Archive for 'Exercise & Fitness'

Not bad for the price...
We have had this thing for almost two years and it has held up. My wife uses it about 2-3 times a week. It gives her a decent workout but I can barely break a sweat on it. We have to oil it because it gets to squeaking. But it has been well worth the money.

Great machine!
This mini elliptical is fantastic! I bought it when my step machine broke after only a half a year. I've used this one daily for a while now, and it's still going strong.

At first it is difficult to get going, but once you get used to it and find your balance, it's incredibly easy to use. I started using it when the weather was bad and I couldn't walk outside, but soon discovered that it was a better workout than just walking.

The best feature, as with any elliptical, is that it allows you to go backwards and tone the back of your body. This also makes the workout more interesting.

The only con is that it has developed a small squeaking noise. It might go away if I fiddled with or greased the parts, but I haven't tried yet because it's not that loud or bothersome.

Not bad for a small machine
This machine seems to suffice for a quick workout, but I am very disapointed that after only 2 days of use the battery has failed. I hope that this is not going to be par for the course and that the replacement battery lasts much longer.

Really great product
I was worried that this product wouldn't provide the kind of workout one would expect from an elliptical but considering its size and features it really does do a good job. The strides aren't great, even considering someone like me who is around 5 feet, but i certainly break a sweat and burn off some good calories. The product function is smooth and i feel very comfortable while on it. I feel as though having to stabilize myself only benefits my workout even more. If you are looking for a machine that you have no space for, I store this in my office closet, but still want a product that can provide a good cardio workout, then this is the one for you.

Darn good workout
Because its small you may think the workout won't be a big deal but let me tell you it makes your legs burn and is built very well. Work the money!

This is NOT the way to develop your abs...or reduce your midsection!
You know there's something wrong with an ab workout when it promises you a "gentle massage" as you exercise.

First of all, don't work your abs -- or your obliques -- if you're trying to REDUCE the size of your waist, or get rid of love handles. You can't spot-reduce fat deposits in those locations (or anywhere in the body; when you lose fat, you lose it from all over the body). Moreover, exercising the abs and obliques will often build mass, which pushes any surrounding fat depositsOUT, and actually increasing the size of your waist.

Second, it's crucial to learn how the ab muscles work. Once you understand the involvement of the psoas (and you're spinning your wheels if you haven't learned this), you can work your abs much more efficiently, and with much cheaper equipment -- or none at all. Spend a few bucks to get this terrific, although out-of-print book, "Legendary Abs: Gold Edition": http://www.amazon.com/Legendary-Abs-Health-Life-Staff/dp/0944831400/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1283706190&sr=8-1. I also recommend "Beyond Crunches" (http://www.amazon.com/Bullet-Proof-Abs-2nd-Beyond-Crunches/dp/0938045253/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1283706377&sr=1-1), although way too much of the book is spent advertising an unnecessarily expensive device (the "Pavelizer") that helps you do Janda sit-ups without an assistant. In short: educate yourself.

Third, teach yourself to do Janda sit-ups...you can find instructions for free on Youtube. Janda sit-ups (a modified sit-up that does a terrific job of negating the psoas effect) are just about the best exercise you can do for your abs, and all you need is an exercise ball, not a huge coat hanger.

AB ROCKET
I have to say I'm verry, verry pleased. I debated buying this for a very long time and I wish I didn't. Don't believe the negative commenst you might see. I own a lot of expensive exercise equiptment and this is one of my favorites and works a targeted problem area I have had for a long time. After only 3 weeks I have noticed a remarkable change in my stomach area. Keep in mind I was not able to do even 3 sit ups before I purchased this item and within 1 week I was doign 2 reps of 10 and have progressivly worked towards more as of today. I have lost in 1 month almost 1/2 inch in my ab area and 1/4 from my hips and 1/4 inch on my thighs,I was not going to leave a review until I gave this at least one month trial I can actually see defination beginning that I have never seen in myself before ever!

Now if you are looking for this to do the work for you this is not for you but if you are willing to do the work it does assist you and I have also noticed I can do different tarketed areas depending on how I position myself so this does much more then I expected. For me dont listen to thoes negatives ads on this product I almost didn't get this product because of them and in my opnion after one month use they are not truthfull or you are hearing from someone whom wants the results or easy way out and not do the work and as we all know if you really want to change soemthing you have to do the work and this product assists very well....This vendor was great the item shipped quickly and reasonable I Highly 100% Recomend the ABROCKET

ABS Rocket
Had it for almost a month. Use it every day and seems to do the job in the abs. Too early to review the item.
So far, I am happy with it. Easy to put together.
As usually with Amazon.com, good price and very fast ship[ping

dont buy it from here
Oh is really bad, cuz i used twice and it broke and im 100pounds!!! and they dont give replace a new one for me!!! And the thing is I went to the store is different from the one i bought!

Ab Rocket Abdominal Trainer
I received my Ab Rocket from Brookstone and it was in perfect condition, easy to assemble and exactly what it was described to be online. I use it every day and I can feel the muscles in my abdominal area truly getting a workout. I would recommend this product to anyone interested in working on their stomach area... Plus, I do have a Gym membership that I use in conjunction with my Ab Rocket.

Great idea, substandard engineering
The ab-circle pro is wonderful if you are not very tall and are light in weight. If you're over six feet and anything over 225 pounds, it's flimsy and uncomfortable.

The little chrome bar between the knee-pads that is removed for thigh exercises chronically pops loose mid-exercise and may cause strain or injury. This happens within 5 revolutions every time I get near the darn thing. They either need to re-design this feature or re-call it. Someone is going to get hurt, if not already.

My wife is only 5'5" and 120 lbs and she loves it. Me? I feel like it's going to bust under my 225 pounds every time I put my knees on it. The handle-bars are loose and flimsy, the rollers on the knee rests are noisy and tear the cheap paint from the rail they ride on. Paint flakes everywhere the first several uses.

You MUST check the nuts and bolts frequently. For some reason the main nut and bolt for the left swing arm chronically loosens on this one we have. The knee pads are also uncomfortable and knees will bruise even on the lighter peeps. My wife had to procure knee pads after bruising repeatedly where the knee pad bolts are not well padded.

It does not disassemble and fold up as readilly as they would want you to believe. The machining is not to the greatest tolerances by any means and the lock pins are a challenge to insert and remove, especially for a slightly built person.

The ab circle pro
I was about to die to get one of these..If you are in your forties or early fifties, be careful, this is not made for the older persons knees...I feel like I will need to have them both replaced..I used it for about two months...My sides trimmed down..but my knees hurt so much I can hardly get up and down the stairs..I do pilates about 4 times a week on my reformer..I am in pretty good shape..I stopped using it to save my knees..Heads up...its not worth it!! My butt looks just the same and so do my thighs....that half inch is not worth your knees...

dangerous
When i first recieved my ab circle i loved it. I have been doing it for 2 months along with cardio and diet and i must say i have not seen not bit of a difference. The only way i can see that someone would notice results is i\f they were already thin just wanting to do more on there abs. This item does not help with weightloss. atleast not for me. Anyway, when you first start using it, the knees and hands hurt so bad it is almost unbearable to continue. I had to put rags in the knees and on my hands. after a while you dont feel anything from that anymore. Now my biggest concern was that when i was already sweaty from cardio, my knees seemed like they were slippin out ... i felt like i was spending more time keeping putting them back in the knee cup then concentrating on my workout. anyway i read that someone had said she flew off and i thought that was bull. Guess again!! i went flying across the room! and it HURT. lol. anyway its fun to use but i think its a scam. If you do order one, order it off of here or at a store for less tham 100. I wouldnt suggest spoending more then 100. oh and it doesnt include the calorie coumter, you have to buy it extra!!

Muscle Madness
Great machine, works on muscles I hardly use. Just watch the knee bowls if the scews got loose. I have to do more work on it to see any significant results in weight loss. I just purchased it 3 weeks ago and love it.

Much More Than I Expected! :-)
Hi, my name is Anna and I live in Queens, New York. I ordered the Ab Circle Pro on 7/17/2010 and thought it would take forever to get here, well, I was wrong. It seemed to arrive in days. I then carefully opened the box with at least the same amount of care the seller had taken to package it all so beautifully together. Every piece was covered, included, and I have to say I cannot imagine buying one that was more brand new than this one, not a dent, not a scratch, nothing, it was in absolutely perfect condition. I was and still am totally thrilled with this purchase and hope the seller knows how much the care he/she takes in sending these items means to the buyer. It does not go unnoticed I assure you. I feel as though I made the deal of a lifetime and could not be more happy with the way this entire transaction transpired. Thank you so much and I will definitely spread the word and be doing business with you again, it was a pleasure. Sincerely, Anna Diliberti

Loud but does trick.
My first trainer. Set up was easy. It is loud as others have noted but it does the trick for what I wanted - working on cadence and spinning in the dark winter to come.

Motivation!
I live alone right now and it sits in my living room most of the time and while it is there I am motivated to get on it!! When I have company it is easy broken down and put away. The noise is not unbearable, I wear headphones to listen to the TV when I ride, and I can hear just fine at a low volume. I live in an upstairs apartment and have not had any complaints yet from the neighbors below (been using it for a couple of weeks now). Very sturdy, I often stand for a few minutes and ride. The only con would be the lack of resistance and noise factor, but since I am just a beginner, this works great for me.

LOUD
If you have road/ mountain bike --dont buy it - it is SO loud- difficult to get the resistance right - and is just too loud. Definitely not worth the money

Just What I Was Looking For!
This is a good product with easy set up. As other reviewers have noted, it is a little noisy (my tires are mountain-bike tires, so it's probably a little noisier still). I was hesitant to use it in our upstairs apartment during noise ordinance hours, but it would not be disturbing during the day. It sounds a bit like a vacuum cleaner--though quite a lot less noisy than ours. I could hear the tv over it, and my husband and I could watch tv together while I was on the trainer.
Do note that this trainer offers very little additional resistance to what your bike's gears already provide, unless you really crank up the height of the rear wheel support, which could damage your tire. Long story short, if you are looking for good cardio focusing on moderate exertion to build up your endurance, you'll be pleased with this product.

Good exercise with you bike
It came almost completely assembled. I had the bike on it and tested within minutes. Nice to be able to take the bike off on nice days to ride outside and quick to put back on if it is raining outside.