Melissa Gorga Shares the Bizarre Tool That "Transformed" Her Abs

We can think of a few things The Real Housewives of New Jersey pal Melissa Gorga has in common with Jennifer Lopez: a similar fashion sense, yes, but also abs. Melissa is always in bikinis showing off her rock-solid six-pack — and she's even tried out a hot new ab-firming treatment that's supposed to feel like doing 20,000 crunches. 

But Melissa's latest ab-toning technique looks a little bit like a torture device, to be honest. The boutique owner posted a photo of herself in a sports bra and leggings holding something called a Pranamat ECO. It looks like a yoga mat with plastic flowers on it, and Melissa's abs looked as toned as ever, but really red.

She wrote in the caption: "Check out my tummy! It's the result of just 15 minutes on my @pranamat massage set! I enjoyed this AMAZING deep intense massage for backpain and headache relief earlier, but now it's my fav skincare tool that (WOW!) transformed my belly!"

OK, what is this thing? It's an acupressure mat, which is so trendy right now. The little plastic rosettes along the mat are said to release natural pain-relieving hormones. You're supposed to lay on it, but Melissa isn't the only turning to a Pranamat ECO for ab-related uses too. The company claims on Instagram that it can be used to "firm up the skin on your tummy" by increasing the "blood and lymphatic circulation." 

Say what? Beyond diet and exercise for flat abs (let's be real), the company wrote: "Pranamat ECO helps in this instance by bringing extra circulation to a specific area, which has 2 effects: 1. Addresses the root cause of cellulite and 2. Brings nutrients and oxygen to the muscles to help rebuild after a workout." 

There are detailed instructions that you're supposed do a few crunches, then lie on the mat on your stomach while on a bed for 15 to 20 minutes, without having eaten anything beforehand. Apparently, skin redness is part of the treatment, so no need for alarm with Melissa's post.