A firm, flat stomach is often thought of as the ultimate symbol of sex appeal by both men and women. Health professionals like a flat stomach for a whole different reason. It is one of the most important steps you can take towards a healthy and long life.

The fat around your stomach plays a notable role in a number of different serious health problems. This is because that bulge goes inward as well as outward. The fat clings to your internal organs causing conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and colon cancers.

The only way you're going to get that sleeker stomach is to lose weight. Actually, you want to lose fat over your entire body since targeting one specific area doesn't work. However if most of your weight is in your mid-section that’s where you will first see results. Here are a few ways you can begin losing weight in your stomach area:

• You need to exercise - One of the quickest ways to lose that belly weight is to start a workout combining both cardio and abdominal exercises. All that fat around your midsection will be burned off in no time. You'll want to do about three hour long cardio workouts a week to go along with various abdominal exercises such as abdominal crunches, leg lifts and side twists.

• You need to eat early - Try to eat early in the evening if you can. I know this can be downright impossible for most us with work and a million other things we have going on but it really does help you lose weight. The popular cut off time is about seven. This way you can give your body enough time to adequately digest your food. If you don't your body in turns burns less fat which leads to weight gain.

• You need to cleanse your body - Many times a larger or bloated belly is due to the fact that you are constipated or suffer some other digestive ailment. The best way to do this by adding fiber to your diet and drink plenty of water. Colon cleansers as well as laxatives work to clean out your system safely too. By maintaining a regulated bowel system, you feel less bloated and should notice a flatter stomach.

• You need to lose your stress - Stress is unhealthy for you in so many different ways. Causing you to gain weight in your midsection is just one of them. We have a tendency to eat a lot more than we should when we feel stressed out and this leads to weight gain. Find the causes of your stress and find ways to cope.

• You need to eat healthier - The easiest way to lose weight at any part of your body is to simply eat less. Just by eating healthier you can lose weight in your stomach area without the help of all that exercise too. You won't see any results as quickly but it can be done. One of the easiest ways to lose your stomach weight is to reduce your food intake. All you need to do is eat smaller meals that are better for and cut out all the junk food.