Why isn't that ab exercise you do each day making those chunky thighs and fat pockets disappear? Well, although you are tweaking the muscles down in those areas, that's not going to help you lose the fat on top of those muscles.

What you need in addition to those ab exercises (crunches, etc.) is what you always need in tandem with exercise -- careful monitoring of your nutrition.

Can you burn more calories than you eat? Sure -- but ab exercises (in general) won't get you there. Cardio workouts most certainly will, but the time required can be a hassle. An hour of workout every other day (while watching what you eat) can get you to the point where that ab flab is gone, though.