The Best Exercises to Help Burn Belly Fat

Jumping rope is an intense cardio exercise, especially if done for long stretches, which can help burn stubborn belly fat. The classic exercise is also known to help stabilize the pelvis while strengthening the core.

Kettlebell swings involve swinging a handled weight between one’s legs, going from a crouched position up to a full stand. Like several other exercises on this list, kettlebell swings work by unevenly distributing weight, forcing the core to keep the exerciser upright and popping into a standing motion.

Leg lifts, or lying leg raises, improve the strength of not just the core, but the hip flexors as well. The simple exercise of lifting and lowering the legs while lying down is easily modified to target different specific muscle groups.

Mountain climbers are one of the most strenuous exercises on this list – providing both an intense cardio workout in addition to a tummy-targeting muscle workout. They are done by getting into a push-up position and lifting a knee up towards one’s chest, then alternating with the other knee. There are also variations of this exercise that can help target specific areas of the core.

When compared to a regular treadmill routine, running on an incline has been shown to be much more effective at shedding unwanted fat. The incline increases the difficulty of the cardio, while helping tone the lower body and the core.