Are you looking for the best way to burn belly fat? In all honesty, who isn’t? OK, maybe super models aren’t, but for most of us, the battle of the bulge is a constant battle.
Today, I want to talk about one of the most popular exercise machines around—ellipticals—and what they can and cannot do for belly fat.
Maybe you feel like you’ve tried everything to reduce belly fat but gotten nowhere. Or you’ve been diligent about working out using steady-state cardio and cardio exercises, cutting out alcohol consumption, and maybe even trying a holistic weight loss program only to find that you’ve made zero progress, or worse, you’ve experienced weight gain.
If you’ve done all those and you’re still not getting anywhere near your goal, then today’s article is for you. Let’s talk about burning belly fat, using an elliptical machine to do so, and how long it’s going to take you to see results.
There’s a lot to cover, so grab a cup of Joe and let’s go!
What Is the Best Way to Burn Belly Fat on an Elliptical Machine?
While this may not be the magic answer you are hoping to hear, there are two steps when it comes to burning belly fat:
- Create a calorie deficit. This means that you must burn more calories than you are consuming.
- You need at least 30 minutes of exercise on a cardio machine most days of the week.
That cardio machine can be an elliptical, a rowing machine, a treadmill, or whatever works for you.
While you could do this by diet alone, you will get faster, better, and longer-lasting results by adding an elliptical machine workout to your effort.
Abdominal fat is notoriously difficult to get rid of. This is because your body likes to put fat in this area to protect your vital organs.
Some fat, especially subcutaneous fat (which is fat under the skin), isn’t harmful and is natural.
However, when most people develop belly fat, they get the deep abdominal fat, known as visceral fat, that surrounds and embeds itself in the organs.
It’s nearly impossible to remove visceral fat without exercise.
Now that we’ve gone over that, let’s talk about elliptical workouts and how they can help you drop excess fat.
Burning Belly Fat with an Elliptical
If you haven’t read this before, you should note that you can’t spot-reduce stomach fat, or any fat for that matter.
I wish this wasn’t true, believe me, but the truth is that all the sit-ups in the world will not make you lose belly fat.
However, doing regular cardio workouts will cause your body to burn calories and fat. Your body will choose where it wants to take that fat from, but if you are consistent, your body will have no choice but to burn that belly fat eventually.
Elliptical workouts are terrific when it comes to cardio exercises. They literally torch body fat, and they will exercise the whole body.
Exercise involving multiple muscle groups is one of the main reasons why elliptical machines are so popular. You exercise your upper body and lower body simultaneously.
With a workout like this, your body has no choice but to get rid of that stored fat, and fat loss means you will lose weight.
However, not all elliptical exercises are created equally. Check out my tips to get the most out of your elliptical workout.
How Do You Lose the Most Belly Fat Using an Elliptical?
I’ve got quite a bit of experience in this area, friends, so let me tell you all my tips and secrets for reducing belly fat on an elliptical machine as fast as possible.
- High-intensity interval training. This is one of my best secrets. HIIT is fantastic when it comes to burning calories and fat. In fact, you can burn more calories in a shorter amount of time than regular steady-state cardio workouts.
- Switch things up. Don’t do the same 30-minute routine every time you exercise. Your body will become used to that, and it will find more efficient ways of doing that exercise so you won’t burn fat like you used to. If you do HIIT workouts, I suggest doing them every other day and doing something different on your off days. Keep your body guessing! (This also helps to alleviate boredom!)
- Use the handlebars! I see too many people using the handlebars for balance. An elliptical trainer is designed for all 4 limbs, folks, so engage those core muscles and really push/pull on the handlebar for the best cardio workout.
- Increase the resistance/incline. If your elliptical machine allows you to change the resistance and/or the incline, do it! Push yourself to the next level for significant fat loss and gain muscle at the same time!
- Eat a healthy diet. I don’t care how hard your elliptical training is, if you sit down with a box of donuts afterward, you won’t lose belly fat.
Elliptical machines are terrific low-impact aerobic exercise machines that can help with the fat breakdown process if you put in the work.
Which Is Better for Losing Belly Fat, a Treadmill or an Elliptical Machine?
The truth is that both are excellent when it comes to burning fat, but both machines have an advantage that the other doesn’t.
Treadmills will burn more calories overall. Be sure to read my other article does a treadmill burn belly fat!
However, elliptical machines are low-impact, and they exercise the upper body.
Whichever exercise machine you find more enjoyable is the one you should use. If you have access to both, alternate using a treadmill one day and the elliptical machine the next.
That way, you get the best of both worlds, right?
How Many Times Per Week Should I Use an Elliptical?
If you want the fastest weight loss possible, try HIIT workout programs on your elliptical. You will burn more calories and lose weight faster than doing regular workouts.
Most experts recommend doing HIIT interval training workouts every other day. Try to get in 3-4 workouts per week, doing at least 30 minutes each time you get on the machine.
Over time, as your leg muscles get stronger and you experience weight loss, you can slowly add two or three minutes to each workout until you are a master, doing 60 minutes of fat-burning workouts without a problem!
This means you will have two or three rest days. Do something different on those days to help your body continue to lose fat and not become accustomed to the same workout.
A challenging workout can become boring and your body can become accustomed to it. To avoid this, add different types of exercise, including:
- Swimming
- Aerobics
- Other cardio machines such as indoor rowers, spin bikes, or treadmills
- Strength training
- Yoga
- Walking
Keep your caloric intake in mind every single day! There is a multitude of free calorie trackers you can use on your phone. Track your calorie burn and exercise regularly for best results.
How Effective Is an Elliptical for Weight Loss?
Elliptical machines are some of the best cardio machines for weight loss solutions.
You can do upper and lower body workouts with these low-impact cardio machines to help lower your body weight.
Of course, consuming excess calories will never give you that flat stomach that you are looking for, so no matter how reliable the machine is, don’t forget that an unhealthy diet means that all your work will be for nothing.
Like most cardio machines, you can shed pounds and avoid serious health problems if you put in the effort and the time.
If you aren’t crazy about doing an elliptical workout, you can get in cardiovascular exercise on other cardio machines, such as indoor rowers, treadmills, and stationary bikes.
When you use the machine you like the most, you will be more likely to use it.
If you belong to the gym, switch things up and use a variety of machines so your body doesn’t become accustomed to the same routine and hit that dreaded weight loss plateau!
The Final Takeaway
When it comes to burning belly fat, remember that intensity matters. You can’t spend 10 minutes on an elliptical and expect to lose belly fat.
Diet also matters. You won’t reduce those fat cells if you keep eating junk food and sugary snacks. Alcohol is also a culprit when it comes to your excess waist circumference. Limit yourself to one 3-ounce drink of hard liquor per day or one 5-ounce glass of wine. Or cut it out completely!
Ellipticals are terrific because you get in the cardio that you need, and you will build muscles, all while making it easy on the joints.
If you are very overweight, take your time and work yourself up to doing 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
Elliptical machines can help your body reduce that excess belly fat and give you better overall fitness than you might never have dreamed possible.
Stay healthy and happy friends! Life is too short for anything else!
Written by Alisha Wishart – TheHealthPot.com
Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), Writer and Contributor
Alisha, is a Mother, Wife and Certified Personal Trainer (CPT). She understands how demanding everyday life can be and takes great pride in working with individuals and groups to help them achieve their desired fitness goals. Read more about Alisha here.