Middle age often brings about a variety of changes, many of which are less than welcome. Among these is the notorious “muffin top”—the unwanted belly fat that spills over the waistband. This stubborn fat can make it difficult to zip up your favorite jeans or pants. If you’re eager to slim down your waistline and eliminate excess fat, you’re in luck. We consulted with fitness experts who revealed seven standing exercises that can help you achieve these goals more effectively than crunches, particularly if you’re over 50.

The appearance of a muffin top can be attributed to various factors, such as hormonal changes, inactivity, unhealthy eating habits, and stress. While this type of fat is often a cosmetic concern, it also increases your risk for serious health issues like high blood pressure, obesity, stroke, heart disease, type-2 diabetes, and sleep apnea.

The silver lining? With a proper exercise regimen, you can carve out a slimmer and stronger waistline.

“Many people overlook the fact that their ‘core’ includes the entire midsection, encompassing the front, sides, and back. It involves the rectus abdominis (or 6-pack), hips, lateral muscles such as the obliques, and the lower back,” explains Cole Francum, a Nike trainer and general manager at Session Training Greenpoint. “Strengthening your core means more than just doing crunches; it involves engaging all parts of your core through various movements and planes.”

“What most people forget is that your ‘core’ encompasses your entire midsection, from the front to the sides to the back. It includes your rectus abdominus (6-pack), hips, lateral muscles (like the obliques) and your lower back,” says Cole Francum, Nike trainer, Session Training Greenpoint general manager. “Strengthening your core is not just about doing crunches but challenging all parts of your core in different planes and forms of motion.”

That’s where standing exercises come into play. What exactly makes them so beneficial?

“Standing exercises can help with that ‘muffin top’ more quickly than crunches! This is especially the case after you hit 50, thanks to their functional and joint-friendly nature, combined with the powerful engagement of the obliques and core stabilisers that these types of exercises offer,” explains Amanda Grimm, CPT, running coach at We Run.

Below, Francum and Grimm break down the best standing moves to slim down your waistline.

Offset Hold

The offset hold requires you to hold a heavy weight to the side of your leg, and then switch sides.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

“The lateral core and rest of the unweighted side-body are working to maintain an upright position and resist the weight from taking you down,” Francum explains. “This is called anti-flexion and is excellent at developing deep core strength, especially in the obliques.”

1. Begin by standing tall with your feet hip-distance apart and your core activated.
2. Hold a heavy dumbbell or kettlebell in one hand at the side of your body.
3. Stand still—making sure to not lean toward or away from the weight—as you continue to hold the weight.
4. Switch sides.

Offset March

The offset march requires you to hold a heavy dumbbell or kettlebell in one hand as you slowly march. According to Francum, it should feel challenging as you test your strength and balance. If the exercise feels too difficult, march with just your body weight or hold onto a sturdy surface for balance.

“Marches are an excellent exercise to activate your hips, lower abdominals, and stability while also stretching the hip, low back, and glutes,” Francum points out. “People can do this unweighted or weighted with dumbbells, kettlebells, or any other load to the side, in a front rack, or overhead. The march is a very functional exercise that mimics a lot of everyday movement (climbing stairs, walking, etc) and increases single-leg stability and balance!”

1. Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart, holding a heavy dumbbell or kettlebell in one hand at your side.
2. March in a controlled manner, lifting your left knee to hip level, then your right knee.
3. Repeat holding the weight in your other hand, performing 3 sets of 20 to 40 seconds on each side.

Dumbbell Chop

“The dumbbell chop trains the obliques and transverse abdominis to control rotation and diagonal weight transfer,” Francum tells us. Get ready to train your lower back as well as you rotate through the twisting motion.

1. Stand tall with your feet shoulder-width apart.
2. Hold a light to moderate weight dumbbell by your hip with your shoulders facing the same direction.
3. Keep your arms mostly extended as you rotate at the trunk and chop the weight up toward the opposite shoulder. Your feet will pivot with your shoulders.
4. Use control to return the weight to your hip.
5. Complete 8 to 10 reps on each side.

Cable/Band Rotations

This move calls for you to rotate against the resistance of the cable or band.

“It engages the transverse abdominal muscles and obliques through rotation + anti-rotation as you accelerate and decelerate in the movement,” Francum tells us. “This builds your rotational control.”

1. Begin with a resistance band anchored at chest level.
2. Stand sideways to the anchor point with your feet hip-width apart. Hold onto the band with both hands, keeping it close to the chest.
3. Activate your core as you rotate away from the anchor point, turning your shoulders and trunk.
4. Hold for a moment before gradually returning to the start position, keeping a small bend in your knees and your arms extended.
5. Perform 6 to 10 reps on each side.

Dumbbell Side Bend

The standing dumbbell side bend engages your obliques and deep ab muscles, helping to define the waistline. You’ll hold a dumbbell in one hand and bend your torso toward the weight. On the way back up, press through your feet, focusing on stretching and contracting your obliques on the weighted side.

“This directly targets the obliques through lateral-bending and trunk shortening,” Francum points out.

1. Stand tall, feet hip-width apart, holding a dumbbell in your left hand at your side.
2. Activate your core as you slowly bend your torso to the left, lowering the dumbbell down your thigh.
3. Return to the start position.
4. Once you perform 2 sets of 12 to 15 reps on your left side, switch over to the right—slowly bending your torso toward the weight, lowering it down your thigh.