Wouldn't it be lovely if we could stuff ourselves silly with chocolate and sit on the couch all day, but stay skinny and toned ;)
Unfortunately that's not how our bodies work unless you have an increadibly fast metabolism and even then, you'll end up with your arteries clogged with fat from a bad diet!
My body is used to riding 6 days a week, at least 2 horses a day, plus coaching, and doing general work around the property. I started full time (6 days a week!) office work 6 months ago, and stopped riding as I purchased a yearling. The result has been stacking on 10kg, before I even realised, I had really stacked on the weight. My diet is not bad at all, but it really is the inactivity that kept the fat on me.
No pain no gain - you have to work to burn that excess fat off!! I have started running again. Cardio exercise is what is going to burn off the fat. You can run, ride a bike, whatever, just get your heart rate up and break a sweat for 30mins/day.
As someone said above, you can't decide where the weight comes off, but you CAN tone specific muscles. I am trying desperately to get my core back in shape to start riding again this summer (Australia), so have been doing multiple reps of sit ups, crunches and core strengthening exercises such as the 'plank'. Another good one is to sit up with your legs straight out in front of you, lean back on about a 24 degree angle, then lift your legs at the same angle, keeping them straight, so you are balancing on your seat bones. Fantastic for working your core!!
Lunges are brilliant for your legs, as are step ups.
But the cardio is the biggest player for getting rid of the flab. Don't be lazy!!!