I'm not sure if and how does Pilates help? I have 5 winsor pilates vidoes and I want to start adding them to my routine if it helps.

Reducing my calorie intake has helped me with my whole body but not my abs.

Crunches on the ball seriously defined my abs in a considerably short amount of time.

All of the above! Including Pilates (apparatus) and my AWESOME Personal Trainers.

I do all but Pilates.

Pilates works for sure! I'm a runner and I use pilates for stretching and for abs and I have a perfectly flat stomach- although I do think that every woman carries her weight in a different spot, e.g. I've never had to work hard to have a flat stomach but I really work hard to make my legs thin and lean (pilates is GREAT for that too though). In general just eating less makes everything smaller, that's prolly the best advice here and for every "weight-loss" solution . . .

I heard you won't be able to see your 6-pack until you are at a relatively low body fat percentage (lower 20's and below).

I am 30% and have a perfectly flat stomach. After I have a great week of working out, they are rock star. Everything else....will take some time.

Long-waisted (hour-glass) girls have it easy in this way.

Lunges, squats, pullups, and pushups will do more for your abs than crunches, pilates, etc will ever do since these moves use huge muscle groups and create huge afterburn.

I always feel like an idiot doing pilates...I'm more of a yoga girl for group exercise.

I may not be the skinniest girl but I have a really nice flat stomach. I love using an 8 lbs. medicine to do exercises. I also think my interval training and strength training really helps too.

For those who do pilates, does it work? If so, how? I've never really understood it. :\
(Also, do you guys use at-home videos for it or do you take classes?)

Alsaf: I do pilates and it works. I don't last more than 30mins in the aerobics clases and pilates is low impact and highly effective. I use to take clases at the gym but they changed the schedule for the class and I couln't go anymore so I do the dvd 10 mins pilates. It's easy and you can mix and match the workout. Hope this helps

I love junk food but as soon as I stop eating it my stomach always gets flatter and more defined. To get it really toned, I'd probably have to do some type of exercise.

I suggest starting pilates in the gym and putting a lot of effort to learn the right techniques, pilates works for people who make that effort, if not it's just a great stretch. Listen to the instructor, keep your belly button pulled in and tight the whole class- that's what's really gonna make the difference . . once you are confident you can switch to dvds.

Thanks everyone!

I use the Winsor Pilates dvd. I think it's great, the instruction was quite clear and I think it's a good start if you can't afford a real class (like me). I've been doing it for almost two years now (I said one year in another comment, but now that I think of it again, it's actually two years ). It really works for the abs.

That being said, it was not an instant result for the abs for me. It took a while to get to where I am now, but my incentive was my flexibility improves. My husband also do Pilates and he got rather instant result for the abs... I was so jealous . But it gives me motivation that over time I could get the same fab abs and it's happening now .

I'd love to try a Pilates class but they are so expensive here in Berlin. > 30 euro per session. My poor student budget just can't afford it yet .

"Lunges, squats, pullups, and pushups will do more for your abs than crunches, pilates, etc will ever do since these moves use huge muscle groups and create huge afterburn."

So true, angelfromlsu!

Engaging your TVA also helps immensely in flattening one's stomach;and diet, obviously, if you don't already have a low bodyfat.

Cutting back on salty foods helps my belly's appearance the most. I bloat up so easily from salt.

I have been taking Pilates classes for about a year, and it has completely changed my body. I do cardio a few times a week, but my heartrate gets up as much during Pilates as when I am on the treadmill. My first session was so diffucult, so I asked my instructor if is gets easier and she said "No, the better you get at Pilates the harder it gets" and it is so true! But, I love it! I am so much stronger, and even more importantly, flexible than ever... Everyone should try it!

Cardio with intervals makes a big difference, and so does working my core/deep ab muscles.

I also do all but pilates, I tried it a couple of times but my trainer said I got a better workout without pilates