Should I do ab workouts while trying to lose belly fat?

Just turned 40 and have same body type as my father - scrawny everything but all weight goes to my torso. You start looking 7 months pregnant, lol. Rather than just continuing to accept it and make the same jokes about myself, I've started a workout routine and completely changed my diet. I remember reading that building abs under fat just makes the belly bigger. I'm determined to stick with the excersise and diet until I lose all my side fat and gut. I've been doing daily elliptical sessions, lunges, and weight training for arms. I haven't been doing crunches or anything yet because I want that gut to go down, but I honestly don't know what I'm doing, lol. Tis why I'm here! Should I wait to burn the belly fat before adding in ab stuff, or should I be doing the ab stuff now?