FitSugar

5 Funky Fitness Fads

Michele Bell — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 05:50:21 PDT

Fitness fads come and go, but some stay forever. Only time will tell how long the Shake Weight ($20) will stick around or if the Hula chair ($200) will ever truly take off. In the meantime, they always give me a good laugh when I see them advertised on the, er, boob tube. I've got five more fitness fads that have me questioning longevity and exercise value. Come check 'em out!

I Don't Buy It: Tush-Toning Trim Treads

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 08:00:49 PDT

There's no shortage of toning shoes that promise to work your legs, sculpt your tush, and burn extra calories. We've got Earth Shoes that have a negative heel, and MBTs that have a rocker board inserted in the arch of the shoe. There are variations of FitFlops that look like regular shoes, but promise to burn calories and tone your lower body while you wear them. And there are tons of sneakers modeled after MBTs such as EasyTones and Sketchers Shape Ups. So when I saw an ad for these Trim Treads ($40 to $60) in a ladies' fitness mag, I thought, "Great, another toning shoe."

Above the pic of these funky shoes, the ad reads: "Wear your Trim Treads for 30 minutes a day for toned legs, lifted buns, a stronger core, perfect posture, stronger balance, and burning calories." Wow, that's a pretty steep list of promises for a pair of shoes. It's labeled as a fitness shoe, but I'm not sure if you're supposed to wear them while working out or just wear them around the house. They seem kind of wobbly and dangerous either way, but do they really do all they say they do? To find out how they ~~claim to~~ work,

read more. Trim Treads can be worn while you go about your normal day, but they can also be used to do toning exercises to target different muscles in your legs. Since they require so much balance and concentration (so you don't fall on your ass), your leg muscles end up working in ways they wouldn't normally when wearing regular, flat-soled shoes. After hearing all that, I was still skeptical, but when I read that these shoes "can significantly reduce the onset of varicose and spider veins," and "also diminish existing cellulite and prevent it from developing," I was completely pushed into the camp of not buying the hype. Varicose veins occur when your veins stretch and their valves fail, and while regular exercise can improve vein functioning and prevent varicose veins, it won't make them disappear. These odd-looking shoes seem like a total waste of money when you could just buy a regular pair of sneaks and go for a 30-minute walk, jog, hike, or bike ride and end up effectively working your legs in a safe way. What do you think?

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I Don't Buy It: Yukon Ultimate Fitness Object

FitSugar — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 03:47:41 PST

First of all, nice creative name. Ultimate Fitness Object? Sounds amazing, doesn't it? So amazing that I bet you want to order one immediately! Ha, yeah right.

Made up of two push-up floor bars and a padded skateboard for your knees, this product definitely promises results - a trimmed waist, hips, and buns, increased flexibility, and a toned upper body. You just sit your knees on the pad and swivel around to tone your arms, legs, and abs. It vows to give you better results without back pain as compared to similar types of equipment on the market.

I'm not doubting that the Yukon Ultimate Fitness Object will tone your muscles, but with the high price tag of $100, why spend the dough when you have a whole array of free strength training moves at your fingertips? It's just as easy to do sets of push-ups, crunches, and squats as it is to hop on this Fitness Object, but you won't have to spend a dime. If I were you, I'd save my moolah and buy a less expensive and more versatile piece of strength training equipment such a kettlebell, a weighted ball, or resistance band.

What's the Deal With Wearable Weights?

FitSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:00:13 PDT

The magic pill to weight loss is a mirage in my opinion, but companies continue to design products to help you burn more calories and drop pounds. As if the seven shady weight loss products I recently posted about weren't enough, I just discovered Body Togs Wearable Weights.

At first I thought they were for strength training exercises instead of dumbbells or resistance bands. Since you didn't have to hold them, they seemed like a cool idea. But taking a closer look, these aren't meant for the gym - they're meant to be worn all day long to help boost the amount of calories you burn and tone your muscles while doing day-to-day activities. Tiny weights are evenly distributed around each sleeve, adding about one to three pounds to each limb, depending on the size you choose. You're supposed to wear these arm and calve sleeves under your clothes. I guess if it's hot that day, you just wear them to match your favorite dress. Aside from looking completely idiotic, they're very pricey ($55 to $59 a pair), and also a health risk. To find out why

read more. Performing strength training exercises that are specifically designed to target certain muscles are excellent for your body. When you use correct form, and the appropriate amount of weight, there is little risk of injury. On the other hand, carrying around extra weight on your arms and legs while going about your day may burn extra calories, but it will also increase your risk for a torn muscle or injury to your joint. Just like walking with dumbbells or ankle weight is a big no-no, you don't want to do regular activities while carrying weights because it puts too much stress on your body. If you want to burn extra calories during your day, fit in an extra 30 minutes of cardio. If toning your muscles is your goal, it's more effective to use dumbbells, resistance bands, or weight machines and do actual exercises that are meant for strengthening your muscles. Setting aside time to exercise will not only produce better results, but it's a great way to relieve stress and give you the much-deserved break we all need during the day.

Buyer Beware: Shady Weight-Loss Products

FitSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 05:50:38 PDT

Putting in the miles on the treadmill, skipping dessert, passing over potato chips - none of these are easy tasks, but they are surefire ways to shape up and lose weight. It's easy to crave the magic pill that helps us shed pounds while watching TV, but there really is no such thing. Our collective desire for easy fitness is strong and many manufacturers prey on it. Here are some products I have come across that scream "buyer beware!" Check out some gadgets, drinks, and suits whose weight-loss claims I just don't buy.

Source: Getty

I Don't Buy It: Shake Weight

FitSugar — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 03:30:00 PDT

Who isn't looking for a quick and easy way to get toned arms? That's just what the Shake Weight ($20) promises - in just six minutes a day. Weighing in at just 2.5 pounds, it supposedly tones your upper body faster than regular dumbbells. I'm not buying it though. I'm sticking with regular hand weights since they're effective and don't require you to gyrate your body up and down. Dumbbells are also fairly inexpensive, easy to use, and offer more variety since they come in a range of weights. Another plus is that you can use dumbbells to tone just about every part of your body, depending on how you use them. The Shake Weight only works your upper body (if it works it at all).

If you aren't convinced and want to learn more about the Shake Weight, check out the infomercial when you

I Don't Buy It: ThighGlider

FitSugar — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 03:33:00 PDT

A toned tush and lean thighs are something most of us strive for, so the ThighGlider may pique your interest. At $60, this machine is specifically designed for women to target the inner and outer thighs and buns. Of course, it all happens in just "minutes a day."

The ThighGlider is like a Thigh Master on wheels! I'm not denying that the fluid arch-movement of your thighs squeezing in and out won't tone your legs and rear, but if you have a lot of weight in that area, you still need to do some type of cardio to burn the fat. Although ThighGlider doesn't mention that part of it. They do guarantee that if you use their system, complete with ThighGlider, resistance band, and instructional DVD, it'll "give you the best thighs of your life." That's quite a statement right there, but I'm not falling for it. To lose weight in your lower body and tone your buns and thighs, I'd stick to squats, lunges, uphill walking, and jogging. They're not only effective, but they're free!

If you're curious about the ThighGlider, check out their infomercial when you

I Don't Buy It: Ab Circle

FitSugar — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 03:00:00 PDT

Why yes, of course, I want a flat washboard belly in just weeks. Who doesn't? The problem is this $15 Ab Circle is not the way to make it happen. This foldable ab machine promises to target your entire core with its fun, swiveling, circular motion. It combines cardio and core work, and all it takes is three minutes a day, and "in just a few weeks - not months - you'll firm and flatten your stomach. We guarantee it."

Well I'm happy they got the part right that you need cardio in order to get rid of the layer of fat covering your abs, but what they got wrong is how much cardio a person will need in order to make it happen. Three minutes a day isn't going to do much. The Ab Circle is a total scam, and hopefully those looking to whittle their middle won't fall for it.

If you want a flat and toned stomach, work on getting at least 30 minutes of cardio a day. You can also follow an ab routine like this one to tone up, so when the pounds of fat start to melt away, it'll reveal your toned abs.

I Don't Buy It: $59 Brassage Bra Prevents Breast Cancer

FitSugar — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:00:00 PDT

We all wish there was a cure for breast cancer since almost 200,000 woman are diagnosed with it each year. Wouldn't it be great if the cure was as easy as getting dressed in the morning? That's the notion behind the Brassage - a bra that massages your lymph nodes while you wear it. It's based on the patented LETflow Technology, a design by chiropractor Dr. Jayson Sher, which involves bumpy side panels on the bra that massage the lymph nodes. This "enhances the body's natural breast cleansing flow" and releases toxins, thereby making the breast tissue healthy. Christina Erteszek (daughter of famous lingerie designer Olga) loved the idea so much that she started manufacturing the Brassage. She claims it's not a cure-all for breast cancer, but it "helps relieve possible infection and disease." Hmm. While we all wish this bra was the answer, there's absolutely no medical research to back up the fact that massaging toxins out of our breasts will prevent breast cancer.

To see the video interview from Good Morning America questioning the claims made by the Brassage

read more. It's wrong to suggest to women that something could help prevent such a serious and life-threatening condition such as breast cancer. Thankfully though, now that some light has been shed on the Brassage and it's non-medical claims, Intimate Health has stopped manufacturing it.

I Don't Buy It: Celsius Calorie Burning Beverage

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:00:11 PST

Products that seem too good to be true typically leave me feeling cold, and Celsius is no exception. Hoping to be a super soft drink, the new beverage is being marketed with claims that you can burn 100 calories simply by guzzling one can of the carbonated stuff. The drink apparently boosts your metabolism and causes your body to burn more calories, creating a net-negative-calorie effect.

With enough caffeine to cover about two cups of coffee (one can has 200 milligrams), this beverage is not for the caffeine sensitive. Steve Haley, CEO of Celsius Holdings Inc., defends the product's calorie-burning claims by citing clinical studies paid for by his company and mentions the drink's vitamin components that he says counteract the effect of caffeine on buyers' bones.

There are still many unknowns about the effectiveness of Celsius, and I agree with one nutritionist who commented, "Exercise is a better way to jump-start your metabolism, and it's healthier as well." I prefer to drink metabolism-stimulating green tea for a natural, inexpensive way to benefit my health.