I’m kind of a lean person but I have a little amount of flab on my lower abs. I have tried almost everything to get rid of this fat but nothing seems to help. Can you suggest some good ab exercises to burn this excess fat?

Okay, if I get this question one more time – just one more time, I definitely swear that I’ll scream my heart out and tear my hair apart. I am going to clarify this once and for all. Spot-reduction is a myth, dude. You can’t do it. You simply can’t spot reduce flab from part of your body. Fat loss is a systematic, organized thing. Fat is not something that you can control with pinpoint precision. No, it doesn’t work that way. Neither can you control from where it comes, nor can you determine where it goes to. When fat undergoes the process of oxidation thus converting it into usable energy, the fat is drawn from different areas of your body. Most probably, the first place you tend to put on fat will likely be the last place it goes off.

When it comes to losing fat, some regions of the body may seem certainly more ‘stubborn’ than the others. It may appear difficult to get rid of fat in your lower abdomen but rest assured that the fat WILL definitely go away. It may be just that your lower abs will be the last place it leaves.

Here’s a solid tip: the best way to burn surplus fat on your abs is to do more cardiovascular training and NOT abdomen training as you are doing now. For a start, you may try biking, Stairmaster, treadmill, rower, or an elliptical machine. They all do a good job in burning fat. You should workout at approximately 70-85% of your age. Your maximum heart beat rate should roughly measure about 220 minus your age. Continue to maintain this for about 30-45 minutes for 5-6 days a weeks and you are bound to see excellent results.

You should train your abs like you would any other part of your body – about twice each week. Working out your abs serves you nothing in eliminating the excess layer of fat deposit on the muscles. You may have a fantastic set of abs (but you won’t see it since it is hidden by a layer of stubborn fat)!

Always remember that a proper healthy diet wins half the battle of fat burning. If you are gorging pizza and gulping down beer like there’s no tomorrow, there is no way you will get a great set of abs worth showing off – even if you are a gym-freak!