Exercises for the stomach
 

Ok,so I know that you can't really spot reduce, but I was wondering what kind of exercises are good for the abs and stomach. I have been doing crunches-the ones with feet on the floor and knees bent. I also do some with my knees bent and feet off the floor. It seems like I'm firming below the belly button, but still have a bigger pouch above the belly button. Is there anything you can recommend that might help with that. I also do WATP and go for long brisk walks outdoors. Thanks in advance for any help.
Steph

I've got a great exercise for that: While laying down with your knees bent, put your left leg across your right leg. With your hands behind your head, crunch till your right elbow hits your left knee. Do as many reps as you can muster for that side, then switch and do your left elbow to your right knee. A definite upper ab burner :D

The traditional bicycle exercise on the floor is good for obliques. I also am doing one where I put my knees on furniture and hold a 90 deg angle and do slow curls, holding for one sec at the top. Also, reverse cruches are good, but you said you are already doing something for lower abs.

Here's a good one that works both the upper and lower abs in one

Ball/Leg Exchange:
Lie on your back, legs on the floor, holding a stability ball between your feet and calves. Your arms should be straight above your head on the floor. Bring your arms and legs up at the same time, slightly crunch and exchange the ball from your legs to your hands. Go back down to legs straight just above the floor, and arms above your head. Again go back up and exchange from hands to legs. Go back to start. This is one repetition.

Decline crunches: sit on a mat with knees bent, or on a decline board with feet hooked and knees bent. Cross your arms over your chest. Keeping back straight, lean back 12-18 inches, slowly, inhaling. Hold. On the exhale, pull yourself up straight using your abs.

This thread was fun .... http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/show...ight=torso%27s

My yahoo fitness tip of the day ....
The key to six-pack abs is not 500 sit-ups a day; it's skipping the excess calories. Improved muscle definition comes from losing body fat, not from increasing muscle size. For a healthy lean body, you need to find a balance between exercise and diet. Weight training will condition the muscle, but unless you address your total calorie intake, all that hard work will be hiding under a layer of fat.

Denise Austin had a DVD "Hit the Spot: Core" that's pretty fun, varied & good for the abs (it's divided into 3 sections: core & upper body, core & buns, core & legs) Great way to make use of that exercise ball as well! (it also requires dumbbells)