20 most worthless pieces of junk: #4 -- Ab rollers and other six-pack devices
Filed under: Extracurriculars, Ripoffs and Scams, Technology, Health, Buyer Beware
I have a little problem. Well, to be more precise, I have a few little problems: my transverse abdominus, internal obliques, external obliques, and rectus abdominus muscles. Collectively known as my abs, these muscles help me stand up straight, twist and turn, bend over, breathe, and lift things. Perhaps most importantly, they seem to be extremely important when it comes to keeping me looking fit.Nowadays, I am generally content to watch my diet and do regular ab exercises. However, a few years ago, when I first noticed my belly button migrating away from my spine, I desperately cast around for an exercise item that would help me with my ever-growing belly. My first attempt was the Ab Roller.Basically a huge lawnmower wheel with a handle on either side, the Ab Roller -- as well as its cousins, the Ab Wheel and the Ab Roller Slide -- seems ridiculously simple. While on your knees, you grab the handles and roll forward, then roll back. A little tough at first, the process is pretty easy to master, and the user quickly finds him or herself pushing back and forth on the damn thing like some kind of psychotic wind-up toy.
Admittedly, the Ab Roller can, indeed, help with one's abs. The forward and backward pushing motion works the transverse abdominus, the girdle of muscle that looks so good on Michelangelo's David. The thing is, though, that a barbell can do exactly the same thing, as can a rollerskate, a skateboard, or even a towel if one has a linoleum floor.
Disgusted with the Ab Roller, I cast my gaze for another miracle tool to tighten up my belly. One day, I saw Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, in which the martial arts hero uses an electronic shock system to tighten his muscles while he goes about his daily business. Being inherently lazy, I decided to follow in Lee's footsteps. After all, what could be better than effortless abs?
I have to admit that I was a little nervous as I applied a liberal amount of what appeared to be KY jelly to my midsection, followed by a foam-padded belt that was outfitted with a 9-volt battery. However, the machine was actually pretty comfortable: even at its highest setting, it only gave me a slight cramping sensation in my belly.
Over the following weeks, however, I noticed something: while the machine seemed to eat batteries like the Energizer bunny, my belly wasn't getting any smaller. I later found out that over-the-counter ab belts are useful when one has absolutely no abdominal muscle tone; however, for those of us who aren't bedridden, they are pretty much a waste of time.
On the bright side, when I started exercising regularly and eating well, I discovered that I did, indeed, have abs. What's more, I have to admit that they may have been partly due to the Ab Roller and Ab Belt. More likely, however, they were the result of crunches, rotations, side-bends, and other exercises that I started doing!




Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-09-2009 @ 2:06PM
Manoly said...
So then...How is it useless if you don't have the other things mentioned? It's like $10. How could aol allow this crap to be written? It's all nonsense.
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7-19-2009 @ 9:08PM
rileychef said...
While some of the ab devices might actually help you develop your abdominal muscles none of them can help you lose weight in your midsection. That would be like thinking that you could make your upper arms thinner by doing bicep curls. You lose weight by eating less and exercising more and then your going to lose weight in the same places you gained it and that depends on your body type. The Ab Roller is about the worst thing you can use because it can do some serious damage to your back. I suggest that if your serious about ending up with six pack abs that you cut as many calories out of your diet as you can and start an exercise program. I have found that one of the easiest ways to cut down on calorie is to just drink water instead of other drinks that contain calories. Once you start losing weight you might want to try exercises that really target the abs. This is what I used to get my washboard abs. http://cli.gs/RippedAbs it is much more efficient than most of the high priced devices because they take you through a range of motions that don't do anything for the abs.
7-13-2009 @ 9:57AM
Spirit said...
Here is a product proven effective, even stated so here. It is small and inexpensive, $1 at a yard sale. Now all you have to do is get off the couch, grab the very lightweight item and roll with it for 15 mins a day and you are done. Weather is not a factor. Even watching your food intake you still have to work the abs.
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7-13-2009 @ 12:47PM
Sandra J said...
One should look at an Ab Roller as a long term investment! My mother bought and used one 50 (?) years ago. My kids always played with it when they visited. Now it is always pulled out of my toy closet by our assorted grandkids who delightedly zip through our house with it. Most recently it was discovered by a two-year old grandnephew.
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7-18-2009 @ 3:53PM
peter said...
I agree - I was in the same situation a few years ago - most of these devices are pure junk
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7-18-2009 @ 5:04PM
b said...
Heh, Bruce if you believed in absolutes the ol' senses might look at the prospect of putting KY jelly to your midsection, putting up with a slight "cramping sensation" and going through cases of batteries over the following weeks in the same light of being sold a "public healthcare plan" by a bunch of charlatans as a guise for expanding the state.
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8-11-2009 @ 11:08AM
billy said...
actually, the ab roller is one of the best (and cheapest) pieces of equipment for core strength. but like all exercises it must be done properly and there are several videos on utube to help you with technique.
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10-22-2009 @ 4:24PM
Laurie said...
Actually, I think you were talking about the ab wheel. The ab roller is the exercise equipment that supports the weight of your head, neck, and upper body while performing crunches.
And, yes, the ab wheel can be quite effective, although you do have to be careful when beginning because you can easily strain your back.
Laurie
www.nittygrittyfitness.com
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