Cosmo's Crunch-Free Ab Workout.(Brief Article)

Ready to score a dare-to-bare belly? This workout will tighten your tummy -- without a single tedious sit-up.

* Are you sooo sick of doing crunches and not seeing results? Fab news: You can skip them and still score a sleek midsection. Besides being a big bore, standard stomach moves only work your upper and middle abs--leaving your lower abs and obliques in the lurch. That just doesn't cut it when it comes to belly-baring fashions. The solution? Start now and whip your midriff into shape before it's beach time.

Here, celeb fitness expert and trainer Michael George, who has buffed up Hollywood hotties like Meg Ryan, creates a crunch-free workout that guarantees total toning faster than your typical sit-ups. Do this 20-minute routine five times a week, and in just three weeks, you'll see a tauter tummy. And while you're building up your muscles, you'll also have to burn off any flab that's masking the muscles beneath. For the quickest ways to slim down, see our Fat Blasting Options on the next page. Now slip on your sneaks and get started!

Belly-Workout Basics

Here's what you need to know before you begin. Follow these guidelines to score superflat abs ASAP.

1 GET PREPPED. Preworkout, do a five-minute warm-up. It will get your heart pumping and your muscles warm and less prone to injury. Easy options include walking, marching in place, and doing jumping jacks.

2 ESTABLISH ORDER. Do each of these exercises back-to-back. Week one, do them just as they are presented here, working up from the simplest to the more advanced moves. After that, mix them up as much as you want to keep boredom at bay.