Does running help with tightening your abs?

In a way, yes. Because endurance activities such as running, walking, stair climbing and cycling burn calories, they can help reduce the fat around your middle -- and everywhere else, for that matter. Proper running form may also help strengthen abs if you make a conscious effort to run with good upright posture.

It's still a wise move to do specific strengthening exercises for your abs two to three times a week. I recommend starting with two sets of 8-15 reps of basic crunches and gradually expanding your routine to include other types of ab strengtheners such as super-slow crunches, low-back raises and abs with a twist.

Here's a good description of a basic crunch: A. Lie on your back with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor and hip-width apart, abdominals pulled inward. Place your hands behind your head, fingertips touching but not laced together, thumbs behind your ears. Round your elbows outward and tuck your chin a small ways towards your chest. B. Curl your head, neck and chest up and forward off the floor. Hold for a moment. Then lower to the starting position. You'll feel the strongest pull through your abs as you hold a moment just before you lower down.

For the record, you can't spot-reduce any part of your body. In other words, you can't selectively zap fat off a specific area simply by exercising it. Let's be clear about what that means: Crunches and other abdominal exercises can strengthen abdominal muscles, tighten up your midsection and contribute towards better posture, but they can't help melt fat away from your middle.

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