.

#1: Don’t Forget About the Gorgeous People.

Plenty of personal trainers are lookers, too — don’t get me wrong. But most of the men and women who appear in workout videos must be doing something right, and it certainly doesn’t hurt to have a gorgeous person exercising right there in front of you for motivation.

Fitness videos, nutrition information and sound advice is all you need to get you into shape and enjoy a fit and fine body!

There are tons of resources for finding exercises to help flatten the stomach. Try doing a search for “exercises that flatten the stomach”. This will pull up thousands of results. Some of these sites will offer help for fee. Usually a workout routine and diet plan customised to your specific needs. If a membership site is not an option for you, there are plenty of free sites as well, with descriptions of various exercises. Depending on how serious you are will determine which route would be more beneficial. You will also find various videos for sale which is excellent for those of you that like to work out at home. I’ve found it a lot easier to learn a new exercise from watching a video demonstration rather than trying to figure out each one from pictures and a written description.

Besides the Internet there are plenty of additional resources for for finding exercises that will flatten you stomach. You could always join a gym or a fitness club. If you have the time and the money for this and are truly dedicated this may be your best bet. You can get one on one time with a personal trainer. Another benefit to the gym route is that you will have access to all kinds of workout equipment. Membership to a fitness club can be expensive and you will also have to find the time to travel back and forth as well. Understandably a gym membership won’t be right for everyone.

In todays day and age the library is often overlooked as a place to find exercises that will flatten your stomach. At the library you can find many books and often videos on this topic. There’s also magazines that can be borrowed from the library or read while you are there. Often times the library can save you money by allowing you to find the best source, whether it be books or videos.

As you can see there are quite a few sources a person can check out when looking for exercises that flatten the stomach. Go ahead check out as many sources as you can but remember, it’s the follow through that counts. In other words, if you don’t stick with your workout program you won’t obtain the results your after.

Crunchless Crunch
Although this exercise is pretty simple to do, it can be difficult for some. Essentially, you are trying to pull your belly button inward toward your spine. You may not be used to activating these muscles and again this may be difficult for some. These crunches can be done either laying down or from a kneeling position. Try both ways and see which feels better, or more effective for you. To begin, try and relax as much as possible. Then by using only the lower ab muscles, try and pull your belly button in toward your spine and hold this position for ten seconds to start.

Alternating Toe Touch
Lie on the floor for this next one using a mat or a towel to cushion your spine. With your feet up in the air, raise your right arm and grab your left foot. Do this by using only the lower abdominal muscles. Then slowly lower back down and repeat with the opposite hand and foot. Be sure to keep your knees straight. Also, you will want to keep some space between your chin and your chest.

Sit-Up Hold
While still on the floor, try this great stomach exercise. Place your feet flat on the ground and put your hands behind your head. Hold your elbows back so you can’t see them. You don’t want them along side your head. Now use the lower abs to lift your shoulders off the ground and hold this position for at least ten seconds. Be sure to use your abs and not your arms or neck to lift you off the floor.

Lower Back Flatten
This exercise makes for a natural progression from the previous exercise. Again, you start by lying down with your feet flat and knees bent. With this exercise you try to flatten your lower back to the floor so there is no space in between. The lower abdominal muscles come into play here as well. Once you’ve got your back flat on the floor, you will need to hold this position for ten seconds.

As you get stronger and develop more endurance you can increase the time held for all of the above exercises. This will greatly benefit the lower stomach region.

Tone Your Torso
Start this abdomen exercise on all fours, knees and hands on the floor. Keep your abdomen pulled in and extend your left arm out in front of you (football buffs, imagine a referee signaling 1st down). Keep this arm extended as you extend your right leg out behind you. Alternate arms and legs, and duplicate for a full set. Take special attention not to allow your pelvis rock out of position.

Butt Burner
You’ll need to lie down on your back for this drill. Use a gym mat or towel to cushion your backbone. Bend your knees so your feet are flat on the ground, and place your arms at your sides. Compress your butt cheeks as you raise your pelvis off the ground. Hold the rest of your body in line. Elevate your hips to about 45 degrees, so your upper torso from your head to your knees constitutes a straight, flat ramp. Hold this position for 3 to 5 seconds prior to slowly bringing down your pelvis back to the ground. Repeat for a full set.

Crunchless Crunch
This stomach exercise is reasonably simple in principle but can be moderately hard to perform. In essence, it involves trying to pull the navel in towards the backbone. This can be tricky, as it calls for applying muscles which you might not be accustomed to activating. To begin, either lie down on your stomach or kneel. You may want to try both ways and figure out which facilitates you feeling the exercise better. Relax your body as much as conceivable, then attempt to use only the lower abdominal muscles to move your belly button towards your backbone. Hold for 10 seconds. Whenever this feels easy, hold for a longer time period. The goal is to hold the muscle contraction until you either can’t feel it, or you feel additional muscles working harder than the transverse abdominus. Once you feel this, let the contraction out.

Scissor Kicks
This stomach exercise also calls for lying on the ground. Place your hands under your butt, keeping your backbone pressed against the ground. Slowly lift one leg to a height of about 10 inches, and then slowly lower it back to the ground. While you lower one leg, lift the other. Repeat this movement for a full set. Keeping control throughout is important, not allowing momentum to overcome you. Your upper torso should remain on the ground through the whole move.

These are just a few of all the strength building stomach exercises out there. Whenever you’re looking to build up strength in your middle, look to any physical exercise that works your core, particularly the transverse abdominal muscles. Numerous components of Pilates are beneficial for this as well.

Progressive Crunchless Crunch
This stomach exercise works your abs as well as a crunch does, but without the strain to your neck and back. Start out by sitting in a chair, placing one hand above and below your navel in order to feel the contraction of your abdominals. Take one big deep breath, so your middle expands entirely. Then let the breath out as you pull your stomach in, imagining your belly button being pulled inward toward your backbone. Finally, briefly contract your abdominal muscles five times. Do a full set of repetitions of all three parts. You can also try this exercise lying on your back. Try both to see which one helps you feel the contractions of your ab muscles better.

Contractions
This exercise starts off very much the same way as the last one, but necessitates quicker steps and more repetitions. Begin by sitting in the same position as in the progressive crunchless crunch, and taking the same big breath. This time, rather than bringing your belly all the way back, exhale and bring it just about midway. Then pull your belly button back toward your back. Contract and hold for a count of one. Repeat from the half-exhalation point. Do the whole thing one hundred times.

Crunchless Crunch
As you can tell from the name, this stomach exercise is very similar to the 1st. Instead of making a few stops as you exhale a deep breath, however, this drill consists of just one move. To begin, either lie on your stomach or kneel. You may want to try both ways and check which one helps you feel the exercise better. Relax your body as much as possible, then try to use only the lower abdominal muscle to move your belly button toward your spine. Hold for 10 seconds. If holding for 10 seconds feels easy, hold for a longer period. The goal is to hold the contraction until you either can’t feel it, or you feel other muscles working harder than the transverse abdominus. When you feel this, let the contraction out.

If you begin doing these stomach exercises at home in your spare few (very few) minutes, you’ll be able to lose your baby belly and be fit and trim in just a few months– just in time to start chasing after Junior once he learns to crawl!

Seated Crunch
This exercise offers the same benefits as the common ab crunch, but with less neck strain and without the possible discomfort that comes with lying on the floor, since it uses a band rather than gravity to furnish resistance. For this stomach exercise, you’ll need to be sitting in a straight back chair which you are able to somehow loop your band through. Sit up straight with your feet flat on the floor and about as wide apart as your hips. Contract your ab muscles, and slowly bend forward to about a 45 degree angle. Repeat for an full set. Make sure to keep your feet on the floor and your back as straight as possible.

One-Arm Band Pull
Put the chair aside and stand up, once again with feet hip width apart. Put your hands above your head, holding the band about eighteen inches apart. Keeping your left hand overhead, bring your right hand out to the side, elbow bent at about a 90 degree angle. Hold your left arm still as you contract your abdominal muscles and lower your right arm until your hand is in line with your chest. Hold this position, then slowly return. Repeat for an full set, then switch hands. Keep your back straight and avoid bending or leaning at the waist. For an added challenge, do this exercise while standing on one foot. Do the exercise with both hands while standing on your left foot, then do it all over again on your right foot.

Twisting Roll-Back
For this stomach exercise, you’ll need to sit on a flat surface, preferably the floor. Use a mat or towel for cushioning to ease potential strain on your tail bone. Sit down with your legs bent and heels on the floor. Your toes needs to be pointing up– do not put your feet flat on the floor. Loop the band around your feet, put one end in each hand and put your hands together. In a rolling motion, lower your torso towards the floor about 45 degrees. As you do this, twist to the right and spread your hands to the sides. Hold for a second, then rotate back to the center and raise your torso back to the start. Your heels should stay on the ground throughout the exercise. Do an entire set, then change to the left side.