| As Seen On TV |
 |
| Separating
the cream from the crap
|
Infomercials are like car wrecks; they're horrifying to watch and, yet, you can't look away. To help you wade through the outrageous promises and 'scientifically proven results,' the list below presents the most ubiquitous infomercial products and the cold hard truth about them.
| The
Cream |
The
Crap |
- Product:
The Orbitrek Elliptical Trainer
-
Claim: "ORBITREK simulates walking or running with NO
IMPACT!"
-
The Truth: Elliptical trainers
provide a low-impact workout cardio workout.
-
Bottom Line: This is NOT a high quality
elliptical trainer but, if you're strapped for cash, go ahead and buy
it. You get what you pay for.
|
- Product:
Electrical muscle stimulators (EMS) including The Ab Energizer, AbTronics,
The IGIÁ ELECTRO-Sage 8, Electro Gym, etc.
-
Claim: Lose weight and tighten abs, thighs and buttocks without
actually exercising.
-
The Truth: BWAA HA HA HA! Yeah, right.
-
Bottom Line: There is no
evidence that EMS can improve strength or weight
loss. Please don't encourage these people by buying their products.
|
- Product:
Tamilee Webb's Ab-Away Pro
-
Claim: "Using Ab-Away Pro...will result in firmer abs and a sculptured waistline."
-
The Truth: Ab exercises will not 'sculpt' your waistline or
lead to weight loss.
- Bottom Line:
This thing WILL work your abs, but range of
motion is limited. It
works, but you can do crunches for free.
|
- Product: Hollywood Celebrity Diet
-
Claim: "Reduce body fat, pounds, and inches in only a
few days with the Hollywood Celebrity Diet fat burning weight loss
program."
-
The Truth: You have to drink (only) juice for two days.
-
The Bottom Line: This is a big load of crap. Starving
yourself is never healthy and, even if you lose any weight, you'll just
put it right back on.
|
- Product:
Total Gym 1500
-
Claim: "You'll strengthen and tone nearly every major
muscle group in your body."
-
The Truth: The Total Gym offers resistance similar to cables
or resistance bands.
- Bottom Line:
At $250, this gym is
expensive and it's cheaper to buy some dumbbells, but if it's the only way
you'll lift weights, go right ahead and buy it.
|
- Product: Body By Jake Bun and Thigh Rocker
-
Claim: Jake's big teeth promise that you can "[t]one
and tighten your buns and thighs in just 3 minutes a day!"
-
The Truth: You can't lose weight by doing 3 minutes of
exercise, even when using the Thigh Rocker which offers an allegedly
'revolutionary' arcing motion.
-
The Bottom Line: This is basically a $160 squat machine and,
guess what? Squats are free.
|
Navigating
the World of Infomercials
While
not every product on television is crap, it's a good idea to remain vigilant and
not be taken in by ridiculous promises. Here's a quick tip sheet:
- Avoid all electrical
muscle stimulators (EMS). They don't work.
- Don't waste your money on
ab gadgets. You don't need any equipment to get a great ab workout
and, besides, ab exercises do NOT reduce spare tires or love handles.
- Be skeptical of any
product that promises results in just minutes a day. You can't lose
weight by doing 3 minutes of any activity unless it's liposuction and I
don't recommend that.
- Be wary of fitness
'experts' and any reference to scientific studies. If it's not in a
peer reviewed journal (like the Journal of the American Medical Association)
it's not worth the paper it's printed on.
- More
about fitness fraud
