The stomach is one of the hardest areas of the body to tone, strengthen, and flatten. Yet, society has mandated that to look good, you must have a flat stomach. There are several things to remember when it comes to exercises for your stomach. First off, you can have the best stomach muscles anyone has ever seen, but that does not matter if there is a layer of fat covering those muscles. With that being said, it is important to follow a balanced diet that includes a higher fiber and water intake, so that you can increase your metabolism, burn that fat while you strengthen your stomach muscles, and flatten your stomach.

Some exercises for your stomach are:

Leg Lifts. Laying flat on your back, you should lift your legs while keeping your buttocks on the ground. Lift your legs no higher than 90 degrees to the rest of your body, hold for a few seconds, and lower your legs back to the ground. Do a few sets of these in 10-16 reps, and you will feel it working in your lower stomach area, to strengthen your lower abdominal muscles.

Crunches. Laying flat on your back, you should bend your knees to a 90-degree angle. With your hands behind your head, sit half way up, and do not let your head rest on the ground between reps. This will work your central abdominal muscles.

Sit-Ups. Performed the same way as a crunch, yet you allow your body to go all the way up to your knees. This will work on all your abdominal muscles.

V-Ups. These are performed the same way as crunches, though your legs should be out in a v shape, straightened, and a little bit off the ground.

Bicycle Motions. In a sit-up position, lift your legs and move them as though you are pedaling a bicycle. Lift you torso toward your knees, touching your elbow to your opposite knees and alternating continuously throughout reps.

Butterfly Crunches. Do these as a standard crunch, but twist from side to side with each rep. This will turn focus from your central abdominal muscles to your oblique muscles for even strength and tone.

Doing these, exercises for your stomach in any combination along with following diet recommendations will certainly help you flatten your stomach and have you looking great, but remember to stay dedicated and motivated as it will take some time!