The Hype:

The Ab Circle Pro claims that using it will burn fat whilst trimming and toning your abs, buns, hips and thighs, with results guaranteed.  You get the machine itself, a nutritional guide and instructional DVD lasting three minutes; there are optional extras, including a calorie-counter. The Ab Circle Pro boasts different levels of resistance to cater for all fitness levels, and it sells itself as a treadmill for your abs, combining the fat-burning benefits of cardio work with specific toning of the stomach and waist areas.

The Ab Circle Pro costs around $200 and there is a shipping and handling charge of $34.95 (Steep!).  The company also offer a $14.95 30 day trial offer and a guarantee that you can send it back if you don’t get results.

So what are users really saying about the Ab Circle Pro?  Read on and find out!

Pros:

People saw visible results within a month, with waistlines shrinking and buns and thighs feeling more toned.  Shoulders and arms were also worked, due to the positioning on the machine, and several users also commented that their backs felt stronger.

The Ab Circle Pro was easy to set up and store, and didn’t take up a lot of room.

Cons:

Customer service left a lot to be desired for many clients, and sending it back and getting a refund took some effort!

A number of users stated that the pads made their knees sore, but admitted that wearing kneepads solved this problem.

There were grumbles about the build quality of the machine, with the paint starting to come off with constant heavy use. The rollers also squeaked, but an application of oil helped.

To Buy or Not to Buy?

The general consensus seems to be that the Ab Circle Pro is a useful addition to any weight loss programme when combined with a reduced calorie diet and other types of exercise.  It will add a bit of variety to your workouts, but used on its own is not enough and it looks like the machine will not stand up to constant heavy use! It has to be said that the ad does recommend you do other kinds of exercise as well and use the Ab Circle Pro for 3 minutes a day.

Visit the Ab Circle Pro Site

The Ab Circle Pro Review is a post from: As Seen On TV Fitness Reviews

Good Workout
Easy To Use
Value For Money
Overall Rating

I’m not saying that every piece of that home exercise equipment you see advertised on the television is trash.  But let’s face it a lot of them are.  The slick salesmen and stick thin models can easily persuade you that losing 20lb of fat every week is possible.  The reality is unless you hack off a body part losing weight quickly is not only impossible but even if it were it would be down right dangerous.

At some level we know that we’re being sold snake oil but even so sometimes our heart rules our head and we succumb to the Sirens call.

I believe though that even the most disappointing piece of exercise equipment you’ve ever bought can be of some use.  Okay so maybe if used as advertised you’d break it in 10 minutes flat but the likelihood is they could still be used occasionally to great effect.

I’ve bought almost every piece of exercise equipment you could possibly think of and mostly I’ll admit their trash.  But I incorporate many of these gadgets in my normal work outs. I like to pick at least one and slot it in to my current workout.  This has a number of benefits.  Firstly it keeps my workouts more interesting and so helps alleviate boredom and therefore makes me more likely to actually exercise in the first place.  And secondly because I’m always varying my workouts I’m much less likely to hit an exercise plateau.

I’m not suggesting you go out and spend a small fortune on exercise equipment but if it’s inexpensive (less than $100 and you can easily afford it) and its tickled your fancy then why not?  Yes nine times out of 10 it will be a lemon but every now and then you’ll get a piece of equipment you really like and that you will use regularly and it will help your current fitness goals.

Remember though it’s never the piece of equipment that helps you reach your fitness goals it’s actually using the equipment!  If you don’t use the equipment and you use it to hang your laundry on instead then nothing you buy is ever going to give you the results you desire.

Equipment Under $100

KettleWorx – Kettle Bell Workout
The Firm Wave Workout

PS I don’t consider either of the above trashy

Why Buying Trashy Exercise Equipment Can Sometimes Be A Good Thing is a post from: As Seen On TV Fitness Reviews

With the popularity of the Wii fit amongst people of all ages and fitness levels there comes a new rash of wii related injuries. Apart from the obvious injuries like falling off the step and twisting an ankle comes some very unusual ones.

I’ve seen two people recently  who have pulled a muscle called QL. QL is a muscle that helps with lateral flexion and also stabilises the spine.

These people have pulled QL by doing the hulahoop exercise!  It seems like there over enthusiastic hulahooping has put too much strain on the muscle and it’s either pulled slightly or gone into spasm.

Remember, the Wii Fit is still exercise.  You still need to warm up carefully and take as much care while doing the exercises as you would if you were in class.  For some reason people seem to think that the Wii Fit is some sort of toy and although it can be a lot of fun you still need to take care.

I wait with bated breath to see what other than usual exercise related injuries I have seen that are Wii Fit related.

So have fun but take care you don’t fall victim like my hapless clients

Wii Fit And The Hulla Hoop Warning! is a post from: As Seen On TV Fitness Reviews

There’s a myth or urban legend if you like that says as you get older particularly into your 60s it gets harder if not impossible to stay fit and at a healthy weight.

I don’t believe that’s true I believe the reason we put on weight as we get older is that our activity levels decrease with age because we do less. We walk less and we exercise less therefore it’s inevitable that if we maintain our old eating habits or in other words we take in the same number of calories we used to when we were younger it’s inevitable we’ll put on weight.

But it doesn’t have too be that way there’s no reason why someone in their 60s can’t maintain a level of activity that enables them to stay fit and healthy.

It seems that we’re programmed by the media for it to be inevitable therefore why do anything about it.

Fortunately the solution is simple.  Just increase your activity levels and you can reverse this trend. Now you don’t have too joined a gym or start jogging which lets face it would probably do your joints more harm than good you just need to start moving a little bit more.

A short walk of maybe a mile or two either in the country or around the block.  Maybe take a Pilates class which will give you a core and structural stability we all need a particularly as we get older.  After all if we have a firm foundation anything we build on him is likely to stay.

So don’t make excuses for being out of shape because no matter what your age it’s always possible to stay fit and let’s face it the fitter winner the longer we live.

Can You Stay Fit After 60? is a post from: As Seen On TV Fitness Reviews

At this time of year it can seem like a long time before the summer before we need to start worrying about how good will look in a bikini.

If we want to lose some weight and get ready we should start now.  Trying to lose weight quickly doesn’t work and even if it did we’d soon put it all back on.  I think by now everyone knows the only way to lose weight and keep it off is to lose it slowly.

Ideally we’d work out three times a week for a minimum of 20 minutes I think you’ll agree that’s not a lot but the problem is people just don’t do it they mean to do it but they never quite get round to it.  These days it’s so easy to get a fantastic workout at home.  There is no shortage of at home workout equipment like the KettleWorx that can be purchased inexpensively and used as part of your fitness programme.

The one missing piece from people getting the desired results can be expressed in a single word discipline.  You need to develop the self-discipline to actually motivate yourself to exercise.  Like brushing your teeth it needs to be added to your weekly routine.  And, like brushing your teeth must become a permanent part of what you do.

There is no point in just saying you will exercise you need to put it in your diary and ring fence the date and time. Anything that would normally prevent you from making the appointment must be rescheduled. Only an emergency should be allowed to defer the workout to another time.

After a time it will become a habit that is difficult to break.

Remember “If you don’t do the drills you won’t get the skills”

Working Out At Home is a post from: As Seen On TV Fitness Reviews