Do Abdominal Machines Really Work?

Info-mercials are really funny, especially in the fitness marketing industry. There is always the latest gadget that is supposed to give you abs like Mr. Universe or Miss Fitness USA. But are these abdominal machines really effective at giving you "ripped" abs? If you put your thinking cap on, you will discover why the answer is no, unless you are already super fit.

One thing you have to keep in mind when watching fitness marketing info-mercials is that the models they use are already super fit to begin with. These fitness models didn't get their abs by using the abdominal device they want you to buy. Rather, they are either genetic freaks, or they spend long hours in the gym, and they eat super healthy diets. In other words, the producers of these info-mercials don't go out and find Joe Blubber to demonstrate how effective their abdominal machine is.

But let's say the producers of infomercials actually did find someone who is over weight to test their product out, and they did a case study to see how effective their product is at reducing fat around your abs. If their model is Joe Blubber, do you really think they would have him rely exclusively on their abdominal machine to get ripped abs? Or do you think that perhaps they would also put him on a very strict diet, hire a personal trainer for him, and have him exercise like crazy? Chances are, if they didn't put Joe Blubber on a strict diet, and if they failed to put him on a strenuous exercise routine, their abdominal machine wouldn't do a thing for him!

One thing that abdominal machines can definitely do for you is make your abs stronger, but that doesn't necessarily translate to "ripped" abs or a flat stomach. If you really think about it, most people who are over weight have muscles, but because their muscles are covered with fat, its hard to say that their muscles are "ripped".

The same principle holds true for your abdominal muscles. Using an abdominal machine can help make them stronger, but if you want to get "ripped" abdominals, you need to do a lot more than just work your abs - you have to actually burn the fat on your body, and one of the hardest parts to burn fat will be around your abdominal region. It can be done, of course, but don't think that you will not have your work cut out for you!