I often get asked, “What is the best kind of exercise equipment?” Years ago the answer to that was simple. I’d simply reply, “The one you use the most!” Today, the retail fitness landscape has changed quite a bit and we are now offered a smorgasbord of choices when it comes to exercise contraptions.
With that, I can no longer give that same answer, as I can confidently say that a lot of these gizmos are nothing but hype, totally useless and a waste of dollars. Time and space don’t permit me to go into great detail here, but I’ll name just a few, along with my take on each device. Thigh Master – I can’t believe this is still being sold. If you truly believe that squeezing this contraption between your thighs will give you legs like Suzanne Summers, I could probably sell you snow in the winter. Understand first of all, in order to optimally stimulate muscle tissue (in the legs, with this piece) you must move that muscle through a COMPLETE range of motion, in which the muscle is lengthened then shortened into contraction, in order to stimulate the actin and myosin filaments of the muscle fibers. Simply stated, the more dynamic the movement, the greater the stimulation. Then to lose the excess adipose tissue (a.k.a. fat) around it, you will need to modify your eating habits. Ab devices – Whether it’s the Ab Roller, Ab Lounge, Ab Doer, Ab…whatever, I find most of them Ab-surd, Ab-errant, Ab-ysmal! In 2002 the FTC filed complaints against the Ab Energizer, Fast Abs and Abtronic, on grounds that the products did not deliver what they promised. The following year a $5 Million settlement for the lawsuit would be agreed upon between the FTC and these products manufacturers. The bottom line is that the Ab Energizer, along with their counterparts, falsely advertised the results that their product could actually deliver. You’ve heard me and others say before that it is impossible to “spot reduce”. Yet what is the spot folks work on the most? You got it…the mid-section. I’ll see folks performing sit ups, crunches, along with using these devices, to get rock-hard 6-pack abs, but look no different months and years later, because they still got several layers of fat covering them. You want rock-hard abs? You must condition the full body AND lose the excess. Shake Weight – The first time I saw this, I thought the lady was making a protein shake. Maybe I’ll take pieces of this gadget and turn this into a portable drink shaker. Anyhow, while I can say that there are some legitimate vibration apparatuses out there, here again, muscles need to move through a full range of motion for optimal stimulation. So, sorry Shake Weight! I can’t give you my endorsement for that reason alone. In summary, folks of all ages and walks of life have sought easy solutions to get in shape and lose the fat for as long as I can remember. If you’re looking for quick fixes and magic bullets to achieve this end, I’d hate to disappoint you. Because there are none. Though the premise is actually quite simple; just watch what you eat and KEEP MOVING, folks just can’t seem to put it together. And why is that so hard? Because these folks need a system! Whether it’s the Optimum Fitness System or any other reliable system, HAVE A SYSTEM! If you’re thinking about purchasing one of these infomercial gadgets, feel free to contact me and I’ll gladly give you my take on it. Till next time, cheers!
About the Author:
In a business that experiences a great deal of annual turnover, Oliver has remained steadfast through it all with over 20 years in business. Being fed up with all the deception and dishonesty that occurs in the Health/Fitness industry, Oliver set out to offer a no-nonsense approach to sensible wellness without all the hype and false promises that continue to abound. Oliver is a world class personal trainer specializing in custom fitness and workout programs for individuals and small groups. If you want to improve your overall health, lose weight, get into better shape, and look and feel better, contact Oliver today!
