Abdominal trainers are extremely popular with home gym addicts; They’re also the item of choice for TV infomercials, making shopping for a quality ab machine a very confusing experience. Well let me try to simplify it for you.

There are definitely some good quality abdominal machines on the market today at reasonable prices. The trick is to filter the effective machines from those that make false promises of making quick money. There are a few basic things to look for in an ab machine that will ensure you are buying effective equipment.

1.Movement

If you’re looking for an ab machine that only offers forward bending, you should probably look elsewhere for the ab trainer that will produce results. Your abdominal region is made up of four main areas that you need to work on in order to have a strong and well-developed midsection; the upper abdominals, the lower abdominals, the obliques and the intercostals.

To target all of these areas, you need a machine that offers forward and lateral movement.

2. Adjustability

A quality abdominal trainer will offer at least a couple of adjustment options so you can be sure it will fit your frame. There’s nothing worse than trying to perform a crunch movement on a machine that’s too big for you; You can even risk injuring yourself if you try to train on a machine that doesn’t fit your build.

“Make sure the ab machine you choose to buy fits your needs or provides some adjustment options.”

3. Comfort

This goes hand in hand with adjustability. Chances are if you’re buying a sit-up machine in the first place, it’s because you think regular sit-ups and traditional abdominal exercises are uncomfortable or ineffective.

So when you buy a machine, make sure you don’t have the same complaints. If you’re going to feel uncomfortable doing a sit-up workout, you can also do it for free and stick to the sit-ups.

Otherwise, buy a quality machine that doesn’t stress your neck and back and effectively targets the correct muscles.

4. Avoid hype

Many infomercials promoting ab trainers will have you believe that you can get a six pack in just minutes a day, regardless of what your diet is like. What!? Okay guys, if you’re buying that statement, it’s time for a little reality check.

The first thing you need to know is that eating a clean diet and getting regular cardiovascular exercise is about 85% of the formula for building a six-pack abdominal region. The other 15% is actual abdominal training. Therefore, any product that claims results without diet and exercise should be avoided.

The next thing to understand about abdominal trainers is that you don’t need machines at all. You certainly don’t need to invest large amounts of hard-earned money on an ab machine. In fact, your abdominal equipment should probably be the least expensive area of ​​your entire home gym.

If you choose to buy one, it should be to add a bit of variety to your abdominal routine.

Machines won’t give you more benefits than performing bodyweight exercises like sit-ups, planks, and leg raises. However, if you are more inclined to use a machine than to do the exercises mentioned above, by all means, get the machine.

In the muscle building scheme, the core region is the most important area to focus on. Without a strong core (which also includes your lower back muscles), you’re more likely to suffer from chronic back pain.

A strong core is also necessary to develop the rest of the muscles, as there is nothing we do in a day or in a workout that does not require some degree of core strength.