Let me start off by saying that I did not buy into this "fab", my Mom did. After seeing tons of advertisements, commercials, and seeing them in stores, some people get the idea that they work just as good as they say. I know my mother did. Anyways, long story short, after buying one she quickly became tired of it, and dropped the belt and went on with her life.
I decided that I would not let money go to waste. I would write in a journal how it really worked for me, and how it feels and my views on it. This article will not feature any charts, it is just a straight forward article. So without further writing, I will start.
The name of the belt will remain unnamed. I regulated the food I ate, just to get that out of the way before we start.
Day one
I started off by watching the long boring video that was included with the belt. I read the handbook that came along with it. All this was done, so I did exactly what they said, so that I would get "great results".
I applied that belt over my abs. The instant you turn it on, there is this very annoying feeling. The only word I can come up with is that it feels like my abs were being electrocuted. As lame as that explanation may be, it's the only one I can come up with. So I turn it off, look at it closely, and come up with the conclusion that what I felt is normal with the product.
Whether you're moving, traveling, or just looking for a change, there's a couple of key issues you want to check BEFORE handing over those dollar bills to the greedy owner. No, I'm not talking about the usual checklist you see in the mags all the time, like "Make sure that it's within a convenient drive for you!", and "Check if it is crowded during the hours you'd be there!", and "Make sure there's a gorgeous blonde to do your pedicure between sets!".
I believe you're all pretty bright (you're giving my page thousands of hits every day, so you've GOT to be!), so those should be a given. At least the two first ones. Let's focus on the REAL issue - does the gym measure up to your needs? Can you get a good, brutal workout here?
Atmosphere
If you're a hardcore gymrat, and the front desk is pink, the music playing is N'Sync, and the dumbbells are covered with soft, purple neoprene to spare the hands, you'll probably feel a wee bit out of place when doing your 400 lbs squats, if you can find enough plates to come up with 400 lbs. If there's a barbell hidden somewhere among the "Butt-Blaster" machines, that is.
The fitness industry is worth billions of dollars nowadays, and guess what? There are many greedy hands trying to snatch their share of the loot. Hucksters are found aplenty in the supplement industry and the home exercise-machine business, no need to go into that discussion again, but what about the obviously inane weight-training machines being pushed today?
Now, before you think I'm wishing myself back to the 70's, where most machines were ergonomically incorrect in one way or the other, let me first say that I truly welcome and applaud the ingenious development of exercise machines in the past decade. Hammer Strength, for one, revolutionized the industry with their excellent line of machines.
Today we have well-engineered machines, that not only makes sure that we hit the muscles from right angles, we are also allowed free range of movement and support at critical points, so that we run lesser risk of injury. For example, a good leg-curl machine of today makes it natural to keep a straight spine, instead of the extreme arch you saw everywhere only 10 years ago (which puts extreme pressure on your lower back, by the way, which can lead to plenty of trouble down the road. Now we can avoid that.)
So...These are the good machines. Unfortunately, there is a whole bunch of machines put together by people who either have no clue of biomechanics, have a complete disregard for the customers except for their wallets, or a combination of both. Real life example: The Hack-squat for the Hunchback of Notre Dame!
Feeling Tired Before Your Workout? Here are 6 things you can do to help!
You had a very long day at work. Meeting, telephone calls, emails. The only relaxing thing was your lunch, if you ever had one. Finally you are done, and it's time for your high-intensity training workout. You know, that you will need all the energy, strength, and mental concentration to complete your routine. However, after such long day at work, your energy reserves are so low, you don't know what to do. Follow these easy energy strategies, and the next time you walk into the gym, you will lift mountains.
1. Drink Plenty of Water
Often, when you're tired, you may actually be dehydrated. The consequent reduction in blood volume affects the transport of oxygen, thus reducing energy levels. If you are properly hydrated, your urine color should be pale yellow. On average, you should be visiting the restroom about every three hours. Drink about eight glasses of water a day, a cup or two 15 to 30 minutes before your workout. Do not rely on your thirst mechanism - by the time your thirst kicks in, you are already dehydrated.
