What with it being bikini season soon I figure it's time to get the stomach back to a flatter state.

The only problem is I probably shouldn't do sit ups, because they really hurt my back. (I know I'm not doing them wrong, I've had problems with my back for years.) So does anyone know of any other ways of getting a flatter stomach? I've cut out fizzy drinks and I'm generally eating less food at one sitting, but I feel I should actually do some exercise as well.

instead of situps you can lie on your back and bring your knees up to your chest, that should start you off, then you can work up to proper situps

i'm not saying this is the case with you, but with a lot of people, you could have really good ab muscles, but if they're hiding under alayer of fat, you'll never see them, if you're not doing enough cardio, all the ab exercise in the world won't help.

i really need to do some more work on my stomach. even a few good situps make the difference.

Ooh ta. I'll give that a go.

I completely agree. I'm doing about 40 minutes of cardio 3 or 4 times a week at the moment, so that should help. I just want to do some specific exercises for my stomach as well because I always seem to put on more weight there than anywhere else.

those work beter if you keep your legs straight, not bent.

Get a pilates DVD or go to a class, there are a lot of non-situp exercises that will really kill your abs.

dont do situps, they dont do shit.

crunches are simple and do work to a point, but after a while youre gonna have to do 1,000 just to challenge yourself. and besides, the plain old crunch doesnt target your lower abs nearly as much.

as awful cherry pointed out, there are a few simple pilates moves you can do. like the modified hundred (i THINK thats what its called, im not as well versed in pilates as i am in regular weight training). also, if there's a captain's chair at your gym, do that. start with bent legs, advance to straight. also, if your gym has those straps you put your arms through and hang there, its like a captain's chair except better since there's no support for your back and it works you harder. do the same motion as on the captain's chair, and if need be, advance to holding a weight between your ankles or strapping some weight on. that's insanely hard and works.

also, i find that theres hardly anything that works better for such a SIMPLE thing, as a weighted swiss ball crunch. the ENTIRE abs are working, your entire core, all around.

im probably being vauge as hell but if you want any specifics about these, just let me know and ill type them out for ya. im still getting into the groove of posting at this new board...

cardio is essential as well, thats a good point. no amount of training will make your abs show if there's still fat there. of course you need SOME there though.

Yes, except put your hands flat on the ground under your bum or it'll strain your back.

I'm doing 40 mins of cardio(stationary bike) every day yet my gut hasn't really reduced, i don't get it.
I'm doing crunches and leg-raises as well

Thanks everyone.

michelleantonia - what exactly is a captain's chair? There may well be one at the gym but I just don't know it by that name! And I'm going to look into getting a pilates DVD as well.

http://exercise.about.com/od/abs/ss/abexercises_2.htm
there's a pic of the captain's chair linked there, and it explains how to do it. also, if you scroll down, there's teh rest of the top 10 most effective ab exercises and links to them
id say its a pretty accurate list

That's a brilliant link, thanks

Aha! we do have one of those at the gym. Great link btw, I'm going to try some of the other exercises as well. Thanks!

true , pilates are fabolous !

I suggest you invest in abb revolutionizer. my friend has it and it did wonders for her, I'm buying it myself soon.

Lower Back exercises, they'll keep your posture better, then focus on the rest.