The best exercise to lose belly fat is not what you think. You can do sit ups till the cows come home and never see substantial weight lost. Your first exercise should be reducing your carbohydrate and fat intake. Once you have cleaned up your diet, you can start seriously thinking about the best exercise to lose belly fat. I would focus not on one, but three abdominal workouts.

First you should buy an inexpensive workout ball, the type you blow up. You will want to use this for three main exercises. You will want to target three sections of your abs muscles. The rectus abdominus which is the section responsible for the much coveted six pack look, the transverse abdominus located on the side and the external oblique which is also located near the side.

Abdominal Contractions

Get in the habit of doing abdominal contractions regularly. A constant training of these muscles will give you the strength needed to perform advanced exercises. Throughout the day focus on your abs and contract them. You can do it virtually anywhere! When watching TV, waiting for the doctor, driving to work, or whenever you like. The habit of doing this will give you a tight set of abs that will make your belly flab look smaller.

Bent-leg Curl-ups

Begin by lying on your back with your lower back pressed against the floor. While keeping your feet flat on the floor, bend your knees and place your hands on you thighs. Raise the upper body at 30 degrees or until you feel the burn. Repeat and increase sets and reps over time to assure that you are still improving your midsection.

Backwards Sit-ups

Conventional sit-ups are harder to replicate than you may think. When done wrong it brings the focus to you back and neck, however you don’t have to be conventional when doing sit-ups.

To start this exercise, lie on your back. Place your palms against the floor next to your buttocks. Next, bend your knees upwards and towards your chest. Slowly bring back your legs to the original position. Control is the key here to give a great workout to your lower abdominal area. Doing this will bring you the benefits of sit-ups without the additional strain on the neck and back.

Start doing these exercises along with cardio training and a healthy diet, and you’ll start seeing your belly flab smaller and smaller.