by Fitness Blogger and Personal Trainer, Beth Davis

If you are like me, the warmer weather means hauling out the summer clothes and thinking about shedding some of the winter insulation, specifically around our middle. Keep in mind that you can’t spot reduce by doing tons of crunches.

Losing fat around the middle is going to disappear with a combination of diet and increasing the amount of muscle you have to get your metabolism cranking. That being said, you can pull that core tighter and work towards a strong base for the big reveal and the end of your search for that six pack!

Quit crunching and start planking!

The plank is a more effective exercise to target the core muscles that pull your midsection tight. Shoot for 3 sets of 30 seconds of the basic plank keeping your back flat, hips in line and not dipping to the ground or popping your butt in the air.. When you master 3 sets, add some difficulty by alternately touching each hip or alternating forward punches.

Get sideways!

Side planks are even more challenging to your core and will help your strengthen your lower back too! To perform them correctly, be sure your hips are stacked and aligned with feet are on top of each other. Put your free hand on your hip or straight up in the air. For a variation to work up to the side plank, put one foot in front of the other and assist with your free arm. Work your way p to 3 sets of 20-30 seconds.

Roll with it!

Watching gym rats roll out on that little wheel with 2 handles can be intimidating so start out with a stability ball and get rolling! Keep hips low as you roll out as far as you can. Shoot for 3 sets of 10 rollouts.

Add these exercises 3 times a week to your training regimen and you will be on your way to streamlining your waistline and getting to that six pack!

Read Jeni Tackett’s nutrition tips on better eating to lose the belly flab.

Meet Beth Davis, Let’s Move Quad Cities Fitness Blogger. Beth is a well-known, former radio news personality, has a Masters Degree in Counseling Education, is now living her dream of making lives better for Quad Citians as a certified personal trainer.  You can read Beth’s bio and other blog posts by clicking here.