I want to have a flat stomach but crunches don't seem to be working! What's wrong?

The problem is that the primary muscle you work when you do a crunch (the rectus abdominus or RA) doesn't have much effect on flattening the abdomen. In order for it get flatter, other muscles need to come into play.

The transverse abdominus (or TA) is the major player. It is attached to the RA on the front of you and your spine in the back of you. When it contracts, it pulls your belly toward your spine. Working your obliques can also help flatten your stomach.

You shouldn't stop doing crunches, though. Instead, pay close attention to your form so you can stimulate more muscles. For example, when you contract, pull your belly toward your spine with effort. My video Pilates for Abs will teach you how to best work your ab muscles so you will get stronger and have a flatter ab profile, better core strength and improved body awareness.

In addition to having good form, it's important that your ab exercises challenge you. Once you can do 12 or 15 crunches, it's time to increase your intensity.

One way to do this is to put your knees over your hips, with your feet as high as your knees, while lying in a crunch position. Pull your knees toward your chest just for a second to notice how your lower back is on the floor. Now, push your knees back out over your hips until you feel like it's getting slightly difficult to keep your lower back on the floor. Try a set of crunches here, keeping your knees over your hips and not letting them creep back toward your chest. As you get stronger, just push the knees further away from your center little by little. Be mindful that your lower back needs to stay down and not arch. You will get a better strengthening effect by adding this intensity, rather than adding more reps.

I hope this helps!
Kathy

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