Hip lifts: Lie on your back with your legs straight up in the air. Keep your back pressing into the floor and think about squeezing the muscles in your waist. Slowly pull your belly button to the floor and as you do so, feel your hips lifting gently off the floor as your legs are lifted. Do not lift with the legs, but instead with the abdominals. Repeat 10-15 times.

Planks: This one has been around for a long time and has been proven to be very effective. Facing the floor, get on your hands and knees, keeping your shoulders over your hands. Straighten out your body and keep your toes on the floor. You should be straight like a board with your abs pulling in tight. Think of it as half a push up. Breathe in and out naturally. Hold for up to one minute. Repeat 4-5 times.

The Bicycle: This is one that most of us know. Lie on your back with you knees bent. Slowly pull

your upper body off the floor and support your head with your hands. Activate your abs by pulling your belly button to the floor and release any pelvic tilt. Take one shoulder and turn your torso to face your opposite knee. Go to the other side. Think of riding a bicycle as you turn slowly from side to side. Repeat for 20 repetitions.

Standard Crunch: Another oldie but goodie. Lie on back with knees bent. Lift your shoulders off the floor, concentrating on moving your ribs towards your hips. Keep your chin straight so you don’t move your head. Easier: hands on chest. Harder: Hands on sides of head, but don’t pull on head. Hardest: Hands straight out above head. Go slow and keep breathing. Try 2 seconds up, hold for 2 seconds, then 2 seconds going down.

Ab Exercises on the Ball: This is a legitimate exercise product that really works well. It’s safe and an effective exercise device for the abs and lower back. These balls come with exercise instructions and some of them will even come with a video or DVD.

The most important thing of course is once you get started, stick with it. It will take time to see the results and if seeing is as important to you as it is to me, take a tape measure and measure your waist. Do this once a month and if you keep faithfully to your diet and exercise routine you will see it reflected in your measurements, not to mention the lovely comments that will start to come your way for co-workers, your spouse and (if youre lucky enough for them to notice) your kids!