That bulging belly is so not sexy. Whether you're a man or a woman, one of the most obvious places that our excesses get to show is in our stomach. Unfortunately, having belly fat is more than just being un-sexy. Compared to fat found in other parts of the body, having fat in your midsection increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, metabolic syndrome disorders and certain types of cancers. Thus, it's important to lose the belly fat before it's too late.

Research has proven that spot reduction doesn't work in winning the battle of the bulge. To trim your total fat (belly fat included) you needs t exercise all the muscles in the body. However, there are certain exercises that can be done to strengthen and tone the abdominal muscles and help in the reduction of belly fat.

Here are a few of the best exercises to try:

To target your deeper abdominal muscles, try a technique known as abdominal hollowing. Begin by getting down on all fours. Let your tummy hang down as you take a deep breath. Exhale. And as you do so, gently draw your bellybutton inward and upward toward your spine. Your waist should tighten just a bit, as if you're trying to squeeze through a partially closed door. Hold this position for 10 seconds. Rest for 10 seconds. Repeat this exercise 10 times. Ensure that your spine position doesn't change for the whole duration of this exercise. Maintain normal breathing as you do this. As you get used to this exercise, you'll be able to do it standing up anytime of the day.

To tone your lower abdominal muscles, do pelvic tilts and pelvic lifts. To do a pelvic tilt, begin by lying on your back on the floor. Keep your knees bent and your back flattened against the floor by tightening your abdominal muscles. Bend your pelvis up slightly and hold for 5 to 10 seconds. Repeat for up to 20 repetitions gradually. To do pelvic lifts, lie on your back with your knees bent up toward your chest. Keep your arms relaxed by your sides. Tighten your lower abdomen then lift your buttocks up off the floor, keeping your knees aimed toward the ceiling. Hold for five to 10 seconds. Try to do 20 repetitions of this exercise.

Abdominal crunches are also one of the more classic exercises to strengthen your core. To do crunches correctly, begin by lying on your back, placing your feet on a wall. In this position, your knees and hips are bent at 90-degree angles. Tighten your abdominal muscles then raise your head and shoulders off the floor. Cross your arms on your chest to avoid straining your neck. Hold for about 3 seconds then return to start position. Repeat 10 times.

Another exercise that will strengthen your core muscles and aid in the reduction of belly fat is known is segmental rotation. To do this exercise, lie on your back in a neutral position with your knees bent. Tighten your abdominal muscles, keeping your shoulders on the floor. Then let your knees fall slowly to the left going as far as you are comfortable. Feel the stretch but discontinue the exercise if you feel pain. Hold for three seconds then return to the start position. Repeat to the other side.