By now, most fitness savvy folks are aware of the fact that the idea of spot reduction is a myth, and that there is now such thing as "losing inches" on one specific part of your body. A low fat diet, along with aerobic exercise will decrease your overall body fat, which will eventually make your abdominals, legs, and buttocks smaller. In the meantime, you can make your abdominals appear flatter by practicing core exercise.

So what is "core exercise," anyway? If you answered, "crunches", your are, respectfully, incorrect. In most cases, core exercise refers to the deeper muscles of the abdominal region. There are a number of muscle groups that make up your body`s core region. However, exercising the following muscles will improve your posture, while making your abdominal region seem significantly flatter.

The Transverse Abdominal Muscle

The transverse abdominal muscle, which is often referred to as the TVA, is your deepest abdominal muscle. The TVA is your natural internal girdle and weight belt. Its primary purpose is to support your lower back when your body is in an upright position. The transverse abdominal muscle is active when you exhale. It presses against the diaphragm to help you expel the air. Since the transverse abdominal muscle supports your back muscles, it can help you improve your posture, which will in turn make your stomach seem flatter. There is a very basic way to activate your TVA without any gym equipment. This simple exercise should be performed 10 times daily. Take a breath in. As you exhale, pull your belly in, as if you were trying to draw your navel to your spine. Hold your belly tight for ten seconds. Eventually, it will get used to staying that way!

Pelvic Floor

These are the muscles that support your internal organs. Pregnant women are often taught to activate their pelvic floor by imagining that they are trying to stop the urine flow. There are called "Kegel" exercises. A more tasteful way to do this is to imagine an elevator traveling up the center of your body. For best results, Kegels should be performed 10 times daily. Like the transverse abdominal muscle, the pelvic floor will support your back, which will improve your posture.

The Internal and External Obliques

The internal and external obliques are the muscles that begin by your waistline and make an "X" across your torso. Any movement that involves rotation makes good use of both the internal and external obliques. This is why you will probably notice that golfers and tennis players, provided that they adhere to a healthy diet and practice aerobic exercise, are particularly toned in this area. The bicycle maneuver is considered the best exercise for these muscle groups. Lie on the floor and lift both legs. Make sure that your lower back pressed to the ground. If it is not, simply raise your legs a bit higher. Rest your fingers lightly on your head, just above your ears. As you bend your right knee, rotate your torso and bring your left elbow towards the knee. Make sure that your left hip stays on the ground. Then, switch sides.

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