Hello everyone. Today’s post is a special one for the Free Fitness Tips Blog as I am doing my very first product review series. Hopefully it will be the first of many. The product I am going to be reviewing today and over the next few weeks is Slendertone System-Abs – an electronic abdominal toning belt.
Why Slendertone?
You may be a little surprised that I am reviewing an ab belt as I have previously stated that I don’t think they work. Well to tell you the truth that is the main reason I am reviewing this product. Last month Yazmin from Slendertone got in touch with me. She asked if I would be willing to try their 6 week challenge to see if it would change my mind on ab belts. Since I have never tried an ab belt personally (I have formed my views by reading around the subject) I approached this challege with an open mind and accepted Yazmin’s invitation. So for the next six weeks I will be trialling Slendertone System-Abs as part of the Slendertone 6 week plan.
What Is The Slendertone 6 Week Plan?
The Slendertone 6 Week Plan is an abdominal toning program that has been put together by Claran Byrne (Slendertone’s toning expert) and Elise Lindsay (Coleen Rooney’s personal trainer). It involves two main parts:
– 1) Five Weekly Slendertone System-Abs Toning Sessions:- This involves using Slendertone System-Abs five times a week whilst gradually increasing the intensity with each session.
– 2) Three 30 Minute Exercise Sessions:- This involves performing two pre-designed 30 minute workouts (I will give more details of these in a future post) on an alternating basis, three times a week. So in week 1 you perform three workouts in the following order; workout 1, workout 2, workout 1. Then in week 2 you alternate and perform; workout 2, workout 1, workout 2. You then repeat this alternating schedule between weeks 3 and 6.
The Slendertone 6 Week Plan also advises participants to follow some basic dietary advice e.g. reduce your carbohydrate intake, reduce your alcohol intake, stop snacking, eat less sugar etc.
How Does Slendertone System-Abs Work?
According to the packageing Slendertone System-Abs use the only clinically proven electronic muscle stimulation (EMS) toning technology, exercising all of the muscles of the abdomen and not just those under the belt. EMS works by sending signals between the pads. These signals switch on the nerves that control your abdominal muscles causing them to contract and relax rythmically. EMS technology has been used in hospitals and by physiotherapists for over 50 years to rehabilitate and strengthen muscles.
What Are My Initial Thoughts?
My initial thoughts on Slendertone System-Abs are that it is too good to be true. I am finding it hard to make myself believe that wearing an ab belt for 30 minutes can have the same effects as performing a focused abdominal workout. I would love it to work but I am just finding it difficult to convince the cynic in me that it might be an effective abdominal toning tool.
On the flip side I have read a lot of positive, independent reviews on Slendertone System-Abs so there are definitely some people out there who believe the product works. Plus, I have never tried this product or anything like it before so I have no actual experiences to base my thoughts on.
Overall, I have my doubts but I am going to try and keep an open mind whilst participating in the Slendertone 6 Week Trial. Only time will tell whether my first impressions are correct.
How Will I Be Measuring My Progress?
I have decided that the best and most honest way to measure my progress will be through photos of my abdominal area as I participate in the trial. I will probably post new photos once a week to see if any physical changes are taking place as I complete the Slendertone 6 Week Trial. So without further ado here are the ‘before’ photos (apologies for the relatively poor quality – I do not own a digital camera so had to use my mobile phone)…
1) Centre Abs Photo before starting the Slendertone 6 Week Plan
2) Left Side Abs Photo before starting the Slendertone 6 Week Plan
3) Right Side Abs Photo before starting the Slendertone 6 Week Plan
Summary
Whilst I am still a bit sceptical as to whether Slendertone System-Abs will work I am also quite excited by the possibility that I could be proved wrong over the next six weeks. I will try to post an update tomorrow about my first experience using Slendertone System-Abs and then do an update every few days after that. I will also be continuing with my regular gym workouts (three weights sessions and one or two cardio sessions per week) so that my activity levels remain constant. This will mean that I can confidently attribute any changes in my stomach tone to Slendertone System-Abs.
If you have previous experience using any of Slendertone’s products I would love to hear your views. Did they work for you? Are there any particular products you would recommend? Are there any negative effects people should know about? Let me know by leaving a comment.