Let’s discuss the best machines for ab workouts. You know that abdominal exercises are an integral part of your fitness plan and getting great results makes it worth the hard work. We look specifically at some of the best equipment for good ab workouts at home or at the gym.
For some, the goal is to get a 6-pack, but for others, it’s about a strong core. Either way, the abdominal area is a key focus. You really want to see the strength and tone of the area improve. Plus, it’s one of the key areas people want to see a slim waist and the evidence of weight loss.
With so many gym machines to choose from, how do you know what is best for you?
The Benefits of Gym Machines For Good Ab Workouts At Home
There are a lot of ab machine stations in the gym that help you workout with maximum efficiency. Upper, lower, and oblique abs require intense exercise to gain strength and firmness, and machines certainly make the job easier.
From the classic abdominal bench to innovative devices designed to target specific muscles, you can have effective ab workouts.
Using these machines is not the only thing required for results from your ab workouts. You can also pair them with cardio exercises, which helps with fat burning.
Remember it is also important to accompany this work with proper stretching for the abs.
The Best Machines For Ab Workouts At Home or At The Gym
For your ab workouts, you will need to find accessories and machines that be effective and give quick results.
In addition to the gym, you might also be looking for some to easily use at home. Building out a workout space at home may give you more flexibility for your fitness plan.
Using gym equipment, in all its forms, adds to the whole exercise experience.
You can use them to practice both dynamic exercises, which involve movement, and isometric exercises, which involve holding the posture.
Training with the ab workout equipment requires perseverance (they don’t work miracles) and watching your posture (contracted abdomen and glutes). While some of the options are hard to classify as machines, their effectiveness of exercises cannot be ignored.
Some of the best equipment you can use to have the most effective ab workouts in the gym are:
1. Abdominal Bench
This bench is common in most gyms. You can perform different exercises to achieve a strong and defined abdomen on them.
The abdominal bench is a variation of an incline bench. But this one has a padded roller attachment near the position your feet would normally be.
There is a lot you can do with this piece of equipment so don’t be limited to a regular sit-up. You can use it on an incline or decline, with all sorts of other equipment and set your own pace.
Mix it up by holding the legs on the rollers and raising the trunk. Or, move in the opposite position, holding the rollers with both hands and raising the legs.
You can perform other exercises with weight on the bench such as medicine ball twists. It should be up to about a 45º angle for the best results. Hard to do but very effective!
2. Abdominal Crunch Machine
It is one of the most sought-after machines among those who want to tone and define their abdomen. The results of the ab workouts are great.
Plus, we’ve included a home version option for you to check out too.
The abdominal crunch consists of bending the trunk forward, overcoming the resistance presented by the weight you sit on the machine.
You can work at a fast pace or you can focus on slow movements, even holding the flexion posture for a few seconds.
This crunch machine is the go-to option for ab workouts with weights.
3. Torso Rotation Machine
If you are looking to strengthen the oblique abs, the torso rotation is a great option.
This ab workout machine is about rotating the trunk to the right and left, keeping the abdomen contracted and slightly forward.
It’s important to ensure you maintain control through your core in the whole rotation.
Start with a lower weight to get an understanding of the movement before you gradually increase the resistance.
If you want a great workout from this machine, you can slow the action down and hold it at the top of the rotation for maximum results.
Make sure you use controlled movements with this machine so that you do not risk injury. Focused and smooth rotations are what you want with this equipment.
4. Cable Machine
The cable weight machine is generally the most versatile machine that you can use in the gym, capable of working for almost every muscle group.
The pulley system of the machine is perfect for varying your exercises and working the muscles from different angles.
You can get very good quality versions of this gym machine for home use. They come with detachable handles and a heavy-duty frame. Worth considering if you’re building out your home gym.
The pulley focuses the effort in the middle area while also allowing you to work with weight to achieve greater effectiveness.
Plank cable rows, cable tuck crunches and cable side bends are just some of the exercises that you can perform with the cable machine. You can check out this video for a whole workout that you can do yourself.
Cable ab workouts have some of the best results you could ask for to get that 6 pack of your dreams.
5. Ab Wheel
It is not exactly a machine, but this simple equipment provides a lot of effective workouts to strengthen the abdomen with a good ab workout at home.
It is precisely that, an ab wheel for doing crunches with two side handles.
You will need to learn the proper technique for using this gym equipment, as it will not be effective it you are not doing it right.
Practice makes perfect for this exercise because you need to ensure that you control the movement with your abdomen rather than your arms and legs.
Once you learn the form required for it, the ab roller workout will result in rock-solid abs in a few weeks.
Do Ab Workouts Burn Belly Fat?
With this wide variety of machines to do ab workouts, you are able to engage your body with different, challenging and metabolism-activating exercises. Whether you use them in the gym or you have your own home gym, it doesn’t matter, because you are going to get a great workout.
Though many try to burn belly fat around the abs, it has been proven that spot reduction does not work. The loss of fat must be considered from a more holistic approach.
But strategic workout plans combined with a healthy diet are where you will see fat loss take effect. You need to consider things like adding cardio, limiting carbs, high-intensity workouts and eating more fiber.
if you incorporate some of these key ideas you’ll be well on your way to much-improved abs.
