You’re sick of doing the same old crunches every day and not seeing any results. You want to find a better way to tone your abs without spending hours in the gym.
Who doesn’t?
An elliptical can quickly tone your abs without ever having to leave your home. Ellipticals are a practical way to get a full-body workout in a short period, and they’re also effective for working your stomach.
This blog post will discuss how the elliptical works your abs and why it is such an effective workout. We’ll also provide tips on how to get the most out of this machine. So, if you’re looking to get a flat stomach, the elliptical is definitely worth considering!
How Does the Elliptical Work Your Stomach?
Using the elliptical means pushing with your hands and feet in opposite directions. This motion tones your abs because it works them in a twisting motion. This technique is also different from most other machines, which work your abs linearly.
The elliptical also engages your entire core at once:
- Your frontal abs
- Your lower back
- Your obliques
Besides, your elliptical will help tone your stomach because you’re doing cardio.
Cardio will destroy abdominal fat because it uses more calories than resistance training. So, if your goal is to tone your stomach, you need to do cardio and add in some abdominal exercises.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Elliptical Workout
Now that you know how the elliptical works your abs, here are some tips to help you get the most out of your workout:
- Use the correct form. Maintain a straight posture, with your shoulders down and away from your ears. Don’t crouch forward to push through your hands; instead, activate your core, and feel like you’re moving through your core.
- Keep your core engaged at all times. This static crunch ensures that you get the most out of your workout. Don’t hold your breath, though.
- Increase the resistance on the elliptical if you want to tone your stomach even more. Added resistance means you’ll have to push harder. And, if you’re keeping a correct posture, that push will come from your core.
- Vary your speed and intensity. Using a low resistance and high speed means twisting your abs faster. As such, you’re activating your obliques more and burning visceral fat. By contrast, high resistance and low speed engage your lower back and frontal abs. The mix of high resistance and speed is best for muscle building and calorie burning.
- Pro tip: The best strategy is doing HIIT on your elliptical, meaning alternating periods of low and high impact.
- Make sure that you are drinking plenty of water while working out. This will help keep you hydrated and energized.
- Don’t use the handles. Letting go of the handlebars works your stomach more. The reason is that you’re contracting your abs unconsciously to keep your balance. Your lower back will have to work harder, and that’s excellent. Most people neglect working out their backs and focus solely on their abs, thus creating strength-related imbalances. And that increases your injury risk.
- Strength-train your abs after your elliptical workout. Studies show that a mix of strength and cardio can reduce deep-tissue abdominal fat more than standalone cardio or strength.
Warning: You can’t spot-reduce stomach fat.
It’s science.
That’s why elliptical machines are so great at this:
They tone your entire body at once, helping you burn calories and fat from all places. Of course, genetics play an essential part, too, and so does your nutrition.
So, does the elliptical work your abs? The answer is a resounding yes! This machine is a great way to tone your stomach without crunches. It engages all of your abdominal muscles and helps you burn calories too. Your booty gets a decent workout too.
However, you have to pick the right elliptical, meaning one with:
- Sufficient speed and resistance options (plus optional incline)
- Accurate measurements, especially a heart-rate counter to ensure you’re working out in your fat-burning zone
- Various built-in programs, especially HIIT and core-targeting workouts
Mary advocates for one powerful idea: fitness is about challenging yourself, but it’s not a race against the clock. She wants people to understand that the best fitness equipment doesn’t have to be expensive or very popular. The best workouts and machines should always fit your style and needs, not the other way around. So, Mary’s dedication and hard work are the engines that keep this website going.
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