21 Aug Can I Get a Flat Stomach Without Exercise?
There is so much stigma around achieving the perfect ‘beach body’. With technology advancing, innovative research and media pressures, can we really get a ‘beach body’ without even having to invest in a gym membership?
Me and my sagging stomach have made it our mission to find out!
Treatment Trial 1: Emsculpt
Emsculpt utilises cutting-edge technology to target your muscles and fat cells, all while you sit back and relax throughout the treatment. Emsculpt’s technology delivers powerful pulses that stimulate your muscles at a rate far exceeding what you can achieve through exercises such as sit-ups!
Here’s a deeper dive into how it works:
- Muscle Contraction: Emsculpt’s HIFEM energy triggers thousands of forceful muscle contractions in a single session. These intense contractions force your muscle fibres to adapt, leading to increased muscle mass and strength.
- Fat Reduction: The intense muscle activity also creates a metabolic response in your body. This response breaks down fat cells in the treated area, leading to a reduction in unwanted fat and a more sculpted appearance.
- Muscle Remodelling: Beyond just building muscle, Emsculpt is believed to promote muscle remodelling. This means it strengthens existing muscle fibres and encourages the growth of new ones, resulting in a more defined and toned look.
Review
Well this was an experience. 30 minutes of what felt like an intense ab workout! But, I felt amazing after I did it. There is no preparation needed for this which is super convenient considering the treatment itself is recommended to last 30 minutes. You have complete control of how intense you wish the treatment to be, I started at 25% and after around 15 minutes I was able to increase to 34%. My endurance was much better and I could tolerate much stronger pulsations.
After day 2, I started to feel a slight ache in my upper abdomen but nothing too uncomfortable. If anything I took it as a positive sign. Overall, I recommend this treatment if you are willing to endure an intense muscle workout. I can 100% see how a course of Emsculpt would deliver incredible results for people wanting to tighten and firm their abdomen.
Treatment Trial 2: VANQUISH ME
VanquishMe is a non-invasive body sculpting treatment that uses radiofrequency technology to reduce stubborn fat. It targets fat cells without affecting the skin or muscle, making it painless with no downtime! By applying heat to the tissue, Vanquish ME disrupts fat cells, causing them to diminish overtime. This treatment is particularly effective for addressing areas like the abdomen and thighs which can result in a noticeable reduction in fat volume and improved body contouring if you have a course of treatments.
Here’s a deeper dive into how it works:
- Selective Heating: Vanquish ME uses radiofrequency energy to specifically target and heat the fat layer beneath the skin. This heat is carefully controlled to avoid damaging the skin or muscle tissue.
- Fat Cell Destruction: The elevated temperature caused by the radiofrequency energy leads to the destruction of fat cells through a process called apoptosis.
- Natural Elimination: The body’s natural processes gradually eliminate the destroyed fat cells over time, resulting in a reduction of fat volume in the treated area.
Review
I found this treatment very relaxing. I lay on the bed and the machine was placed over my abdomen. After a few settings adjustments, it was a case of lying down and relaxing for 30 minutes whilst the machine worked its magic! After around 10 minutes the machine reached 100% and I felt the heat. It wasn’t uncomfortable but I knew it was there. My stomach was red after the treatment but after a splash of The Perfect Peel® Body Lotion it soon settled. The best thing about this treatment is the fact you don’t really notice it and you can immediately return to normal duties afterwards. Overall, I didn’t notice a drastic difference after just 1 treatment however, I am a big fan of Radio Frequency and so I would definitely recommend a course!
Treatment Trial 3: Viora Reaction Radio Frequency
Viora Reaction is a non-invasive skin tightening and body contouring treatment that uses advanced radiofrequency technology. It combines multiple RF frequencies alongside vacuum therapy to effectively address sagging excess skin, cellulite, and fat reduction. The treatment works by heating the deeper layers of the skin, stimulating collagen production, and improving skin elasticity.
The vacuum component enhances blood circulation, lymphatic drainage, and fat cell reduction. This combined approach results in a firmer, smoother, and more toned appearance.
Here’s a deeper dive into how it works:
- Radiofrequency (RF) Energy: This technology heats the dermal layers of the skin, stimulating fibroblasts to produce new collagen and elastin. These proteins are essential for skin elasticity and firmness.
- Vacuum Therapy: The vacuum component increases blood flow to the treatment area, enhancing oxygen and nutrient delivery to the skin cells. This improved circulation aids in the removal of waste products and promotes tissue repair.
- Adipose Tissue Reduction: The combination of heat and increased blood flow can contribute to the breakdown of fat cells, leading to a reduction in fat deposits and improved body contouring.
Review
This is nothing like I expected! I was lying on the bed and Sharon put some glycerin on my stomach to act as a conductor for the Radio Frequency. There are 4 different modes which target different areas each mode is set for 2 minutes with breaks in between. Over time the Radio Frequency element got very hot. The skin on my stomach was slowly turning pink from the pressure and heat but it wasn’t remotely uncomfortable.
Vacuum therapy was a strange experience. The machine sucked in the loose skin and disrupted the fat cells so they could start breaking down. It is also great for lymphatic drainage! I could ‘feel’ this RF machine a lot more than the VanquishMe and it was significantly more intense. But, after another splash of The Perfect Peel® Body Lotion my stomach settled from turning a luminous shade of red!
Overall I did notice an improvement after just 1 treatment, my skin felt a lot tighter. However, treatments that involve Radio Frequency are slow burners, you don’t necessarily notice an immediate difference. It can take a few days after the fat cells have broken down to leave the body. This is something I would definitely do a course alongside microneedling to tackle my stretch marks!
Conclusion
My main objective was to see if I could achieve a ‘beach body’ through non-surgical treatments. Each of the treatments has benefits for different things so I truly believe you could tighten your tummy or boost your bottom with a course of any of them, depending on your tolerance for heat or pain which would be the deciding factor.
The EmSculpt machine had the most immediate noticeable effect so this would be a great option a few weeks before your holiday to tone and tighten. However for fat loss, excess skin tightening and cellulite I Believe Radio Frequency is the way forward.
My personal favourite was Viora Reaction Radio Frequency. I believe after a course of RF I would achieve tighter skin on my stomach and the excess skin would be massively reduced. This could be followed by a course of EmSculpt to help to lift and tone the muscle leaving me with a beautifully sculpted abdomen (we hope!).
So can I really get a flat stomach without exercise?
So the answer is ‘maybe’ I think it’s great to have non-surgical options to tighten the skin and promote fat loss however, there is nothing wrong with signing up to a gym or investing in a few bits of equipment to keep on top of things from the comfort of your own home!