American Council of Exercise teamed with Consumer Reports to
find the most effective exercise equipment. While they had
plenty to say about weight equipment and cardio machines,
abdominal, butt and inner thigh devices barely received a nod.
In fact, the words used were “None worth considering.”
Now, remember the purpose of Consumer Reports is to find the
best buy for the money, which may contribute to the lambasting
of belly and butt busters. But, the duo went on to explain that
a large portion of the devices did not do what they claimed and
the rest proved no more effective than regular floor exercises.
For abdominals, and the often forgotten Obliques, if you find
that you are bored with the same old crunch session, my
suggestion would be to consider the many alternatives. Mom Looks
Great has a list and the instructions to a plethora of abdominal
exercises. Leg lifts (for abdominals? …YOU BET!), side crunches
and free weight side bends to name a few offer different
positions as well as target different areas of the muscles. All
are completely free of charge; and, unlike the devices, can be
done on a whim. This beats running to the garage to blow off the
dust from your $20-30 piece of hinged metal.
For your Glutes (i.e., butt), there are also many muscle toning
exercises from which to choose. Add free weights and you can bet
that your backside will be burning from the progress you will be
making. First off, a simple, non-equipped squat is one of the
best and most effective exercises for the backside area.
Depending on your strength, add 10-20 pound dumbbells and
eventually your favorite pants will have a whole new fit. As a
side note, one of my favorite behind builders is the dead lift
with dumbbells. While this move is more for your hamstrings, it
definitely adds definition to your behind.
For some, this run of the mill free stuff just doesn’t ‘do it’.
If you are one of those who must invest money on contraptions to
promote motivation, then let it be. Anything that motivates an
individual to maintain a healthy lifestyle cannot be all bad.
But, if you can get past the notion that more money means more
results, a pair of good running shoes, a small set of free
weights and a floor mat will provide a well-rounded fitness
routine that has proven effective time and again.
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