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Don’t Even Think About Spending Another Penny The home exercise equipment industry is a $4 billion dollar industry built on a foundation of over inflated promises, deception, lies, and hype. Marketing spin creates the illusion that you can get fast results with little effort. Even worse, it promotes claims that you can achieve results which are, quite simply, physiologically impossible! Small-print disclaimers expose the truth about results that cannot be achieved solely by using the marketed product. Deceptive use of words like: “results are not typical” or “must include cardio exercise and proper diet to achieve results” or worse, “models have been remunerated” (PAID), are all common place tactics used by manufactures who want you to believe there is a simple, no effort path to improved fitness. Too many consumers fail to read the fine print or simply believe what they want to believe in the hopes of attaining unrealistic results. When an average person sees that slim, sexy model on the latest infomercial, they want so badly to believe that this “fitness product of the week” will produce the same results for everyone who uses it—regardless of eating habits and overall activity levels! That fallacy is one of the biggest lies in the fitness industry, yet millions of people continue to fork over their hard-earned cash to buy products that simply cannot help them achieve their fitness goals. Once you’ve made the decision to buy home equipment, the key is making the right purchase the first time. If you buy something that doesn’t work even one time, you’ll be less likely to try again and you’ll ruin a great opportunity to get into the shape you have always dreamed about.
The Entire Class of Abdominal Equipment The problem with abdominal equipment manufacturers is that they all use deceptive claims, if not outright lies, to market and sell their products. One of the biggest deceptions in the fitness industry is the claim that you can lose inches and get washboard abs by using a piece of abdominal equipment. There isn’t one piece of equipment on the market that will magically melt away fat or reduce inches from your midsection. The human body does not have a mechanism to selectively burn fat in specific areas. “Spot reduction” is a lie, and any product that claims or implies otherwise is a scam and a big, fat rip off. The only way to lose weight—and, ultimately, inches—is to create a calorie deficit of 3,500 calories, which equals one pound of body weight. Once you create this deficit, your body doesn’t know—or care—where, specifically, you want that pound of fat removed from. You can’t selectively lose weight in one part of your body, whether that part is your abs, your butt, your waist, or anywhere else. To lose fat, reduce your caloric intake and increase your caloric expenditure with cardio-respiratory activity, which burns calories and fat. Add strength training to build lean muscle tissue, which is your body’s fat-burning machinery. Don’t buy into ridiculous claims, such as: “Shrink your waistline and tighten and tone your abs three times faster than with other exercise.” The only thing you’ll shrink when you buy into these lies is your wallet! Here are some of the big-name offenders in this fitness equipment category: The original Ab Lounge was recalled due to a dangerous product defect. The product was so poorly-designed that many customers caught their fingers in the hinge when opening or folding up the machine. The flaw caused injuries such as lacerations, crushed fingers, and even amputated finger tips! The new Ab Lounge XL won’t chop your fingers off, but that doesn’t mean it will give you the fitness results you’re looking for. The Ab Lounge XL resembles a fold-up camping chair and, according to the manufacturer, claims to “tighten and tone upper abs, lower abs and obliques faster than you ever thought possible!” The equipment is supposed to work by providing a wider range of motion, allowing the user to tilt back more than 180 degrees. “The greater the range of motion, the longer your ab muscles are working,” the manufacturer’s Web site claims. This just isn’t true! Research shows that crunches are most effective when completed over a small range of motion—no more than 30 degrees. That’s why trainers don’t advocate sit-ups anymore; not only are crunches more effective, but old-fashioned sit-ups put unnecessary strain on your neck and back. Hyper-extending your body so that your chest is below your waist can be dangerous. Additionally, the wider your range of motion, the more you are using momentum—not muscle—to propel your body. You won’t see the same results you’ll get from plain old crunches (which require no fancy, space-consuming equipment), and you might damage your back!
A study conducted by Peter Francis, Ph.D., at the Biomechanics Lab at San Diego State University and funded by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) researched the effectiveness of 13 ab exercises designed to work the oblique and rectus abdominus muscles. Body by Jake’s Ab Rocker ranked 13th out of 13 (that is, the least effective) in the study for both muscle sets. The Ab Rocker was found to be 80 percent less effective than traditional crunches. The top 3 most effective exercises all required no fancy exercise equipment, and only one piece of equipment, the Torso Track, made the top half of either list. Why buy an expensive piece of exercise equipment when there are at least 10 exercises you can do that will create better results at no cost?
In the San Diego State University/ACE study, the Ab Roller didn’t rate far behind the infamous Ab Rocker in terms of effectiveness, ranking number 9 for strengthening rectus abdominus muscles and number 10 for obliques. The company claims that the patented “Arcuate Rocker System” provides support for your head and neck during your ab workout, and guides your spine through a natural curved movement during your workout. This may be true, but the Ab Roller is hard to use! You have to be in pretty good shape to get the heavy metal bar to even move, much less perform more than one or two crunches using the equipment. If you are out of shape or have weak abdominal muscles and want to use the Ab Roller as your introduction to crunches, you’ll become disheartened and discouraged before you can see any results.
The Bean Web site makes the ridiculous claim that you’ll get a “full-body workout in only five minutes a day!” The site also claims the Bean provides cardio benefits. The truth is, you just can’t get your heart rate up enough to show any measurable benefits with only five minutes of exercise. Like many other ab exercisers, the Bean allows you to use momentum, rather than muscle, to rock back and forth. This is not effective exercise. In spite of manufacturer statements that the Bean is constructed from 20 Gauge PVC Puncture Resistant Vinyl, users have reported that the Bean loses air quickly, which is annoying, at best. At worst, it can cause injury if you try to perform any exercises on a deflated Bean. If you want to reduce strain on your back while performing ab exercises or Pilates-style movements, stick with a well-made, inexpensive exercise ball.
The AB-Doer Extreme was invented by fitness expert and Olympic trainer John Abdo. While Abdo’s motivational speeches, and even his book, are inspirational—which is one of Abdo’s strengths as a trainer—you won’t get any motivation from a piece of exercise equipment. Abdo’s Web site states that a study conducted by San Diego State University found the AB-DOer Extreme to be “184 % better than crunches” for oblique muscles, “609 % better than crunches” for working the erector spinae, the back muscles that support the spinal column, and “130 % better than crunches” at boosting heart rate. These statements don’t include any mention of who funded the study, which immediately casts doubt on these already-too-good-to-believe findings. Furthermore, it conveniently ignores the findings of a study funded by the reputable ACE (American Council on Exercise) and completed by scientists at California State University, Northridge. The ACE study discovered that AB-DOer exercises burned a mere 4 to 5 calories per minute. You can get slightly better cardio benefits from walking on a treadmill at 3 miles per hour. That’s not much of a workout, either, it’s just a light-to-moderate walking pace. The AB-DOer’s design also makes it easy to “cheat” and use your arms instead of your ab muscles to perform the exercises. Fifteen out of 20 participants in the ACE studied reported feeling no abdominal muscle fatigue after using the equipment for 11 minutes, but many reported feeling fatigue in their shoulders and arms from supporting the AB-DOer’s heavy bar.
The new kid on the Infomercial block when it comes to ab machines, the Ab Rocket uses steel construction and a series of padded rollers to support your neck and head while you perform crunches and pilates. The problem is this machine doesn’t work any better than the others in this category. Again, there is no such thing as “spot reduction,” and any manufacturer who claims their machine can achieve it is lying. The Ab Rocket promises “an incredible massage,” thanks to the rollers. These pieces of padded rubber don’t feel anything at all like a massage and don’t offer the physiological or psychological benefits of a massage; they just feel like rollers going up and down your back. To its credit, the Ab Rocket also includes a meal plan, complete with recipe cards, and a cardio workout DVD. These bonuses are probably more worthwhile than the machine, as a healthy, low-calorie diet and regular cardio exercise are shown to give better weight-loss results than any machine that promises to turn your abs from “flab to fab in just five minutes a day!”
The Red Exerciser is another example of how manufacturers try to create a new mousetrap to snare consumers, but use the same old lies. The product claims to reduce inches from your waistline; all you have to do is sit on a red seat that spins like any office chair. By twisting your upper body from left to right while holding the hand grips, you supposedly exercise your midsection, “where you need it, to sculpt a slimmer, new, you.” The biggest problem with this piece of equipment is that it uses a rotary torso movement, which can place stress on the spine if not performed properly. The danger is increased when additional resistance is added, placing more pressure on your spine as you twist your body back and forth. Those with back problems should avoid this movement altogether. A simple tension knob lets the user adjust the resistance on the Red Exerciser. The company calls it the “Torsion Max Resistance System,” which makes it sounds like there is some sort of advanced technology involved. This piece of equipment is anything but advanced. The Web site makes claims of long-term benefits, such as “a heightened immune system; reduced risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, colon and breast cancer; and even the reduced risk of premature death.” While these benefits may be obtained with regular and consistent cardio-respiratory exercise and other dietary and lifestyle changes, these are not benefits you will realize from twisting your upper body from left to right like a washing machine. The Red Exerciser is just another marketing scheme and a waste of money.
A world-class example of fabricated claims specifically designed to rip-off consumers can be found with electrical muscle stimulators. Marketing the products as “ab belts,” which stimulate muscles by using small currents of electricity, manufacturers of these ineffective units have made distorted claims, including weight loss, spot reduction, shaping and contouring, and cellulite removal. Consumers have been duped by this product under the brand names AbTronic, Ab Energizer, Fast Abs, and Ab Force. Don’t be fooled if you see another brand name selling the same lies. These products are a waste of your time and money, and they will not achieve the promised results. Claims by these manufacturers were so outrageous that the FDA stepped in and filed litigation to protect consumers. Not only do these products fail to live up to the hype, but consumer complaints about these products include burns, blistering, bruises and electric shock. None of that stopped Ab Force sales from exceeding $19 million on 747,812 units sold. Obviously, there are a significant number of people who still buy into these lies in the hope of getting quick results. Amazingly, the FDA has approved the Slender Tone Weight Belt to be marketed to consumers. Why? The company does not use any of the same fraudulent statements made by previous liars who marketed similar products. Instead, the company relies on fraudulent “before and after” images that make you believe you will lose weight and get six-pack abs with this ridiculous product.
This is a clever knock-off of the Slender Tone Weight Belt. Instead of making claims that the product helps you achieve weight loss and improved levels of fitness with electronic stimulation, the Ston-O-Max uses “Centrifugal Body Stimulation (CBS) technology” and claims to help you “build muscle”, “promote blood circulation” and “live your life better”. If you want to “live your life better,” put your money toward a piece of exercise equipment that actually works!
This piece of home exercise equipment mimics the motion of cross-country skiing. It neither has the same motion, nor is it in the same class, as an elliptical trainer. Cross-country machines never caught on in the club business because it is difficult to sustain the motion for very long. You might find one or two cross-country machines in a fitness club, but member use is minimal. What you won’t find in a quality fitness club is a Gazelle. At a price of about $200, the Gazelle is clearly designed for home use; but that doesn’t mean people who have it in their home are actually using it for any length of time! To use the Gazelle, you glide your arms and legs back and forth on the same pendulum motion. If you can perform this motion for an extended period of time, it will work on a lot of muscle groups, because you have to create the motion using the force of your entire upper and lower body. The problem is that most people cannot sustain the motion comfortably or stick with it long enough or with enough consistency to get positive benefits. Because the knee joint does not come into play, as it does on an elliptical or treadmill, there is a lot of stress placed on hip flexors, which can prove painful after extensive use.
One of the all-time great infomercial deceptions is the ThighMaster, which is nothing more than a piece of spring-loaded metal covered with a cheap piece of foam. You are supposed to place this product between your thighs and “squeeze your way to trimmer, toned thighs.” It’s advertised on infomercials and on the Internet as a surefire way to “develop a shapelier and sexier figure,” and millions of people have been misled into purchasing this product to reduce the size of their thighs. You could get better results toning your hips, thighs and buttocks by doing various forms of leg lifts and lunges, without spending a penny. Yet people are still duped into believing the lie. The fact that the ThighMaster is still available on the market shows how many people are susceptible to the deception of advertising and marketing in the fitness industry.
Any piece of equipment that mimics the motion of a StairMaster, which operates on air compression with no frame, is not a sustainable exercise that will help most people achieve long-term results. The average person cannot sustain the balance necessary to do this exercise for an extended period of time without handrails or grips. The workout is too difficult for the average user. The product’s Web site claims that by using the Air Climber, you can burn up to 1,000 calories per hour. This is an exaggerated claim; the number of people who could sustain this motion and burn 1,000 calories using this piece of equipment is fractional. The unit is sold with a single-strength band, used to perform various strength exercises while stepping on the Air Climber. It features the “Oblique Crunch” as “the waist shaper that every man and woman loves.” Advertisements claim results such as: “Now you’re shredding your abs, carving inches off your waistline at the same time you’re burning fat, all over.” Sound too good to be true? It is.
This piece of equipment tries to mimic the motion of a step machine in the seated position. The motion is created by foot pedals and handgrips that create this awkward exercise, which is not comfortable or sustainable. The piece of equipment is poorly made and will not live up to product claims, which state: “Whether you’ve never worked out before or you’ve been working out for years, the Cardio Cruiser gives you a powerful toning and cardio fat-burning workout in one breakthrough machine … It is a whole new way of working out.” The Cardio Cruiser is neither a breakthrough, nor a whole new way of working out. It’s just a sub-par piece of equipment.
OSIM® iGallop™ Core and Abs Exerciser This is one of the most ridiculous pieces of equipment on the market today. The iGallop Core and Abs Exerciser allegedly simulates the motions of riding a horse, but it delivers the results of a donkey. Marketed as the “revolutionary exerciser that can help you shape and tone your tummy, hips, seat and thighs,” results are supposedly attained through a “zero-impact, tri-axial riding action.” According to the marketing claims, your body “automatically responds to its multidirectional movement, and this balancing engages certain muscle groups and may help improve coordination and posture.” This piece of equipment is a perfect example of how effective marketing spin can be used to sell any piece of garbage to unsuspecting consumers who don’t understand the principles of exercise.
Women who want to lose weight in their butt and thighs will be lured into this loser because the infomercial makes it look easy and fun. Unfortunately, spot reduction in these areas, as with any other part of your body, is physiologically impossible. Any results that you would get in terms of toning muscles in your abductor and adductor muscles (inner and outer thighs) can easily be achieved with a variety of leg lifts, lunges and squats--using no equipment and spending zero dollars. In addition, a good brisk walk would rival the number of calories you would burn while performing this exercise. “Magic” is based on the theory of illusion. The Leg Magic is no different. This is a great piece of equipment for people who actually think a magician can make someone levitate in mid air. But if you’re looking for real results in your home exercise equipment, look elsewhere.
An advanced form of the old fat belts that claimed their vibrations would melt fat away, the new Power Plate promises a “full body workout.” According to the manufacturer, the Power Plate’s “high intensity motion” (that is, vibration) triggers muscle fibers to react and contract, resulting in improved muscle tone. Like many home exercise infomercial lies, the Power Plate advertises inflated results of improved speed, strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, metabolism and circulation. This machine promises to do everything except cook a well-balanced meal! Several studies seem to show that the Power Plate, or Whole Body Vibration (WBV) workouts, can improve balance, musculature and strength, and users can even get some of the benefits of cardiovascular training. However, users will not melt fat or lose weight through WBV training alone. Athletes may see some improvement in their performance after WBV training, but for the average person looking for a piece of home equipment, the Power Plate is over-hyped and over-priced.
The Chi Machine and its cheaper imitations, the Oxyciser, Stress Buster and Swing Machine all claim to increase oxygen levels in the blood. Dr. Shizuo Inoue, Chairman of Japan’s Oxygen Health Association, says that lack of oxygen is “at the root of most, or even all, disease.” Noticing how healthy and oxygenated fish are, he surmised that the movement of their spines was contributing to their health and giving them exercise. He designed the Chi Machine around this same movement. While lying on the floor or a yoga mat, users place their feet on the Chi Machine’s cushioned mat, and the machine moves to shake their body, “exercising internal organs,” the Web site claims. This is supposed to increase the flow of chi through the body, offering benefits such as balancing and strengthening your spine, releasing toxins from the body’s tissue, and creating an improved mental, physical and emotional state. The machine’s website promotes claims of weight loss and even says the machine can be used as a substitute for conventional exercise. But human beings are not goldfish, and wiggling around on the floor like a fish out of water won’t make you any healthier. |
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