What Workout Machines Can Help Flatten Your Stomach Fast?

Dangers of Stomach Fat

According to Mayo Clinic, belly fat can be more dangerous to your health than obesity. For women, belly fat increases the risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, breast cancer and colorectal cancer. Reducing your body fat can decrease your risk of these health conditions and lead to a healthier life.

Seated Ab Curl Machine

While you can’t work to lose fat specifically from your stomach, toning your stomach muscles can make your stomach appear slimmer. One type of machine at the gym that can help you tone your abs is the crunch machine. The ab crunch machine mimics a basic crunch, but in an upright position. Sit on the machine and grip the handles. You can also adjust the seat so the handles are at the same level as your shoulders. The lever for adjusting the seat is located at the side of your seat. As you pull the lever, push your body backward or forward in the seat to adjust. Hook your feet behind the footpads in order to stabilize your legs. Keeping your hips stationary, flex your waist so the elbows travel downward, keeping the hands firmly gripped on the handles. Return and repeat doing two to three sets of 12 to 15 crunches.

Lever Lying Twist

Another machine that can help you tone your ab muscles is the lever lying twist, which focuses on the sides of your abs, also known as your oblique muscles or love handles. While an odd-looking machine, it consists of a moveable seat with handles that allows you to twist your torso back and forth. Lie on your back, placing your hands on the handles, head on the pad, partition between the legs and your feet on the foot bars. To perform the twisting movement, disengage the hand lever and rotate the machine to one side until full spinal rotation can be felt. Reengage the hand lever to hold the apparatus in place once you’ve brought your body back to the center. Once you're ready to perform the exercise, disengage the handle and rotate your torso through the waist to the opposite side. Return to the starting position and repeat. Readjust the range of motion setting to the opposite side and repeat the exercise in the opposite direction. Do two to three sets on each side with 12 to 15 reps per set.

Cardio Machines

While toning your belly is important for losing fat, it’s important to burn more calories than you eat, and a great way of doing this is with a good cardio workout. The best cardio machines to burn fat off your muffin top are those that help elevate your heart rate and can keep it elevated for 20 minutes or more. The treadmill is beneficial for fat burning and you can perform running, jogging or even walking exercises. You can also increase the speed and incline on treadmills, which can create a more intense workout. Other machines that help raise the heart rate for a terrific fat-burning sweat session are stationary bikes, elliptical machines, stair climbers and rowing machines.

Having a Healthy Diet

If you really want to lose your unwanted belly fat, it is imperative to change your eating habits. In order to lose fat from anywhere on your body, you need to reduce the number of calories you consume each day. Instead of getting rid of entire meals, consider making your meals smaller or taking smaller portions. Also, limit the amount of saturated fat you consume and replace your unhealthy snacks with plant-based foods like fruits and vegetables.