Do Ab Belts really work?
The question of whether or not an electronic abdominal toning belt works or not depends on what it claims it can do.
A lot of ab toning belts like the contour abs make claims of weight loss and extreme toning results in a few weeks. However, this has been proven to be false and as such has given all electric toning devices a bad reputation. The more responsible manufacturers like Flex Belt don’t make such amazing claims about their product, and thus do not fall foul of the FDA.
Some people still view toning belts as the ‘lazy-mans’ alternative to exercise or have a misconception of them being a useless scam – but toning belts do work and achieve what they are meant to achieve, which is toned muscles – not weight loss.
Toning belts use scientifically and medically proven methods to increase muscle activity in the area they are used on.
Electrical muscle stimulators (EMS) are often used by medical professionals to increase muscle activity during some rehabilitation treatment. Electrical stimulation is sent to the muscle to increase muscle activity when patients are unable to do it themselves, for example when suffering from a broken limb. This stimulation keeps the muscles active and as a result stops them from becoming weak or ‘wasting away’.
Toning belts use EMS to send electrical stimulators to the nerves in the abdominal muscles. These muscles then continuously expand and contract at a rate found to be faster than the rate achieved through normal abdominal exercises. This constant stimulation of the muscles results in greater muscle activity and therefore greater muscle definition.
To achieve the best results from your toning belt, it is recommended that you also consume a healthy diet and carryout an exercise regime, particularly focusing on fat burning exercises. This will reduce the amount of excess weight which may be present on your stomach and which will in turn hide your muscles.
When the stomach is free from fat the muscles are more visible and so any toning carried out on the muscles will be easier to see. If you are busy and don’t have the time do any abdominal exercises then a toning belt is definitely an alternative option worth considering, and if you normally do no crunches or sit-ups then the results will be even more evident to you.
One of the main reasons that electrical toning appliances have become more and more popular in recent years is due to the increased amount of people not being able to find the time in their daily routine to fit in as much exercise as they would like to.
The most popular EMS toning devices are electronic abdominal belts made by Contour Abs and Flex Belt. This may be due to the desire of a lot of people to improve the muscle definition in the stomach, which is one of the most visible muscle areas of the body. However the increase of abdominal toning belts in particular may also be put down to their design and ease of use.
Because ab toning belts wrap around your waste and so can be worn under your clothes, users find them convenient enough to use whilst carrying out daily activities and chores. As a result of EMS toners being so effortless to use, users find it easy to stick to a regular daily routine with their belt which inevitably helps achieve results faster.
Read our comparison of leading EMS toning products
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May 1st, 2010
I recently lost over 60lbs and went from size 42 waist to a 34. Exercise was a huge factor, but I would have to say what we eat and when is a more crucial factor. I try to eat 5-6 smaller protein-rich meals with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Also, I eat my biggest meal of the day in the morning and taper off with subsequent ones throughout the day. This helps get the metabolism going and keeps the appetite under control. Obese people often eat less than I do, except they skip breakfast, chug sugary sodas all day, snack on greasy carb-laden junk food and then gorge before dinner and up until bedtime. By doing that, you are essentially telling your body to store fats and metabolize foods at a slower rate.