When most of us are asked about tummy toning exercises; our first thoughts are usually of situps, crunches and leg raises. Some of you may even have flashbacks of army basic training, either from real-life experience or from movies you've watched. While such exercises are all well and good, along with being effective -- they can be quite boring to do each and every day.

Break Traditions

It's true that conventional tummy toning exercises that force your abs to contract will definitely tone your abs: There are several exercise that you've likely never thought of that can also help tone your mid-section.

Running

Running forces your entire core to constantly contract and relax at a rapid rate. Despite all of the targeting exercises you've done and heard of: Running is hands down one of the most all-encompassing tummy toning exercises you can do and works every single muscle in your body (including your heart).

Swimming

Feel like a refreshing dip in the pool? Not only is swimming refreshing, but just like swimming: It works every muscle in your body, with an extreme emphasis on your core muscles. Your tummy has to hold your upper and lower body together. Just think of the work your abs are doing while your twisting, pulling and kicking. Whether running is a superior core exercise to running is debatable, but both movements are great for stability and toning.

Climbing

Whether your climbing a wall, rope, rock-face, or just walking up a decent incline: Climbing of all kinds put your abdominal muscles to work, since they're needed to stabilize your upper and lower body while moving. When you think you're just using your upper body to climb rope, you're actually putting the most force on your abs -- because gravity is working just as hard to separate your legs from your torso and your core muscles are what prevent that from happening.