Just tested: Slim Belly

Local slimming does not exist, experts say. In any case, it has never been proven. Yet Slim Belly claims the opposite. With this inflatable band around your belly you would lose at least 8.8 cm of abdominal circumference in 4 weeks within a month. I don’t really have much to complain about myself, I have a normal build. Most of the pants I have fit my legs and buttocks just fine. Only that top button, I find it difficult to close.

What isn’t it?

Slim Belly is not for sale at an internet store, you cannot use it at home and you do have to do something for it! So it is not a miracle band that you put on and that does all the work for you.

To see how it works, I went to try it out at Slim Body Center in Amersfoort. This gym specializes in the Slim Belly; there are only devices on which you can use the Slim Belly. Personal coach Fred Vulhop guides me for four weeks.

What do you have to do?

Before I start exercising, Vulhop puts a wide plastic band with air chambers tightly around my stomach that closes at the back with Velcro. There are valves on the front, similar to what is on a bicycle tire.

Then I can choose which workout I’m going to do. I can choose from the treadmill, cross trainer or stationary bike. Each of these devices has a box with two tubes attached to it, which you attach to the valves on your stomach. While you exercise, the band around your abdomen inflates and deflates all the time.

How does it work?

Because the band inflates and shrinks all the time, your belly fat is massaged. This stimulates the blood flow and where there is blood flow, there is fat burning. At least that’s the idea. My stomach is indeed nice and warm after exercise, unlike, for example, my thighs where the fat still feels cold. Sounds logical in itself, that of that combustion.

In order for the combustion to work optimally, you should train at an average pace. This requires you to achieve a heart rate of 180 minus your age. For me, this means a heart rate of 150, which is equivalent to a brisk walking pace or fairly hard cycling. An average workout takes about 40 minutes.

How does it feel?

It does take some getting used to doing cardio exercises while a band is tight around the abdomen. When cycling he sometimes pricks the ribs and from shock I occasionally forget to take a deep breath. Fortunately it went quickly.

Maybe too soon, because I don’t think it’s that special anymore. And that also diminishes my motivation. I prefer to walk and cycle outside, or I spend some lost half hours doing some Pilates in my living room. I find it quite tough to make time three times a week to drag myself to the gym. I don’t really like cardio either. My fellow ab trainers do boost the atmosphere and you can also watch television on the cardio machine. But there are times when I’m glad I only have to train so intensely for four weeks.

And? Is there a result?

I can not complain. Anyway, I have a normal healthy weight, so I shouldn’t lose much weight. So it actually seemed stiff to me that I would lose centimeters in four weeks. Yet! I have lost 1.8 kilos, above my navel I measure 4.5 centimeters less, below my navel 3 centimeters (together 7.5 centimeters). A lot, I thought. “Ohoo!” said my colleague, “You really have less belly already!”

But Vulhop wasn’t really happy about it. On average, participants lose at least 2.3 kilos and lose on average at least 8.8 centimeters in size. My result was very poor. And I turned out to be an exception.

The gentlemen and ladies around me suddenly lost kilos and centimeters. Admittedly; many also had a bit more to lose than I did, so in proportion I thought I was doing quite well. And, when you exercise, you also get more hungry! So you should also keep an eye on your eating habits. To be honest, I’ve seen the tin of pretzels a little more often than usual these weeks…

Conclusion?

Smart Belly works! But why remains unclear. Exercise helps you lose weight, so anyone who suddenly goes to the gym three times a week will lose weight. My fellow athletes also lost weight, which naturally boosts the results. And if you lose weight, you will also lose weight on your stomach. Anyway, whether it works left or right: the gym is full of people who normally don’t like exercise.

I was already quite active myself, I exchanged these other activities for Slim Belly, I snacked more than usual and still got results! So I can’t help but be positive about the operation of the Slim Belly. To prevent me from gaining centimeters again, I actually have to do Slim Belly once a week. And that’s the crux for me. I prefer to take a nice (snow) walk. Even if my pants don’t close very well.

More information

Slim Belly is offered in various gyms, including in Slim Body Center Amersfoort: www.slimbodycentre.com.