Anyone find a "gimmicky" exercise product they really like?

[bossy]

I am of the opinion that most of these things are a waste of money and some are downright dangerous. You know all those ab-thingies and other infomercial-type exercise products. Has anyone ever purchased something like this and find it to be genuinely effective?

[cramseyb]

never bought a gimmick, but i know lots of people who have. they all end up in the closet at some point.

there is only one way to get fit, and that is to GOYB (Get Off Your Butt). Back in October I was looking through my school annual,a nd wondered what happened.

by Jan, I had dropped 6 inches off my waist, and was in the best shape of my life. My weight dropped from 207 down to 183, before the muscle i was putting on outpaced my fat loss.

so if you want to lose the inches, all you got to do is GYOB.

crb

[MrsReber]

My husband loves when those infomercials come on tv. I get so angry when I see how they prey on these poor people! Eat right and exercise. That's it. That's the answer. Yet they advertise these things as if you could look like a model in 3 weeks if you use their product 10 minutes a day. There's no way! I was hysterical watching one commercial. They showed the before and after pictures of this woman. Well, she looked fine before. All she did was tone her ab muscles. She wasn't anywhere near overweight to begin with! They also don't add that you should change your eating habits or that you really need to add some cardiovascular activity to the routine or that you really shouldn't do the same repetitive exercise every single day.

So cramseyb, I totally agree with your approach. There is not one solution for everyone, but it all begins with getting off your butt!

[GayeC]

We bought the Total Gym -- I think that's the name of it (the one that Christie Brinkley and Chuck Norris advertise on informercials). But, we did not buy the TV version, which costs about $1200. Instead, we went to Dick's Sporting Goods and bought the $200 version. Our reason for doing this was that, although we have been walking religiously, we were flabby and un-toned and I was not able to lose weight (my husband doesn't need to, but he does need to tone up). I think this product is pretty good -- it seems safe, does not stress your joints, is fairly easy to use, and has settings for everyone from the novice to the weight lifter. Since your own body weight provides the resistance there are no heavy weights to accidently drop on yourself. I have seen some results from using it and believe I could see more if I would use it 3-4 times a week. Gaye

[hlao23]

We also bought a knock-off of the Total Gym (Sears $200). We really like it - but don't currently have room in our apartment for it. I'm wondering if my dad will let us have it back. He's getting a lot of use out of it.

The only problems we've had with it: 1) they say you can do cardio with it - very difficult and just too much of a pain to keep it up and 2) I never know what to do with my hair. It hurts if you get it caught in the moving parts (for the exercises you do lying on your back)but a ponytail is also akward in this position. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Grace]

I too, bought a Total Gym - a nice version for about $600. It has a bunch of attachments that I like. Let me say that I LOVE the Total Gym! I have studied dance since I was about 10 years old (I'm almost 38 now), and have done a lot of Pilates in those dance classes. I wanted a Pilates machine, but the Total Gym does a LOT of what a Pilates machine does. I absolutely LOVE the stretching you get on the Total Gym, and I like that you lift your own weight. I also like that it's easy to adjust and quick to move from one excercise to the next (no changing weight plates, etc.). I am glad I bought a Total Gym, and would buy it again. We also have a NordicTrack Elliptical Trainer, which isn't an infomercial thing, but I still prefer walking or running outside to that machine. It works beautifully, but it's boring as heck.

Oh, and I also have Tae-Bo tapes that I love. I like having a variety of stuff to do, then it doesn't get as boring.

[funnybone]

We bought "BowFlex" and my DH loves it. I can't get into it - not yet anyway.

I did buy an "Ab-Doer" and really like it. You use it every other day, and I have for almost 2 weeks. They claim I should lose 2" off my waist at 2 weeks, and I think it is more like 1" - but that it okay. I find ab exercises on the floor hurt my back, and this thing is comfortable for me. DH hates it. But, we all can't like the same thing. I am very flexible, and I think that is one reason I like it - the moves are easy.