In 2009 and the early months of 2010, the Ab Circle Pro was the most popular fitness machine in the world. Now, another version of the product has been launched, the Mini Circle, also known as the Ab Circle Mini.
The original product became so popular all around the world that Jennifer Nicole Lee, the spokesperson for the machine, claimed that over 2 million products were sold.
At $200 an item, you can imagine how big a business this became.
Now, the Mini Circle is likely to become an equally popular product.
In this review of the Mini Circle I will try to see whether this machine is really worth the money, can it deliver on its promises to get you flat abs and lose love handles, or if there are other, better options?
Ab Circle Pro Vs. Mini Circle
The first question that needs to be answered is why this new version was released. One reason is that just like the iPod Nano followed the original iPod, so do manufacturers of fitness products need to release new versions to boost sales further.
However, as a consumer this shouldn’t interest you. You want to know the difference between these two machines.
The main difference is in the size. The Ab Circle Mini, as the name implies, is a smaller version of the same machine.
Here are some stats I’ve been able to find out:
| Original | Mini | |
| Length | 38.0” | 32.0” |
| Width | 26.0” | 30.5″ |
| Height | 26.0” | 22.5″ |
| Weight | 31 lbs (shipping weight) | 15 lbs |
There’s no doubt that the Mini Circle is smaller, lighter, more easy to store, and more portable than the Ab Circle Pro. However, it may also be less durable and more prone to break or tear due to it’s being lighter. We will have to wait a while for many people to begin posting their experiences with it to see for sure.
The Ab Circle Mini is cheaper than the original at $119 per item.
Is the Mini Circle Better?
However, the way in which you workout with the machine remains the same: you get on the knee pads, hold the handle bars and rotate your body from side to side. This is supposed to give you an abdominal and cardio workout at the same time for a great fat burning effect.
In my review of Ab Circle Pro (original version), I made the case that while this may be a good product, you need more than just abs exercises to really get flat abs.
For that reason I recommended using this machine, if you choose to, but make sure that you also follow a sensible eating plan and workout regularly.
Is this still the case with the Mini Circle?
Let’s begin by saying that you will probably get a very similar workout experience with either version. Apart from being smaller, I see no difference between the two versions.
You can get a stomach workout with the Ab Mini Circle. It does work your abs. However, the claims that this also delivers a powerful cardio workout are something that I want to see proof of. I just don’t see how using a static machine with a very limited range of motion can deliver the same cardio effect as traditionalfat burning cardio workouts. I just can’t.
This means that the overall fat burning results of this machine is very much reduced. This is just my opinion, of course, but I think that if you compare running, cycling, swimming, and even walking, there is really no room for comparison.
As for the ab workouts, you can increase your abdominal strength with this machine but this can’t burn off your belly fat specifically. No ab machine can, really.
As I show in my article about common exercise myths, you can’t spot reduce fat: burn off fat from a specific body part by doing exercises that target that body part. You can build muscles that way, but your body burns fat from all over, as one complete unit. This means that doing specific abs exercises won’t help you burn belly fat specifically. It is just not biologically possible.
The only way to really get flat abs is to burn enough belly fat by doing intense cardio workouts, full body strength workouts (to burn even more fat), and to follow a very good, sensible, and fat burning nutrition plan.
If you do decide to use this machine, please make sure to also follow a healthy nutrition routine as it’s the only way to get real and lasting results.
You can use the Mini Circle. It looks like a fun machine. However, don’t make it your only tool in your quest to get flat abs. It may not be enough. Even the product’s description states that you can lose weight only with a “calorie-reduced diet and moderate exercise”.
In Conclusion
Only you can decide whether the Ab Circle Mini of Jennifer Nicole Lee is worth $119 to you. Ask yourself if you really will use it. If so, then it may be worth it. If not, then it won’t. Whether you choose to get it or not, please make sure to continue working out your entire body and to follow a sensible eating plan. It’s the only way to get results.
