Some abs machines are so basic you instantly know how to use them once you see them. Some, on the other hand, can take us a little time to figure out. While the exercise machines are designed to fit everybody’s needs in toning up the muscles, manyof them are not very effective and only waste our money. We are talking about the ab machines here that we usually find on the Internet and in infomercials.
Since the time that exercise machines have become portable, they have become more popular because who won’t like a machine that is so compact you can slide it under your bed or stand it on one corner of your room after your workout. The previous exercise home machines were larger, heavier, and of course more expensive. So there came the smaller types. They also have become more affordable and with regards to their structures, generally, abs machines have now greater support either for your back, your knees, neck, head and elbows.
On the other hand, we may see that some ab machines have enough support to make your abs workout comfortable, but some actually make it too comfortable. So instead of burning your fats away, you might want to sleep on the machine instead. That may sound funny, but it’s true. The question is how come the manufacturers designed ab machines to make people comfortable when you ought to sweat and feel the pain to gain the benefits? This is probably why some abs machines are nothing but fancy tools that are useless and inefficient.
So, take a look at the Ab Lounge. If you look at it, it looks more like a lounger than an exercise abs machine. With all its wide canvas, you may want to knock yourself out with it and snore away. Compared to other abs machines that have smaller and compact structures, the Ab Lounger fares away.
Indeed, the Ab Lounger may be liked by people who have back problems and do away with their crunches since the lounger bends in the middle which makes it an exercise machine. Checking on the range of motions you can do with it like the forward crunches, side crunches and bending your body to the max, you can also do that on the floor and no abs machine is needed. You can also do that with the stability ball or with other ab machines that have more compact and solid structures.
In short, we do not recommend this ab machine, and think that there are better ab machines in the market.
You are probably looking for a cheap Ab Circle Pro, as this is right now is the most popular (and most advertised) ab machine in the market. This ab machine is endorsed by fitness celebrity Jennifer Nicole Lee. If you want to buy the ab circle pro cheap for the best price then please see below.
The advantages of the Ab Circle is that it trains your abs and your obliques. It is easily folded for storage and transportable. You’ll notice that is really quite a workout and you can adjust the machine to your fitness level. The Ab Circle Pro works your abs muscles, but it is also a cardio exercise so it helps you to burn belly fat if you work out for a longer time (tip: instead of increasing the intensity by changing the incline position, make your workout longer so it works more as a cardio exercise).
It’s important to keep in mind that the Ab Circle Pro has a weight limit of 275 pounds. You will exercise on your knees so if you suffer with some kind of knee problems it is probably not the right ab machine for you. There have been some reports of quality issues – a problem of quality control, as not all machines are like this.
Tips:
Use knee pads to protect your knees and keep your knees in place when exercising.
The Ab Circle Pro might slip around if you use it on a wooden floor, so it’s better to place on a carpet.
Remember to read all the directions and start slowly, especially if you are seriously out of shape.
If you order the Ab Circle Pro through their official website, initially you only have to pay 14.95 US$. But then they charge 34.50 US$ for shipping and handling (non-refundable!) and if you decide to keep it, there are five payments of 39.95 US$ each, so the total is over 200 US$ and you actually can buy it cheaper at Amazon!
Here are my picks for the best ab machines out there to work your abs. They are separated in different categories, depending on what your objectives are.
The best abs machines for traditional ab crunches
In my opinion the traditional crunch is still one of the most effective exercises to work your abs. As we have discussed in previous articles, one of the main problems people have with the ab crunch is the strain it puts on your neck. These two ab machines support your neck and solve this problem:
AB Trainer
The AB Trainer allows you to do ab crunches and supports your head, thereby reducing the stress on your neck. It is not the highest quality out there, it is definitely not gym quality but it will do the job and for 100 US$ it is reasonably priced.
This is the “heavy duty” club version of the AB Trainer. It is top quality and you still can do your abs in ten years from now. If you care about quality and you always want to get the best, this is your choice. It might be better quality and more comfortable but keep in mind that it costs 200 US$ and will not train your abs more than the basic AB Trainer.
The best Abs Machines for lower Ab Workouts
Perfect Pullup Heavy Duty Ab Straps
As we have discussed in an earlier article, using ab straps to do hanging leg raises or knee raises is one of the best ways to train your lower abs. Read the recommendations in the post in order to avoid back injury (no swinging!). Not for people with back problems, but definitely a very good way to train your lower abs. Don’t be fooled by the low price, keep in mind that you need a workout bar where you can hang the abs on, so you need to buy also the workout bar.
Crazy Abs Abdominal Exercise Home Gym
This is a good abs machine that has received very positive reviews. It is very versatile, allowing to target your upper, lower and oblique abdominals. The motion is quite similar to doing hanging knee raises only that you’re not hanging so it’s more comfortable and there is less risk that you overstretch your back. At 140 Bucks it ain’t cheap but it is a very powerful machine. There is a video on youtube that shows how you use it:
Best-selling Abs Machines
These are some of the best known Abs Machines out there, therefore I have included them. However they have some limitations so make sure you read my comments.
Ab Rocket Abdominal Trainer
The good thing about the Ab Rocket is that you get to rest your head. There are some springs that might make it easier to do ab crunches, but whether these springs have the right strength for you depends on your weight and your fitness level. The most important limitation is that this machine is not adequate if you are taller than 5’9 as then your head will not be in the right position. The good thing is that it comes with a diet/nutrition program which will help you to reduce the belly fat covering your abs.
Ab Lounge Abdominal Exerciser
The good thing about the Ab Lounge is that you stretch your back before you do the ab crunch. This means that you work your abs on a wider range. BUT this can also be dangerous if you overstretch, you can hurt your back. So if you are seriously out of shape or if you have a back problem you want to avoid this machine! Also, it is rather bulky so not recommendable if you live in a small apartment. On the good side, it is quite comfortable and sturdy.
You might also be interested to read our cheap ab circle pro review, as this is another best-selling ab machine.
Best Ab Machine to Burn Belly Fat
All the abs machines that are reviewed above will help you to strengthen and tone your abdominal muscles. But if you have been following this blog then you know that the main challenge is to burn off belly fat: right now there is probably a layer of fat hiding your abs and no matter how strong and muscular your abdominal muscles get, if you don’t get rid of that fat your abs will not show!
The best way to get rid of belly fat is through diet/nutrition and through cardio exercise. For this purpose a treadmill or a bicycle is not ideal as they work only your lower body, the best machines to burn belly fat are elliptical machines and rowing machines as they exercise your entire body and thereby burn more fat. Strictly speaking it is not an “abs machine” but it is included here as it is one of the best ways to achieve the objective of ripped abs. In that sense, it is actually the perfect abs machine…
Body Champ BRM3671 Cardio Dual Trainer
Let’s face it, an elliptical machine is not a cheap exercise equipment. This item here is the most expensive of all the equipment listed in this post and it is still quite a low price for an elliptical (for a professional gym elliptical machine you can pay up to 5000 US$). For an elliptical it is reasonably priced while still offering a good quality.
In our last article, we have seen the importance of a good lower ab workout, what benefit it has for your back and your health, and also how it can help you to get a flatter stomach. We also explained reverse crunches, the best lower ab workout for beginners. Abs machines can you help to exercise your lower abs and can make your workout more effective, so today we will look at the best ab machines for your lower ab workout and what exercises to do.
Using an abs bench for lower ab workout: doing inclined reverse crunches
Initial position: lie on your back on an declined abs bench, using your arms to stabilize your body, with your feets raised and your knees bent.
Exercise: now bring up your knees towards your chest, trying to raise your pelvis off the board. Hold for a second and lower your knees back to the initial position. Make sure not to lower your legs to far as this might cause you to overstretch your back and hurt your back.
The higher the angle of the incline, the more challenging the exercise is for your abs.
Decline leg raises with an abs bench
This is an advanced exercise. It works your abs a lot but it also really puts a lot of strain on your lower back. Personally, I would rather jump to the hanging knee raises and skip this exercise.
The exercise is the same as the decline reverse crunch, but instead of having your knees bent, you have your legs straight at all times. You lift your legs up as far as possible, curling your torso towards your chest and then lower them again. Don’t lower your legs too far down as this will only increase the stress on your lower back.
Using ab balls for lower ab workout: knee tucks on stability ball
Initial position: you have your shins on an ab ball and are in push-up position (i.e. face down, rested on your arms and on your shins which are on the stability ball).
Exercise: use your abs to roll the ball closer to your hands. To do this, bring your legs towards your body, bending the knees and sticking your buttocks into the air.
By the way: you can also do the reverse crunches on the abs ball. On the abs ball you will obtain a greater stretch of the abdominals, so the exercise will be more effective. Lie on the ab ball, face up. Use your arms to stabilize your body and then lift and lower your legs.
Using ab straps for your lower ab workout
As we have seen in the article on ab straps, doing hanging knee raises and hanging leg raises are two great exercises to train your lower abs. Find the detailed description of the exercise in the article. Please read this review if you are interested in cheap ab machines.
An ab ball, also called exercise ball or fitness ball can be the perfect abs machine and very effective for your abs workout. So, what exactly is an ab ball? An abs ball is a heavy-duty inflatable rubber ball on which you can sit or lie to perform your exercises. They come in different sizes so you can choose the one that fits your body size.
Using ab balls as ab exercise equipment has several advantages:
When doing a crunch on an ab ball your back stretches backward. In comparison with the standard crunch where you lie on the floor, on an abs ball you train your abdominals in a much wider range of motion and it has been scientifically proven that this trains your abdominals more.
You need to permanently maintain your balance on the ab ball. That means that you train a wide variety of muscles at the same time and your lower back and abdominals have to work harder to maintain stability while at the same time doing the crunch.
You gain increased balance, stability and coordination.
Many people find the workout on the stability ball more comfortable than the standard crunch on the floor.
Keep in mind that one of the main functions of your abdominals is not only to flex your torso, but to actually give stability to your torso, balancing your body and protecting your spine from injury. It is clear that a workout on the ab ball where you permanently need to adjust your balance is the perfect exercise for this objective and will give you true core strength.
With an abs ball you can train all your abdominal muscles (rectus abdominis, obliques and transverse abdominis).
How to train your abs on an ab ball:
When you start off exercising on an ball, make sure that you hold onto a wall in order to maintain the balance.
Sit on the abs ball, then move your feet forward while leaning backwards, until you reach the initial position in which you lie face upwards on the ball, your back stretched backwards over the ball.
Place your fingers behind your head.
Now do the crunch movement, flexing your torso approaching your rips towards your thighs.
There is no need to do a complete sit-up (the last part of the movement only trains your hip flexors and not your abdominals), it’s enough to get up to a position where your body is angled about 30º .
Now slowly lower your weight again until your back is again stretched over the exercise ball.
You find three more effective ab workout in this Youtube video.
Watch out, unlike other abs machines, the ab ball does not provide any support for your neck so you need to stabilize it yourself. Many persons make the error of locking both hands behind their head and then pulling their head upwards, straining your neck. In order to avoid that, the best trick is not to lock the fingers of your hands. Place your fingers on each side of your head so that they just touch. When doing the exercise focus on maintaining the head in line with your spine, don’t tilt it forward.
What size of Ab Ball to chose?
Ab Balls exist in a variety of different sizes and you need to select the right size for your height. As a general rule, when you sit on an ab ball you should note:
your feet are even on the ground with an equal distribution of the weight (not standing on the tip of the toes)
your knees should create an angle of 90 degrees or a little more – this means that if you look at it from the side, your hips are at the same height or slightly above your knees
your upper body should be straight, not leaning forward or backwards to balance.
Here is a recommendation of what size of ab ball you need based on your height (information courtesy of spine-health.com)
Ab Ball Diameter
Your height
5′ and under
45 cm
5’1″– 5’8″
55 cm
5’9″– 6’2″
65 cm
6’3″– 6’7″
75 cm
6’8″ and taller
85 cm
You can find cheap ab balls at Amazon for around 20US$. The TKO series has the advantage that they are anti-burst. Don’t forget to buy also an Air Pump.
The truth is that you can train your abs perfectly without an abs machine. And if you’re one of those hard-core “no pain, no gain” bodybuilders, you probably prefer the good ol’ crunch. In that sense, the floor is the cheapest ab exercise equipment you can find!
However, if you think about what is the most effective and most comfortable abs workout, then the abs machines come back into consideration. One of the most common reasons why exercisers stop doing crunches are neck and lower-back strain. The best ab machines support your neck, thereby avoiding the neck stress and making your abs workout more comfortable. And when your workout is more comfortable, this might lead to that you do work out more and longer.
Also, on the floor in the initial position your back is just straight. But the most effective way to train your abs is to have them pre-streched, like for examplewhen you lie on an ab ball. So, using an abs machine you can train your abs more effectively.
As we haveseen in our last article, hanging abs exercises are great for lower ab workout and some even claim that hanging exercises are more effective thanlying exercises. You can do ahanging lower ab workout just hanging from a chin-up bar, or if your grip is not that resistant you can use ab straps.
And finally the mere act of investing into an abs machine might make you take your abs workout more seriously, be more motivated and determined to really get the maximum out of your investment.
So, you definitely can do just ab exercises on the floor, but using an abs machine can make your abs workout more varied, more fun and it can be more effective. And there are some cheap ab machines out there so you don’t need to spend a fortune.
Can ab straps serve as abs machine? Well, it’s a little strange to describe a few straps you hang your body on as “machine”, but strangely enough they are the best tools for your lower ab workout.
As we have seen in a previous article, the abdominals are actually a group of muscles, including the “washboard”-like rectus abdominis. Some researchers claim that one of the best and most effective lower ab workouts targeting this muscle are hanging abs exercises, such as the hanging leg raise (see below for an explanation of how to perform hanging leg raises). However, you have to keep in mind that generally all abdominal exercises target at the lower abs are dangerous for your back and you have to be very careful to choose the right exercise and to perform it properly. On the Wikipedia there is a comparison of the back risk involved with doing ab exercises.
The tricky part is that – in order to perform hanging abdominal exercises – you need a strong grip, as you need to hold on to a chin up bar. Sustaining your body during the length of your lower ab workout takes a lot of strength in your hands and forearms, and many people don’t have grip to hold on to the chin up bar for that long.
That’s where the ab straps come in. Ab straps are slings with a ring or carabiner onone end where the straps can be fixed to the chin up bar. You then just fityour arms into the cushioned slings and that way your body hangs on the straps, while your arms and shoulders support your weight and you can focus on your abs workout instead of fighting with your grip.
Now you’re ready to start your lower ab workout. First of all, it’s very important that when you train your abs with ab straps you need to do slow, controlled movements and you don’t swing. You don’t want that the momentum of your swing lifts your legs, you want to train your abs! Also, if you make any jerky movement you can easily strain your back, so you really need to make slow controlled movements and you should try to maintain your back in a neutral position as much as possible.
Hanging Knee Raises:
In the initial position you hang in the ab straps, arms parallel to the floor. Now you slowly raise your knees towards your chest while bending the knees until you reach a 90º angle, with your thighs parallel to the floor. Slowly lower your knees back to the initial position. Remember: no swinging!
Hanging Leg Raises:
This is an advanced exercise and it works your abs even more. From the same initial position, you slowly raise you straight legs without bending the knees until your legs are parallel to the floor. You hold them for a count of two and then slowly lower them back.
HangingTwists:
If you want to train your obliques, you can vary the previous exercises by twisting your body, i.e. while lifting your legs you lift them first to one side and then in the next movement to the opposite side.
Ab straps are relatively affordable, costing around 10-30 US$. The problem is that you need a chin-up bar to fix your ab straps on, so if you want to train at home and not in a gym you’ll also need to buy a bar.
In a nutshell, ab straps are a good way to trains your abs, especially your lowerabs. However, if you don’t perform the exercise correctly you can strain your back, so if you have any kind of back problem you’re probably better offlooking for a different ab exercise equipment. Read also our post on the best ab machines.
There has been much talk about fake bloggers using their blogs to promote their product.In order to avoid any misunderstanding, we want to make clear here thestandpoint of this blog about the best abs machines and about abdominal exercise towards information, editorial content,advertising and ethical marketing.
This is a private blog, all articles are based on the best of knowledge we have about the subject based on our experience and careful research. This blog does accept advertising and it hosts ads for affiliate marketing programs which will clearly beidentified as sales ads. However, we believe in honesty of information, opinion and the relationship with our readers and the views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely our own.
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In order to be able to do a proper abs work out (no matter whether with abs machines or with some other kind of abs program), we first need to have a (at least basic) understanding of the anatomy of the abdominal muscles. So, in this article we will explain the different muscle groups that are the abdominal muscles, and what their primary functions are.
Even though many people think of the abdominal muscles only of the “six pack” of the rectus abdominus, actually the abs also consist of the internal and external oblique abdominal and the transverse abdominis. These Latin names might look a little scary at first sight, but you will soon see that it aint’t that complicated.
The rectus abdominus is the muscle that runs from the pelvis all the way up to the ribs. Three fibrous bands crossing the rectus abdominus give it the washboard look that is so attractive. The function of this muscle is to bend the spine and bring the rib cage closer to the hips (as happens in the abdominal crunches). It also helps stabilize the spine. The rectus abdominus is one long muscle, so even though some people speak of upper and lower abdominals they are just referring to different areas of the same muscle.
The oblique abdominals are muscles situated on the sides of the rectus abdominus. Their function is to help bend and twist the torso and to make angled movements. Their fibers run diagonally – interior and exterior oblique abdominals run in opposite directions, so that a contraction of the interior obliques makes the torso bend to the same side, whereas the exterior obliques make it bend to the opposite side. They work together to make possible all kinds of rotation and tilting movements of the torso and are essential for the stabilization of the vertebral column.
The transverse abdominis is located underneath the obliques and wraps around the abdominal contents. It is a muscle that traditionally has been neglected, even though it’s crucial for the stability of the core and has an important aesthetic impact: it is called the “corset muscle”, as it is responsible for tucking in the organs of the abdomen and thus give us a flat stomach. It is like a natural weight belt, that stabilizes the spine and pelvis when we lift any kind of weights.
All these muscles together wrap around the abdominal area and provide stability and protection. Now that we know what muscles to focus on, we can start thinking about how to train them. So whereas the rectus abdominus can easily be trained with your perfect abs machine, the transverse abdominis is best trained without any kind of equipment, just contracting the muscle in 3 sets of 30 seconds. The over time you can increase the duration and the number of sets.
Sidenote: the serratus anterior which is also colored in the anatomy chart actually does not belong to the abdominal muscles.
Buying an abs machine can get you on the road to getting these firm abdominals you dream of. But as with any investment, you want to chose carefully where you put your money. In our last article we looked at some advantages abdominal machines have and how they can help you with your lower ab workout to achieve these desired rock hard abs. Today we are going to look with detail what points you need to keep in mind when you consider buying your own ab exercise equipment.
We recommend you to first analyze whether you really want to buy an abs machine or whether maybe you prefer an abs workout program combined with a diet for burning belly fat. Many internet sites offer such programs or you can hire a personal trainer.
Not all abdominal machines really deliver what they promise, so before taking a decision on which is the best ab machine for you, first consider these recommendations:
Check out a variety of different models and look which ones fit best your objectives and your general physical condition. You can get a personal trainer to recommend you or you can check out the reviews on different websites. Very soon you will also find product reviews on this site.
The abs machine should be adaptable to your height and weight.
In order to avoid any injuries, you need to make sure that the abdominal machine is not going to stress your back. This is especially important if you suffer from any kind of back problem, in this case you should consult your health provider for recommendations.
The abs machine should target all abdominal muscles (Upper ab and lower ab workout, abdominal oblique and transverses abdominis).
The abdominal machine should be comfortable to use and not cause any discomfort or cramping.
Check also whether it gives support to your neck.
You also need to check whether you actually have enough space at home for your new abs exercise equipment.
Keep in mind that contrary to what most people think, the most expensive abs machine is not necessarily the best. Unless you’re a hard-core bodybuilder, you should be able to find a suitable cheap abs machine for around 100 US$ or less, so don’t spend too much! For example, you can find a cheap ab circle pro – right now one of the most popular ab machines – for around 130 US$.
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