Part of the joy of having a home gym is tailoring it to your specific needs.
You want to make the right investments that will stick with you through years of hard workouts and get you results you're after.
What are the best exercise machines for abs and love handles? We break down our expert suggestions below.
7 Home Gym Machines For Love Handles (Best Equipment For Abs)
1. Sit Up Bench/Ab Trainer
A sit-up bench, or ab trainer, is an adjustable padded bench on a metal frame that can be tilted or customized to suit different workouts.
For example, you can incline or decline it for added resistance or keep it supine to perform bike crunches.
People love having this versatile piece of gym equipment for abs as it gives you a lot of flexibility in your workout plan without needing a ton of extra equipment.
You can even use weights while using an ab bench for an even better burn from your core workouts.
Sit-up benches are great for targeting your core, along with other muscles depending on the moves you do. You can also target specific areas.
For example, you can focus on your lower abs and obliques to tone tricky areas.
As a result, you can give yourself a firmer overall core as well as definition for other muscles with a varied workout plan.
Read More - How To Use An Ab Bench Correctly
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2. Power tower
Another one of the best gym equipment for love handles is the power tower.
Power towers look intimidating, but these H-shaped metal structures are designed for you to go back to basics and utilize your body weight and gravity for resistance.
This piece of essential gym equipment is very flexible and can accommodate a wide variety of moves; it can be used on its own or as part of a circuit routine of different core exercises.
Power towers are a very upper body-focused equipment style with a heavy emphasis on your arms, core, back, chest, and shoulders. They're often used for strength training, but they make useful equipment for abs and love handles too.
With a variety plan, you could expand your strength training for increased toning and definition in your core and general upper body.
Related Article - Best Power Tower Workouts - Find One For Your Abs!
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3. Rowing Machine
When considering the best gym equipment for abs and reducing love handles, rowing machines may not come to mind.
However, rowing machines are good for cardio and strength training, and this rowing simulation machine can be a great tool in helping you lose body fat through cardio.
Rowing machines offer cardio training in either steady-state or high-intensity interval formats, helping you lose body fat across your body, including your hips and lower abs.
This handy machine works your shoulders, back, arms, abs, quads, hamstrings, and calves at the same time.
Using one regularly and consistently could see you shredding fat across your body and increasing your muscle definition over time.
You can combine the rowing machine with other ab machines on this list, like the ab roller, for an effective upper body, lower body, and core training routine.
Also Check Out - Does A Rowing Machine Work Your Abs? (Benefits For Core)
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4. Elliptical Machine
Another love-handle workout gym machine is the elliptical.
Ellipticals are full-body workout machines that use handles and pedals to simulate walking, running, or going upstairs.
While it is a full-body exercise machine that offers additional programs and resistances, your core works hard to stabilize your body as you essentially walk on air. This gives you a great ab workout and is some of the best gym equipment to tone your middle.
Specifically, elliptical machines target your glutes, hamstrings, upper body, and calves.
As with the rowing machine, performing steady-state and high-intensity interval training on an elliptical regularly as part of your routine could help you lose general body fat, including around your torso and hips.
Learn More - Does The Elliptical Work Your Stomach? (Abs & Core Targeted)
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5. Indoor Cycling Bike Stationary
Another excellent gym machine to get rid of love handles is the stationary bike. They don't just increase the calories burned to support fat loss, they also give you a core workout to tighten your mid section.
These bikes are some of the best gym equipment for belly fat, and can be found both in commercial and home gyms and perfectly simulate cycling on a real bike.
There are three types to choose from, recumbent, spin, and upright, but each works to provide a cardio workout that shreds fat and is some of the best gym equipment for abs.
This excellent machine is easy on the joints and can efficiently perform when it comes to steady-state and HIIT regimes; the learning curve is small, and pre-set programs can help you get started.
Indoor stationary bikes target your calves, hamstrings, and quads, but you can use weights as well during steady-state training sessions for maximum efficiency.
As a result of cycling regularly, you can lose fat across your body and tone your leg muscles.
Related Article - Do Exercise Bikes Help Reduce Belly Fat?
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6. Treadmill
Treadmills are a classic commercial and home gym piece of equipment that are often recommended by a personal trainer if somebody is just starting their fitness journey.
Whether you love them or hate them, they are an excellent cardio machine that helps you increase your calories burned, improve your stamina, and shred belly fat.
Modern treadmills have a variety of programs and can even fold away for better storage options at home.
Treadmills tend to target the lower body in a similar way to previous cardio machines on this list, but this does not mean that they are ineffective at burning fat. In fact, they are considered one of the best gym equipment options for reducing belly fat quickly.
With regular use and a healthy diet, treadmills could see you toning your lower half and burning through excess fat with ease.
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7. Roman Chair
Roman chairs are one of the best exercise machines for love handles and give you great ab workouts.
These chairs are adjustable padded tools like the ab bench that can be bent or tilted to support different workouts.
This versatile piece of gym equipment provides many different workout combinations without adding a ton of extra equipment to your home gym.
Additionally, you can use weights or just your body weight to feel the burn.
Depending on the moves you choose to do, you could build and tone your glutes, hamstrings, and abs using a roman chair.
This is some of the best gym equipment to deal with your love handles, and with dedication and consistency, you could firm up your core and shred fat over time.
See Also - Best Roman Chair Workouts - Ideas For Love Handles
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How To Get Rid Of Love Handles (With Effective Training Plans)
- 1Consistency
No matter which equipment or training program you choose, the key is consistency. Whether it's exercise balls, ab rollers, or bulky abs machines, if you use these tools regularly and always keep proper form to see consistent results over time. - 2Gradual Build-Up
Both newbies and pros need to gradually work themselves up through regular training. Pushing yourself too hard too fast could cause injuries and be detrimental to your body, so take it slow and be patient. - 3Eat Well
Your body needs fuel to show up consistently and achieve your goals – feed it well. Eat a balanced diet of fresh, healthy foods with a focus on protein and vegetables to support your chosen routine. - 4Stretch And Rest Well
Alongside regular exercise and a healthy diet, your body needs to rest and recover properly, or it will negatively affect your health and progress. Do not skip on stretches, warm-ups, and cooldowns.[1] Take rest days and listen to your body to ensure you avoid overdoing it and injuring yourself. - 5Use Supplements
Supplements are used in the fitness industry to help people reach their goals, and fat burners can help to reduce belly fat around your love handles. The PhenQ fat burner is one of the most effective on the market. It contains ingredients like Nopal to make you feel fuller for longer, and Chromium Picolinate to stop you craving sugar and carbs. This will help you eat less and shift belly fat more quickly.

Recommendation | Our #1 Fat Burner
Example Workouts
Roman Chair
Ab Bench
For each of these, we recommend performing 12 reps of each three times after a thorough warm-up.
For each cardio machine, we recommend using a mixture of steady-state and HIIT each week, roughly twice each, and never back-to-back in one day.
Steady State
Choose a resistance level and length of time and maintain a steady pace until the timer runs out.
Steady state cardio is all about maintaining your current pace throughout the whole workout. This will allow you to maintain your hear rate for the duration of your session.
HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training)
Move as fast and hard as you can for 15-60 seconds before slowing down for the same amount of time. Repeat for at least three rounds.
High-intensity training will help you reach your target heart rate quickly. This is one of the most effective forms of cardio for losing weight and burning calories.
Need Help With Your Fitness Training?
Choosing The Best Equipment For Losing Love Handles
Price And Budget
Each piece of equipment can run anywhere from $30 or more than $300, depending on the type, model, and quality.
Set yourself a budget first and look for pieces within it. If something you want is out of your price range, wait for it to go on sale.
Construction, Materials, and Maintenance
Read the product description carefully to ensure that the strongest and most durable materials have been used in quality construction. It's always a good idea to look for a heavy duty steel frame on weight machines because it means it will stand up to heavier use.
Also, investigate how easy the machine or tool is to clean, maintain, and store.
Learn About - How To Lubricate A Treadmill Belt
Warranty
The length of an item’s warranty can be a good indicator of the brand’s confidence in that product.
Many pieces of gym equipment come with one or more warranties that range from 30 days to a lifetime.
Additional Features
Modern gym equipment can have a wide range of convenient additional features.
From water bottle holders to folding elements to pre-set programs, there is plenty to love about home gym kits.
Customer Reviews
Once you have some choice models in mind, read the customer reviews carefully. You can often find certified personal trainer reviews online too.
These can give excellent insight into how well the item is made and performs.
Fitness Level
Always choose exercise machines which match your fitness levels or you could risk injury.
Beginners should look for an ab machine which is easy to use and doesn't put too much strain on your core muscles.
This might be a basic ab roller, or something to support your sit ups. Advanced users should look for an ab machine with more resistance and options.
Equipment Size
All fitness equipment, especially ab crunch machines, will vary in size but it's important to choose equipment which fits in your home gym.
Some ab machines are a lot bigger than others but if they're too bulky you might not be able to use them effectively.
Other ab machines are portable, allowing you to train your stomach muscles on the go. Think about exactly what you need and measure your space to get the right product.
Versatility
Everyone has different fitness goals and you need to find equipment which helps you achieve them.
If you're focusing on just your abdominal muscles then there are a lot of machines to choose from.
If you're looking for an entire body workout to reduce your overall body fat percentage then you'll need a machine with more versatility. Look at the specifications to see what's best for you.

Common Abs & Love Handle Training Questions
How long does it take to lose love handles?
That depends on a variety of factors, including your training, diet, and body, amongst other things. Be patient with your journey and push yourself without overdoing it to see results.
Do squats help with love handles?
Any exercise that burns fat and is done regularly with a healthy diet can help. Squats can help as they work the upper thighs alongside the inner thighs and glutes.[2]
Related Article - Dumbbell Vs Barbell Squats
Can you lose love handles by walking?
If you are working your body and creating a calorie deficit, you will lose fat over time. Walking can be a great and joint-safe way of getting your body moving and exploring your neighborhood.[3]
Conclusion
What gym equipment is best for love handles? We would recommend the ones above that you will use regularly.
You don't need a personal trainer to get a flat stomach, but you do need consistent effort, a healthy protein-rich diet, and plenty of rest, and after just a short time you could see improvements in your core and overall health.
Build yourself up slowly and listen to your body for the best results.
References:
1. https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/keeping-active/before-and-after-exercise/warm-up-and-cool-down
2. https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/proper-squat-form
3. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/calorie-deficit
Last Updated on December 17, 2022