Want to tone your stomach the fun way? If you swim around for a while, you’ll get fit as fast as doing crunches on the floor. Trade your runners for your swimsuit! Swimming is an awesome form of exercise that’s a fun full-body workout.  

However, you’re here because you want a flat and toned tummy. Let’s dive into some exercises you can do that require you to use your core muscles.

How to Tone Your Stomach

1) The Pike

Here’s a water workout that exercises your core!

1. Stand in water up to your neck.
2. Pull your knees up to your chest.
3. Lean back, extending and straightening legs into a pike position (your legs should be in a “V” with your bottom pointing towards the pool floor). 
4. Hold this position.
5. Use your arms to stay afloat by pushing backward in circles or figure eight motion.
6. Repeat ten times.

2) Kickboard Flutter Kicks

Keep your head above water during this swimming exercise!

1. Stretch your arms and hold the kickboard in front to keep your upper body afloat.
2. Scissor kicks your feet front-to-back rapidly to stay afloat.
3. Point your toes, keep your legs straight and keep your kicks just below the water’s surface.
4. As you swim, imagine pulling your navel in toward your spine and away from the bottom of the pool.
5. Repeat this movement for as long as you can do so comfortably and safely.

3) Dolphin Kick

via Healthline Gfycat

Moving like an aquatic mammal will help you get slim and trim in no time!

1. Start with your arms outstretched in front of you, clasping your hands together or holding a kickboard.
2. Tighten your core muscles and move your body in a wave-like motion to propel yourself forward.
3. Push your chest downward while keeping your hips up.
4. Push your hips down while your upper body moves up.
5. Repeat this movement as you travel the length of the pool or until you feel fatigued and cannot safely continue the exercise.

4) Swim with a Pull Buoy

A pull buoy is a piece of swimming equipment that helps your body stay afloat. Buy one at any sporting goods store to work out like a pro!

1. Place a pull buoy between your thighs, which float your hips and legs to the surface of the water.
2. Begin swimming the freestyle, sometimes called the front crawl stroke.
3. Keep your feet together and do not kick; the pull buoy will keep your legs floating, isolating the upper body.
4. Keep your core engaged to prevent your hips and feet from sinking.
5. Travel the length of the pool or until you feel too tired to continue.

5) Swim with an Ankle Band + Pull Buoy

An ankle band is another piece of swimming equipment swimmers use to perfect their strokes and keep their hips afloat. You’ll find an ankle band in most sporting goods stores. Looking for a challenge? Repeat the previous exercise with a strap around your ankles!

A Lifestyle Effort

Doing sit-ups or crunches won’t do much for belly fat. You’ll also need a cardio regiment and a lifestyle adjustment or change. Swimming is great when combined with other efforts. Weight loss and toning require a holistic approach to your health, as mentioned in this article, 20 Effective Tips to Lose Belly Fat.

These helpful tips are backed by scientific research. For example, it’s equally important to know why or how eating some fibrous foods, eliminating or cutting down on foods with trans fats, reducing stress and more get rid of belly fat and tone the stomach.