As people age, they typically notice the constant growing layers of fat around their mid-section.  This is because your metabolism starts to slow down when you age and fat tends to shift to the abdominal people.  But people young and old, both men and women, have to deal with an unsightly belly.  Unfortunately excess belly fat is more than attractive; it is actually bad for your health.  Problems like heart disease and diabetes typically occur due to the fact of there being excess fat in your body's abdominal cavity, which contains many important organs.  But with the right fitness plan and abdominal exercises, these problems can be eliminated.

Listed below are some abdominal exercise machines and exercises that are typically located at most fitness gyms and centers.  There is a wide range of equipment available and each machine targets a specific set of abdominal muscles. A machine that I am very fond of is called the Abs Rocket trainer.   But there are other reliable abdominal workout machines that work quite well.  So take a look at these pieces of equipment to see which ones will likely give you the best results.

1. The bicycle maneuver.  The bicycle exercise functions by having you lie flat on your back while you keep your knees bent at a 45 degree angle with your chest.  Reach your elbow up to the opposite knee then switch elbows and do the same thing.  Your legs should be making a pedaling motion as if you were on a bicycle, while your elbows are doing a similar motion, only crossing to the opposite knee.  This exercise will tone the sides of your abs and you should see your waistline shrink if you perform this exercise often. There is also a situp machine that will help you perform this exercise more effectively.

2. The exercise ball.  The fitness ball is good alternative for doing your standard ab crunches.  It utilizes the same type of motion as a typical crunch or sit up, but with better results.  Even just sitting on the ball works your abs because they have to use muscles for balance and support.  Keep your feet apart, rest your back on the ball, and raise and lower your trunk.  You should be able to feel your abs working with just a few movements!

3. The Roman chair.  This piece of exercise equipment requires you to hang with your back straight and forearms rested parallel on the situp machine.  You simple raise your knees upward to your chest them bring them back down again.  It may sound simple enough, but this exercise is difficult for most people since it greatly works the lower abs.

There are many more abdominal exercises and equipment so make sure you try as many as possible to see which ones are the best for you.  Try a few different machines so your entire abdominal region will be worked.  Adding abdominal exercises to a lifestyle with healthy eating and cardio aerobics will guarantee a smaller mid-section!