Miracle exercise gadgets have made their way onto our TV sets for years, promising to make our lives easier by drastically cutting down the time it takes to get that fabulous bikini body/six-pack we’ve supposedly always wanted. Most of these gizmos sound convincing in theory (who’s going to argue with a fitness model?) but in practice, the story is a whole lot different. The market for these products is constantly expanding, as someone’s whimsy idea becomes a soon-to-be-mocked reality. From the Ab Circle Pro, to the slightly less convincing Fat Blaster Belt, we’ve dug up some of the wackiest exercise gadgets on the market and listed them here for your amusement.[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Ab Circle Pro[/vc_column_text][dt_gap height=”10″][dt_fancy_image type=”video” media=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdGNerEGBIA” style=”3″ padding=”20″ align=”left” animation=”none” width=”600″][dt_gap height=”10″][vc_column_text]Probably one of the most popular exercise gadgets, the Ab Circle Pro is claimed to be a “treadmill for your abs” that guarantees you’ll lose 5kg in 2 weeks. What it does not explicitly mention, is that in order to lose weight within that timeframe you also need a reduced calorie diet and the workout DVD. With a calorie restricted diet, you can lose weight within a very short period of time, however not only is this diet impossible to maintain, it does not necessarily get rid of the real culprit – fat. The weight you lose from calorie restriction is mostly muscle tissue, water and some fat. Losing muscle tissue decreases your metabolism and causes you to gain weight.[/vc_column_text][dt_gap height=”10″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Swim Tether[/vc_column_text][dt_gap height=”10″][dt_fancy_image type=”video” media=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7KoLkAIDAo” style=”3″ padding=”20″ align=”left” animation=”none” width=”600″][dt_gap height=”10″][vc_column_text]Swimming is a low-impact and effective way to keep fit, but not everyone has enough space for a lap pool in their backyard. The swim tether is designed to eliminate that problem, by allowing you to use your backyard pool as a lap pool. The tether is essentially a rope suspended from the end of a swimming pool and attached to you via a harness. While it is a useful piece of equipment in developing speed and strength for competitive swimmers, flailing around for 45 minutes while maintaining a constant body position is hardly the most exciting thing to do. If you can make a commitment to use it regularly, the Swim Tether might be of some benefit to you but even competitive swimmers do not use this device on its own.[/vc_column_text][dt_gap height=”10″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Slimming Sauna Shorts / Slim Away Spa Pants[/vc_column_text][dt_gap height=”10″][dt_fancy_image type=”video” media=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZU9sfX3obk” style=”3″ padding=”20″ align=”left” animation=”none” width=”600″][dt_gap height=”10″][vc_column_text]Spa Pants claim to “shed water weight your stomach, waist, hips, butt and thighs in the comfort and privacy of your own home”. They work by heating your body to elevate perspiration which relieves water retention in your lower body. Apart from looking incredibly dorky, they are also the least effective way to lose a noticeable amount of weight. The commercial does mention that the pants are most effective for “temporary weight loss emergencies”. Whether or not they do work is up for debate, but they seem to have all the makings of a cheap gimmick.[/vc_column_text][dt_gap height=”10″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Slendertone Flex Max Ab Belt[/vc_column_text][dt_gap height=”10″][dt_fancy_image type=”video” media=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AkoWKMQBR0″ style=”3″ padding=”20″ align=”left” animation=”none” width=”600″][dt_gap height=”10″][vc_column_text]The problem with ab belts and similar devices is that they target a specific area. This is known as spot reduction or spot training and it does not work. Unfortunately, when you exercise to burn fat, you have no control where you lose it because your body stores fat in areas determined by your genetics. That is why doing sit-ups will strengthen your abdominals but will not eliminate fat from your stomach.[/vc_column_text][dt_gap height=”10″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Facial Toner[/vc_column_text][dt_gap height=”10″][dt_fancy_image type=”video” media=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c-5iz42how” style=”3″ padding=”20″ align=”left” animation=”none” width=”600″][dt_gap height=”10″][vc_column_text]For some, a toned body is not enough if you don’t have the face to match. This contraption uses electricity to shock the facial muscles into reducing the appearance of sagging, wrinkles and other undesirable features, giving the appearance of a firm youthful face. Electric therapy (remarketed as “electro muscle stimulation technology”) has varying degrees of success for some people. But applying electricity (even small amounts of it) directly onto your face is not believed to be the healthiest way to rid yourself of wrinkles. Facial toning masks can burn the skin and leave you looking much worse than before you used them. Facial exercises are one alternative to electric therapy, but the effectiveness of these exercises to create the appearance of a more youthful face is much contested.[/vc_column_text][dt_gap height=”10″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It must be said that body transformations will always require discipline, hard work and major lifestyle changes in order to have long-lasting results. A combination of maintained diet and an exercise routine that evolves with your fitness level is a must. You can learn more about health and fitness with Onfit personal training courses.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
