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The Best Workout Machines for Abs

To get flat abs, you will have to incorporate cardiovascular exercise, weight training and a healthy, nutritious diet into your lifestyle. Once the fat starts melting away, you'll want to display your toned and strong abdominals. This is where abdominal machines come in. There are many good abdominal machines on the market today that will give you the desired results.

  1. Stability Ball

    • The stability ball, also known as "exercise ball" or "Swiss ball," allows you to do abdominal exercises with a full range of motion. When you do crunches on the floor, you can only bend upward. When using the stability ball to do crunches, you can round your back backward when coming down, giving you the benefit of strengthening the back. The ball's unstable surface engages your core muscles to stabilize the body. As of December 2010, a stability ball cost $10 and up. The ball is easy to transport, and aside from a wide variety of abdominal exercises, it can also be used for exercises that target other body parts. Both beginner and advanced levels can benefit from using the stability ball. You can purchase the ball in various sizes and colors at sporting goods stores or online.

    Ab Doer Twist

    • The Ab Doer Twist is an advanced variation of the original Ab Doer and gives you a cardiovascular and muscle-toning abdominal workout at the same time. The Ab Doer Twist uses torsion-flex technology that allows you to strengthen your obliques, lower abs, upper abs and back. While you position yourself on the seat of the machine and hold on to the handles, your body automatically adjusts into the correct form. To exercise your stomach, you can bend sideways, forward and backward to target different muscles. The machine offers support to your entire body and eliminates pressure on the spinal column. As of December 2010, a 30-day free trial was available on the official Ab Doer Twist website.

    Ab Roller

    • According to the Ab Roller website, more than 10 million units have been sold. The Ab Roller's effectiveness comes from its "Accurate Rocker System" that provides head and neck support and allows the spine to move naturally while using the machine. To use the Ab Roller, you place your head down onto the headrest and hold on to the handlebar in front of you. Rock yourself upward using your abdominals, similar to doing crunches. The Ab Roller allows you to maintain proper alignment throughout the exercise because your head and spine move simultaneously. A large variety of abdominal exercises can be done with the Ab Roller, including oblique crunches, bicycle crunches and straight-legged crunches. As of December 2010, the Ab Roller could be purchased for approximately $20.

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