Experts say no amount of sit-ups will flatten your stomach unless you reduce the fat in your stomach area through a combination of a healthy diet and exercise.

Once you drop the fat, here are some exercises that will help to define your abdominal muscles and address some of your tummy troubles.

Basic Crunch

Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Place your hands lightly behind your head for support. Using your abdominal muscles, lift your shoulders a few centimetres off the ground. Pause briefly and repeat. Complete at least one set of 10-12 reps.

Seated Crunch

Sit up straight in a sturdy chair with your feet flat on the floor. As you exhale, suck your navel in toward your spine as far as you can, contracting your abs to squeeze all of the air out of your lungs. Hold this position for one to three seconds.

Inhale as you reverse the exercise, this time making your tummy as round as possible. Continue exhaling and inhaling slowly for 1 minute.

Ab Circles

Lie faceup with your left leg extended straight into the sky and your right leg remaining on the ground. Rest your hands lightly behind your head but don't clasp your fingers.

Contract your abdominal muscles, lifting your head and shoulder blades and bend your left leg, placing your toes next to your right knee. Lift your right leg off the ground.

Circle your torso clockwise without rocking, then repeat in the opposite direction to complete 1 rep. Do 10-12 reps. Switch legs and repeat.

Rope Pulldown

Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flag on the ground. Bend both arms and tuck elbows close to your sides, but still off the ground. Make loose fists with your hands.

Raise your head and shoulder blades while reaching your left arm slightly to the right and up. Extend your fingers as if you were reaching for a rope to pull it down and lower. Do 10-12 reps. Switch arms and repeat.

Dumbbell Reach

Grasp a dumbbell in your left hand and lie on your back, with your knees bent and your feet flat. Place your right hand on your abs and extend your left arm straight up in line with your shoulder.

Contract your abs and lift your head and shoulder blades off the ground as you slightly draw your left shoulder toward your right knee. Do 10-12 reps. Lower and do 10-12 reps. Switch arms and repeat.

Seated Crossover

Sit tall a chair with your feet on the floor. Bend your arms 90 degrees, bringing your elbows in line with your chest, your forearms perpendicular to the floor, and your fingers toward the ceiling.

Exhale as you bring your left elbow and right knee toward one another. Inhale as you bring your elbow and knee back to their starting position. Repeat with your right elbow and left knee, alternating between those positions for the duration of 1 minute.

Standing Circle

Stand tall and hold a small towel or resistance band stretched tight overhead. Contract your and slowly draw a large, wide circle over your head and around your torso with your hands. Keep the towel or band pulled taut throughout the circle. Return to your starting position and reverse the circular direction. Complete at least one set of 8-10 reps in each direction.