Question about fitness product

[WYDD]

So ok, i'm trying to lose some weight here. And trying to actually look like i'm not a lazy ass. Now, it seems like no matter how hard i try, my stomach never looks, well, muscular. So, do any of you know if that damn ab energizer or fast abs, or whatever work. Ya know, the belt thingie you wear on you stomach and your stomach muscles are supposed to contract. Or do you think it's a complete ripoff. And, yes i do work out, i'm not trying the lazy mans approach. Although, as much time as i spend on this board, i would probably not have a stomach anymore if i were to wear it the whole time.

[Farmer]

I dunno WYDD - but I have heard that those things are painful - 'cause it's basically shocking you....

[chipshot]

Try the ab roller wheel dohicky contraption. It is not easy, it hurts like hell at first, but it works like hell. I was doing like 150-200 crunches a day for about a year and this thing still kicked my ass. However, it does not matter how many situp/crunches you do if you have a gut because it will only make your abdomen strong not get rid of the lard.

[BearBryant]

It is amazing what they have forums for these days!

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/exercise/msg1017444929950.html?12

[Sportsgirl]

First you need to do a lot of cardio. Try Billy Blanks' Taebo workout tapes. Believe me, they work, especially Taebo II - Get ripped! If you don't have the patience for video workouts, do 30-45 minutes 3-4 days a week on the elliptical machine at the gym. It really burns calories and firms muscle. I recommend doing the cardio in conjunction with The Firm 5-day Abs tape or Denise Austin's abdominal workout tapes. You need to do ab work at least 5 days a week for best results, and give up beer, dairy, and salty stuff. Be sure to drink lots of water.

I'm a fitness freak. I've got about 40 workout tapes, most of them from The Firm, and workout equipment at home. That's how I stay in shape.

[Kakia69]

the ab roller doesn't work as effective as doing stomach crunches yourself. you lose the tension when you use the ab roller.

any gimmick that say it can help you get fit in a short time span is just that...a gimmick.

Go running. Do a lot of cardio. You have to slim down first because if you already have a pouch and you do crunches, you will develop your ab muscles...underneath that pouch.

Most importantly, eat ONLY when you are truly hungry.

[chipshot]

Maybe its not the ab roller I am talking about but the wheel with the bar though the center of it where you start on your knees and roll forward with hands on bar untill you almost touch your chest to ground and then back up. Absolute torture.

[boo-urns]

You are asking one of the most common questions and one of the most common one that the wrong answer is given.

Spot reducing is impossible. You will lose fat from all over your body when your body uses the fat stores. The area around the waist typically has the thickest fat in men and therefore is the last place you will see results.

By just working your abs, you will not lose fat, and any muscle you build or tone in your abs will make you look worse until you get rid of the fat layer. The key to losing weight is to add muscle. Every one pound of muscle takes 50 calories perday just to maintain normal body temp. You add ten pounds of muscle, you lose a pound (3500 calories) per week. Add some cardio on top of that and you'll lose fat even faster.

[Freakshow]

Yeah, you gotta just eat and drink less.

By the way, those ab wheel things DO kick ass.

[Puttingood]

If you want your stomach to look better then just hang out with me. A lot of people like to get their picture took with me for that same reason. :)

[WYDD]

no shit, i do that ab roller. It seems to burn. I probably haven't given it a chance. But, i bought a duel action bike. Ya know, the ones that move your arms and legs. Did 30 minutes of it at about 30 mph and about half of it's full resistance. I'm dripping with sweat (not trying to turn on fred or clt) and haven't sweat this much since my high school soccer games. Been doing 30 minutes twice a day. Play soccer on wed nites and have been eating mostly grilled chicken with marinade for dinner and turkey sandwiches with no condoments, no lettuce, just bread and turkey for lunch. Rice krispies and banana for breakfast with apple juice. And i only drink tea or water with dinner and lunch. So, i'd imagine i'll drop some decent weight. Damn, it's so easy to put on weight. I blew out my knee didn't get it operated on for 6 months, and had another 6 months of doing nothing. Gained 50 lbs in that time. Granted, i'm 5'9" and weighed 140 then. I'm looking to get at a toned 160. thanks for your help you guys. Any other suggestions will be gladly taken.

[boo-urns]

I'll make a suggestion on your diet.

Cut down on carbs...have the lettuce and lose the bread...ditch the rice crispies and have eggs instead. What you want to do is limit your carbs to under 80 per day while keeping your protein high to maintain muscle. A big mistake people make is starving themselves which causes the body to break down muscle for energy instead of fat...I posted above why muscle is important. Have 80% plus of those carbs in meals prior to dinner, your dinner should be the fewest number of carbs of any meal you eat. Don't get caught up in counting calories, count carbs and protein. Take in 1.25 grams of protein per pound of body weight daily. Try to get some protein every three hours during the day...this will also help prevent muscle breakdown.

I'm a fitness and nutrition enthusiast...been so for over 10 years now. I've seen people make mistakes and have made my fair share.

I would also suggest that you sign up at a gym. If you think that little roller ball burns your abs, wait till you see what modern equipment at the gym can do. You'll have access to more and better equipment which will lead to variety...which will help you not become bored. 90% of people who buy a treamill (for example) have themselves a very expensive clothes rack in a few months after they get bored with it.

I personally recommend either a metro membership at the Y or the equivalent at Golds because you can work out at different locations. Changing scenery every now and then will also help you not become bored. I have a metro Y and work out at the Uptown, Dowd, Gateway, and Harris branches. I also have a Bally's membership...Bally's has better equipment and better hours than the Y's.