What is the best cardio machine to burn belly fat?
I get this question quite often, and my answer is always this, all of them.
Every machine at the gym will tone your belly.
All you need to do is learn how to use them.
What is the best cardio machine to burn belly fat bar none?
If I had to choose which machine is best to burn belly fat, I would have to go with the treadmill.
There are many ways you can use the treadmill, depending on your creative or wild imagination.
I’ll start with the obvious:
- Walking
- Running
Walking
Walking on the treadmill is very easy to do. I mean, everybody knows how to walk. You do it daily; all you have to do now is get on the treadmill.
Before you start burning calories, make sure you select a level you can maintain for at least 20 minutes.
To make your workout extra productive, try inclining the treadmill to the highest level. A steeper incline will create stronger resistance, improving your muscles while getting rid of excess fats.
Running
Running on the treadmill lets you burn more calories in a shorter amount of time compared to walking.
The downside with running, for me, is that the impact on my knee joints can be a problem and expensive.
You see, I’ve worn down my meniscus on both my knees that playing sports longer than half an hour can be a pain.
However, running on a treadmill is far better than running on concrete. The treadmill has more “give,” compared to a hard asphalt.
Nowadays, I only run if I am short on time.
Extra weird but effective exercises
The following are more out of the box methods, which might make you look like a fool, so try at your own shame:
- Backward walking
- Side shuffle
- Lunge
Most people do not know about these types of exercises, and once they see it, they will think you don’t know the fcuk you are doing.
Well, I’ll go over each type of exercise and tell you how it impacts your body. So, you can tell the next guy watching you dumbfounded in total amusement as to why you are doing what you are doing.
Backward walking
Backward walking is similar to normal walking but backward. Simple enough. Attempting it could result in more than people looking at you funny, though.
If you are not used to walking backward on the treadmill, you might end up with more than a few stares.
It would be best if you started slow. As you improve your balance and get used to walking backward on a rolling machine, you can up the speed.
Oh, one more thing, don’t hold the handrails when walking backward on the treadmill. Not holding the handrails while walking backward will improve your balance.
- Set the speed while facing the treadmill’s interface and press start.
- Hold the rails as you turn your back against the treadmill’s controls.
- Let go of the handrails and steady yourself.
- Walk backward like nobody is watching.
Walking backward utilizes your twitch muscles responsible for maintaining your balance against gravity.
Your hips, legs, feet, and ankles have to work systematically to be able to walk back without falling off the treadmill.
Side shuffle
Side shuffle is mainly walking sideways.
- Set the ideal speed while facing the treadmill’s user panel.
- Instead of facing backward, this time, you will be facing sideways.
- Let go of the handrails and start shuffling.
- Tell your friend to put on, “Every day I’m shuffling,” by LMFAO for motivation.
This exercise helps tone your inner and outer thighs, also your calf muscles.
Lunge
I love this workout; it’s hitting your leg workout and cardio with 1 stone. Have you ever tempted lunges to help build your legs? Well, it’s the same principle but on a treadmill. The following is how you make the lunges on the treadmill:
- Set the ideal speed first while facing the treadmill’s interface.
- You’ll be facing frontward this time.
- Let the platform roll you down, then when you have space, take a step forward, bending both knees.
- Alternate between the left and right legs.
Once the lunges become easy for you, try upping the ante by inclining the machine. Doing so will activate your glutes, giving you more dimension on training your legs.
Second best cardio machine for belly fat
My second option for the best cardio machine for belly fat would be the rowing machine. The following are my reasons:
- Targets multiple muscle groups including, back, arms, and legs.
- It does not take up much space.
- Low impact on joints.
- Affordable.
Targets multiple muscle groups
Have you seen rowers in action? Do you see how they row? They use their entire body to row the dang boat.
You can imagine how hard it can be. The rowing machine activates every muscle fiber in your body.
Your upper and lower body gets a very nice workout and you will feel it afterward.
Now, most people don’t realize that the rowing machine is great for the glutes and quads.
Sure, your back, arms, and shoulders help, but the power to propel the rowing boat comes from your legs.
So, if you want cardio that will give you an overall body workout, get a rowing machine.
It does not take up much space
The rowing machines come in compact sizes. Ones you can fold and store easily out of the way. Great when you don’t have much space in your home.
Compact rowing machines can come in different sizes. The smallest I’ve seen going around measures in at 127 x 30.5 x 25.4 cm (LxWxH).
Remember that you have to make space for your arms when rowing. So, you might want to double the width when figuring out the workout area.
Some rowing machines can be stored vertically, saving a significant amount of space.
Most or not all water-driven rowing machines have this feature.
Conclusion
What is the best cardio machine to burn belly fat? I love the practicality of the treadmill. There are just so many things you can do with it compared to an elliptical trainer or a bike.
The downsides of owning a treadmill are the price tag, and they are cumbersome.
An average treadmill will cost you about $1000. A better treadmill will be in the range of $1000 to $5000.
I suggest sticking within your budget when choosing the best cardio machine to burn belly fat.
It doesn’t have to be a treadmill, like I said, any of the machines will burn belly fat.
A rower is another great option to have if you want the best machine to burn belly fat
So, get a machine in line with your budget. If you have the money, go ahead and buy every equipment you can afford.