January 25th, 2013 by Shaun Day

Abdominal toning belt: Are you ready?

Before thinking about a toning belt, the first thing to think about is living normally on a daily basis. Basically when you stand up, when you sit up, when you are driving, when you walk... and quite a lot of other movements need the natural help of your abs. Even better, did you ever notice that when you are doing physical activity, your abs are contracting as they need to keep your back straight or keep your balance? Even if you have been pregnant recently, we help you to get a successful 6packs for this summer...  

Toning belt and the Science...

The scientific team of the Sandford-Burnham hospital based in Florida, directed by Kevin Smith, has published statistics about characteristics of the fat situated at the thigh and abdomen. The scientists have studied the cell's composition of this greasy mass and have concluded that the fat level is written into the genetic code of each of us.   The second conclusion of Kevin Smith's team was that fat on the abdomen was more dangerous for the health than fat on the thigh or hips. For anybody, excess fat anywhere on the body is dangerous for the health, however, from the results of this experiment, we learn that the fat situated on the stomach can increase the risks of cardiac problems and diabetes.  

What do we call abdominals?

Nothing complicated really, don't worry, but it's still interesting to increase the knowledge about the abdominals in order to know how to work them and which method or exercise to do. The abdominal is composed of lots of muscles but the one that seems to be more visual is scientifically called: rectus abdomini (it's basically what we usually call the '6pack'!) It's a flat and long muscle which links the rib cage to the hips. The muscular tendons covering the muscle are what constitute the 'abs', or the '6pack'. These muscular tendons are covered  by grease, which is why if the fat is too thick the muscles won't be shown. In opposition, if the grease is really thin, then the muscles will be visible and you'll look toned. The basic function of the muscle is to keep the spine straight but also help your flexibility. In order to make the abdominal muscles visible, there are 2 areas to work out: eliminate the fat on the muscle and then develop this muscle in order to make it more visible. → A little bit of anatomy about the stomach muscles To summarise , there are 3 muscle groups to be distinguished:

•  Rectus adominis (muscle know as 'abs' or '6 pack'): This is the muscle that links the sternum to the pubic bone. It's role is to help the movement of the trunk. (E.g.: when you are laying down and you want to sit up)

•  Obliques: These muscles are situated on each side of the abdomen. They go from the rib cage to the pubic bones and are used in the trunk rotation.

•  Transverse abdominus: This is a deep situated muscle. It is below all the other muscles. It is a kind of sheath around the abdominal cavity. It is this muscle which is contracting when you want to pull in your stomach.

Any abdominal exercises to burn fat on the stomach?

Don't be fooled, these don't exist!!! Loosing the grease is possible on the whole body via a chemical process but you can't work out locally. However, a toning belt will greatly help work out your abs. There is a way to practise a sport activity and tone your abdominal muscles at the same time: the abdominal toning belt is not a myth! How cool is it to cook and do some sport at the same time, or watch TV!!  Now, let's guide you into what to choose and how it works.  

How to choose your toning belt

At the end of the day, most people are looking to tone their abs by using a toning belt.Who doesn't want to have a 6 pack?? It's the most difficult part of the body to work out but it's also the sexiest part of the body. Like the majority of the population, you'll need to spend more time on working your abs in order to get a flat and fit stomach along with visible muscles. This technology is available here!   That's why there are many different ways to train them and is probably why our abdominal belt is one of the top sellers in the UK and the only toning belt on Amazon that has over 100 positive customer reviews, and bloggers are talking about it! Part of this success is surely due to the fact that the average toning belt needs gel to work effectively, whereas our Homefront belt is specifically designed to use water instead of expensive gel. Now there is no need to buy other systems where you need to keep buying replacement expensive pads & gels as this unit has 2 wear-free water contact electrodes. Although gel is not required some users prefer to use it and this does not affect the performance of the belt.  Obviously, this toning technology can be hand-washed and owns a safe switch-off mode. Enjoy the quality of this belt, build your muscles and save some money as the running costs of using water are minimal.  

How does a toning belt work

In order to explain how this works on the body, we can say the following:

The impulses are generated by a device and delivered through electrodes on the skin in direct proximity to the muscles to be stimulated. The impulses mimic the action coming from the central nervous system, causing the muscles to contract.

(For further anatomic and technical information, please refer to Wikipedia's article).

How to use a Toning Belt

A few points need to be considered:

• How long should an electro-stimulation session last?

 Every session can last from 5 minutes up to 20 minutes, including the warm ups. HSDonline advise you to refer to the instructions enclosed with your electronic belt.

• How many session should I do in a week?

It's recommended to use the toning belt between twice and 6 times per week and per muscle. This obviously depends on the level of your fitness, your health and your experience with this kind of tool. It's also recommended to alternate the training of muscles, don't keep training the same one for more than 20 minutes per session.

• How quick will I see an improvement in my muscles?

Some statistics state that you could see an improvement in your muscles after only 3 weeks if you use the toning belt regularly.

• Is an electro-stimulation session tiring?

The muscular electro stimulation doesn't require voluntary exercise from your muscles and therefore doesn't involve any particular physical effort. Depending on the power level and the program used with your electronic belt, it's possible to feel slightly tired which is due to the compulsory training given to your muscles.   To summarise:  Maintaining and improving your muscular mass is one of the keys to growing old healthily. However, don't forget that physical activity is still necessary to keep your heart in good condition and improve the blood flow. Let's say that the toning belt is a really good additional way to practise sport!