There is no question people want flatter stomachs, whether it is a woman who just had a baby, or a man who wants to impress someone, or anyone in between. While most people have good intentions when it comes to exercising not as many people can find the time or dedication to really follow through to see real results, and usually give up. Here’s five little exercises to help.

Side Bend
A simple exercise, side bends are also probably the most effective method for losing stomach fat. Start by standing upright. Position your feet shoulder width apart and bend your knees slightly. Lower your whole torso to one side then back to the other side. Lean only side to side, not backwards or forwards.

Seated Torso Twist
Get into a seated position. Bend your knees so that your feet are flat on the floor and position your feet about a hip width apart. Extend your arms straight out in front of you, interlocking your fingers. Contract your abdominals and lean back about forty-five degrees. Holding the contraction, rotate your torso as far to one side as you are comfortably able. Use your abdominals to control this motion so that your upper body moves at once. Remember to keep your arms in from of you with fingers locked. Rotate back to centre, then to the other side. Repeat these steps for an entire set. Take care to go slow and keep a controlled movement and do not allow your momentum to twist you.

Sit-Up Hold
Lie on the floor, bend your knees so your feet are flat on the floor and position your hands behind your head. Keep your elbows back so you cannot see them-- do not put them alongside your head. Use your lower abdominals to lift your shoulders off the floor. Hold for ten seconds. You may increase the number of seconds you hold as it gets easier. Be sure to lift with your abdominals and not with your arms or neck.

Reverse Crunch
Lie on your back, use a mat or towel to cushion your spine. Put your arms at your sides with palms facing up to the ceiling. Put your legs in the air so that your knees are bent at ninety degree angles and your hips make about a ninety degree angle with your torso. Keep your knees unbent and as straight as possible. Now, contract your abdominal muscles so that it feels like your belly button is being pulled toward your spine, while at the same time gently lifting your hips off the floor. Raise your hips to height of a few inches, keeping your legs extended straight upwards. Hold this position then slowly lower your hips back to the floor. Repeat as comfortable to do so

Another good exercise is laying flat on your stomach, legs straight and then raising your body up using your arms as your hands are clasped together and keeping your body straight as if doing a push-up. Hold this position as long as you can stand. This is an excellent movement to strengthen the whole stomach.

Remember again though that just because one person may consider a specific exercise to be the best stomach exercise that does not necessarily mean it is the best for everyone. Each person's body is different and will respond differently to certain movements. Any one serious about working on the abdominal muscles will find it most helpful to try several different stomach exercises and then determine which one they can both feel and see results with. If one exercise is simply too hard to do correctly, or does not feel like it has done anything for the muscle group worked, that exercise is clearly not the best and the person should find what works best for them.