Ab belts do they work?

[vsmuma]

The title says it all really, do they work. I have recently lost weight and my tummy looks flabby and I have been exercising and the rest of me looks quite good and loads of people in my life have been banging on about these belts. Now I know that there not going to give me a 6 pack but do they help at all?

[AdrianRelph]

👍🏼

[Aprilsinparis]

They do work, but I think you need to get rid of as much tummy weight as possible with dieting first. I am going to start using mine again, as soon as I have lost another stone with dieting.

[AdrianRelph]

Thank you Babyg, that does say a lot. I was certainly wondering if it was just another thing you try for a few weeks and then it ends up in the garage in a box until a car boot 10 years later. Lol. I may well get one 👍🏼 Thanks all that have replied 👍🏼

[Babyg1995]

she uses it every other day in between doing her usual gym sessions she's had hers for years.

[AdrianRelph]

Ahhh okay! That’s very interesting! Good news for me though 😬 Sorry 😁

[fishonabicycle]

Male athletes are at 6-13% fat and female athletes are at 14-20%...

[fishonabicycle]

Easier for men as.they can have a lower body fat and still be healthy. I think women can't get much under 13% but men can get down to about 6%.

[AdrianRelph]

LOL That’s very interesting to hear. Is that true for men too? I’d be happy at the moment just to lose the front worn Camel Pack!

[fishonabicycle]

Even my PT says it's almost impossible for a woman to maintain a six-pack ... You have to have your body fat at an unsustainably low level ... I can just about keep a Tupac! Any that take some effort and denial.

[AdrianRelph]

Fishonabicycle, it’s funny isn’t it, I WANT a six pack, but as a man, I don’t think women with six packs look any better than women who are generally just reasonably slim (I’m afraid we have been conditioned to be weightest and I am a victim of that) and healthy. I have a thyroid condition so it is insane how hard it is to keep weight off! But I still seek that allusive six pack. I guess that’s conditioning too! 🙁

[AdrianRelph]

Thanks Babyg, yes, that’s the impression I was getting, they help best if you’re already most of the way there. Which makes sense, because it must be hard to get the pads to focus on the abs if they have to get through a few inches of fat first. How long has your sister been using them?

[Babyg1995]

My sister had one they work well if your already quite toned it improved the look of her abs she already has just slightly though.

[fishonabicycle]

It's really difficult for a woman to get a six pack (sigh) because we hold onto fat around our abdomens, hips and thighs. It's very hard for women to build enough muscle to have an actual six pack as well. Much harder for women to build muscle than men. The reason you have fat there is because it is one of the last places to come off your body, after it has come off everywhere else.

[AdrianRelph]

That’s really helpful, thank you 😊

[slowrun]

Oh and by the way, I use Aloe Vera gel with mine. It works as well as the manufacturer's conductive gel.

[slowrun]

I still do use it, though not quite as often as when I first got it. I don't have it turned up so it hurts, it actually feels quite pleasant. The main reason for not using it as often is my back isn't quite as bad and also just putting it on with the gel, lying down whilst it does it's stuff and then cleaning the gel off your stomach when you're finished means you want to plan it around activities during the day. In theory you can walk about with them on but stomach contractions whilst you are trying to do stuff is just a bit distracting.

[AdrianRelph]

Well, I guess strengthening is part of the journey to a six pack, but if it helps with general health and fitness that’s got to be fairly worthwhile!?! Do you still use it and if not, would you mind saying why not?

[slowrun]

I have found they have not made me thinner or given me a 6 pack. I do think they work to strengthen a certain amount, though, because they have helped with my back pain. This was when exercise was problematic due to sciatica. They were developed firstly for medical use to prevent atrophy so this makes sense to me.

[AdrianRelph]

Hey vsmuma, I was also considering an ab belt... how did you get on?

[vsmuma]

yep there in lidl tomorrow and i'm guna get one in an attempt to answer my own question.

[DrSeuss]

Think Aldi have them in this week or there's always ebay!

[vsmuma]

Wow I really should get medically checked then because weigh 9st 4lbs so I not fat all over and have quite a lot of nice muscle tone in my arms and legs, my arse is flat, like an old women?s though , I haven?t drunk alcohol in 3 years, so the fat on my tummy must mean I?m ill .

southeastastra thanks for your response, so everyone who as actually used one says they work, I might try a cheap one, in conjunction with diet and exercise bla, bla, bla.

[southeastastra]

mine worked when i could be arsed to use it - but it's hard to get into the habit as it does hurt

[SmashingNarcissistsMirrors]

no they don't because a flabby tummy is caused not so much by weak abs but by excess fat around the middle (which in part is often due to overall excess fat but can be overly distributed here due to stress / alcohol consumption / poor liver function etc).

the only thing that will work is diet and exercise. no sit ups too soon after childbirth though i believe as the muscles need to meld together and situps can actually encourage them to stay separated (longterm).

[loubielou31]

I have one, it's not doing much good at the moment because it's sitting in the drawer where it has sat for about three years.
From what I remember they do feel as if they're working, I always found the worst bit was sticking the cold gel pads to the right part of my waist but it was never that painful whilst using it.
When DH goes away I'll start using it again and then I'll be able to give you all a better product review.