Treadmill or Rowing Machine for Belly Fat: Which Is Better?

Are you trying to get a toned ab but don’t know which machine will help you get there faster? You're not alone. With many fitness machines out there, it's easy to get overwhelmed. In this article, we’ll compare two of the trending machines for losing belly fat—the treadmill and rowing machine—and introduce Tousains beginner workout rowing machine to help you make a smart choice. Let’s jump in.

Belly Fat

Before choosing a machine, it helps to understand what belly fat is and how our bodies store (and lose) fat. There are two main types:

• Subcutaneous fat: the soft fat under your skin
• Visceral fat: the deeper fat that surrounds your organs and contributes to various health risks, including diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. [1]

Both treadmills and rowing machines can help reduce overall body fat, which in turn lowers visceral fat and contributes to better overall health. While targeting belly fat is a common fitness goal, it's important to know that "spot reduction" is a myth. You can't pick exactly where your body will burn fat first. Genetics, hormones, age, sex, and overall lifestyle all play a role in fat distribution and loss. The key to reducing belly fat is creating a consistent calorie deficit.

Treadmill for Belly Fat

The treadmill is a tried-and-true machine, and for good reason. It offers a reliable way to get cardio, which is effective for burning calories and reducing overall body fat.

Pros

High calorie burn: The calories burned on a treadmill vary depending on your fitness levels, weight, and workout intensity. Take a look at the calories burn within half an hour from Harvard Health Publishing for reference:

Gym Activities	125-pound person	155-pound person	185-pound person
Running: 5 mph (12 min/mile)	240	288	336
Running: 6 mph (10 min/mile)	495	360	420
Running: 7.5 mph (8 min/mile)	375	450	525
Running: 10 mph (6 min/mile)	453	562	671

Versatile and effective design: Many models are designed with auto incline and allow you to run at various speeds. Incline walking, in particular, engages core and lower body muscles more, contributing indirectly to abdominal toning. 

Beginner-friendly: Compared with the learning curve of rowing, treadmills are more friendly for users. Though some may not know how to use this machine at the very beginning, they can start by walking on the treadmill and gradually increase the speed.

Cons

Lower core engagement: While treadmills burn calories and aid fat loss, they don’t specifically target the abdominal muscles. Running can strengthen the core, but not as directly as exercises that require core stabilization like rowing.

Can be hard on joints: Running on a hard surface like the road can be hard on your joints, especially for those with knee or hip issues. Although treadmills are often equipped with shock absorbers, the repetitive motion can be less gentle than rowing.

Boring: Some users may find this form of exercise too boring to stay consistent. It is recommended to listen to some podcasts or music to make your running more exciting.

Rowing Machine for Belly Fat

Pros

Full-body calorie burn: Rowing machines work approximately 85% of the body’s muscles. A 155-pound person rowing vigorously can burn 369 calories within 30 minutes. Tousains beginner workout rowing machine offers a more comprehensive and ab-target workout due to the ab coaster and small cable crossover function. This total-body workout leads to higher calorie expenditure, which supports overall fat loss, including stubborn belly fat.

High core engagement: While rowing, users need to engage their core to stabilize the whole body throughout each stroke. Tousains beginner workout rowing machine allows you to target your abs with the ab function.

Low-impact yet intense: Rowing is a low-impact workout that minimizes stress on the joints while still providing an intense cardio session. It’s ideal for users who want to avoid the wear and tear of running but still want a high-efficiency fat-burning workout.

Cons:

Learning Curve: To engage your muscles effectively, the proper rowing form and techniques are essential, which help to maximize results and prevent injuries. Beginners may take time to master the correct form.

Related: How to use a rowing machine for beginners? 

Space and Motivation: Rowing machines used to be bulky, and the repetitive motion might feel monotonous to some users. The Tousains beginner workout rowing machine can be folded up and placed in the corner of your home, which is ideal for small apartments. And the Tousains team is working to provide effective and versatile rowing workout videos for free on the Tousains app.

Which Is Better for Belly Fat: Treadmill or Rowing Machine?

Choose a treadmill if you:

• Have no joint issues
• Enjoy walking or running
• Are comfortable with weight-bearing, repetitive motion.

Choose a rowing machine if you

• Are looking for a full-body workout that involves your core muscles.
• Prefer joint-friendly exercise
• Enjoy the rowing workouts

Finally, the real winner is the one you’ll use consistently. Both machines can help you reduce belly fat as part of a full-body fat loss journey. Whether you prefer the rhythmic stride of the treadmill or the powerful pull of the rowing machine, showing up is half the battle. If you prefer rowing, Tousains beginner workout rowing machine with adjustable resistance is ideal for your belly fat loss journey. Get it from Tousains Home Fitness Equipment Online Store and sculpt your abs!