A solution for abs, is it a hoax?

xyz101 · 30-Dec-04, 05:08 PM

First I would like to say that this is a great site, it's incredible the amount of information that you can get by browsing through it! All of the members are so kind and helpful...

Here's my question: I'm talking about those electrical belts for abs, does it work if you use it everyday or is it a worthless ABsolution and should I just stick to regular crunches (I'm using the Abking pro) or combine both methods?
I'd like to know if some of you have tried the Abking pro and what do you think of it(I heard it sells a lot...)

**cursor** · 30-Dec-04, 05:17 PM

Hoax. Don't waste your money.

Caracal · 30-Dec-04, 06:02 PM

I've heard that,for them to have any kind of effect, they would have to be WAY more powerful....

candyass · 30-Dec-04, 06:19 PM

You wont get abs from crunch (no such thing as spot-burning fat). Manage your diet and you'll see them.

copperman · 03-Jan-05, 10:14 PM

I have one of those things... I will use it sometimes on the days when I am supposed to do abs, but don't have the time. It does fatigue your abs, and it does work them fairly well, but it will not help you get a six-pack. The only way to do that is to lose the fat. I believe it is around 8-9% body-fat for males to start seeing a decent set of abs.

**MostMuscle** · 03-Jan-05, 11:00 PM

The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research: Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 165–172.

Effects of Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Body Composition, Muscle Strength, and Physical Appearance
JOHN P. PORCARI, CARL FOSTER, BEN CRENSHAW, and CHAD SWENSON

Department of Exercise and Sports Science, University of Wisconsin—La Crosse, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601

KAREN PALMER McLEAN and THOMAS KERNOZEK

Department of Physical Therapy, University of Wisconsin—La Crosse, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601

ABSTRACT

Electrical muscle stimulation devices (EMS) have been advertised to increase muscle strength, to decrease body weight and body fat, and to improve muscle firmness and tone in healthy individuals. This study sought to test those claims. Twenty-seven college-aged volunteers were assigned to either an EMS (n = 16) or control group (n = 11). The EMS group underwent stimulation 3 times per week following the manufacturer's recommendations, whereas the control group underwent concurrent sham stimulation sessions. Bilaterally, the muscles stimulated included the biceps femoris, quadriceps, biceps, triceps, and abdominals (rectus abdominus and obliques). An identical pre- and posttesting battery included measurements of body weight, body fat (via skinfolds), girths, isometric and isokinetic strength (biceps, triceps, quadriceps, hamstrings), and appearance (via photographs from the front, side, and back). EMS had no significant effect on the any of the measured parameters. Thus, claims relative to the effectiveness of EMS for the apparently healthy individual are not supported by the findings of this study.

Cort · 04-Jan-05, 04:20 AM

Personally its a hoax, even if they manage to stimulate the muscle and work it, its not going to burn the fat off. You can have monster abs...but it wont matter if they're covered in fat.

kielbasa · 10-Jan-05, 01:10 AM

Hoax from what I know, well, what the telemarketing ones sell anyway. I dont know about professional ones you get in gyms or what ever.

But I know that the "AbTronic" that was on the market about 2 years ago, it was always being advertised here on TV in Australia for months and months, non-stop, eventually I saw on the news that the company (I think DanOZ direct or their US counterpart) was fined in a US court for advertising and selling a defice which didnt do what it was meant to. ie - it was all a hoax, just a money making scheme and it did nothing, just fooled people into giving money making them think it actually does burn fat and work your abs out.

I would be interested to know if the professional ones work, I actually once did try on that Abtronic on my thighs and put it on high, and my muscles were contracting on their own, felt wierd, didnt feel like a workout at the gym, but im curious..?

10-Jan-05, 03:37 PM

I just saw one of those things advertised on TV and it claims it has been approved for sale by the FDA. Anyone else see this? Any idea what the brand was? :confused:

gcs118 · 10-Jan-05, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IronMan

I just saw one of those things advertised on TV and it claims it has been approved for sale by the FDA. Anyone else see this? Any idea what the brand was? :confused:

FDA? Are people going to eat it? Any kind of government approval probably just means it's safe or something.

furball · 10-Jan-05, 10:31 PM

They can work, but the pain and discomfort (a lot of juice) of really getting them pumped is not worth it, nor is the price....A regular ab routine is much more effective and feels better to me....I hate those damn electrical stim things...

I would imagine the only ones able to be effective would be the kind a chiopractor can hook you up to, and I wouldn't want to get the bill for one of those machines...

I can barely tolerate the lower settingson those machines, something about not being able to control my muscles just drives me crazy...