FitSugar

Vibration Workouts: Some Benefit Claims on Shaky Ground

FitSugar — Thu, 31 May 2007 10:15:00 PDT

I have never tried a Power Plate, but something about it just reminds me of those vibrating belt machines from the 1950s. You know, where you put the vibrating belt around your bum and it was supposed to jiggle all the fat off.

Basically, there are two major players in vibrational exercise these days, one being the Power Plate, which is a small standing platform that vibrates really fast with a handle (it kind of looks like a floor polisher or a vacuum cleaner on steroids). The other Whole Body Vibration, made by Soloflex, is an over sized vibrating skateboard with no handles. You can pretty much do any move on these machines, from squats to yoga poses, from push-ups to standing hammer curls. The workout is closer to weightlifting than aerobics, like strength, core and balance training all rolled into one.

The list of claimed benefits from this type of workout is rather long: improves flexibility and strength, reduces pain and stress, builds muscle and reverses osteoporosis, but the most praised benefit by far is the decrease in workout time. Getting all shook up while doing alternating lunges really taxes your muscles. NASA is even investigating vibrational strength training as a means of reducing muscle atrophy and bone loss that accompany long trips in space.

Interested in the downside of this kind of workout? Then

read more However, some researchers are not completely sold on these vibration workouts. The major concern being that high-amplitude vibration can be dangerous over time since it sends jarring waves throughout the body. This jarring motion could create low back pain, cartilage damage, blurred vision from retinal tears, hearing loss and even brain damage (gray matter being shaken too hard in the skull). Soloflex even recommends using the device only 30 minutes a day. More than that and you exceed industry standards for safe vibrations in the workplace. I never thought I would hear OSHA rules applied to fitness machines. Keeping all this in mind, I still want to try a vibrational work out, do you? Let me know in the comments below.

No Joke: The Shake Weight Works Muscles 66 Percent Harder

Self — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 04:36:37 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

It's the stuff of dreams for raunchy Saturday Night Live comedy writers, but the Shake Weight might be worth more than just a few laughs.

In case you haven't heard of the Shake Weight, it is, according to its makers, the "revolutionary new way to shape and tone your arms, shoulders and chest." Basically, it's a 2.5 pound dumbbell with springs on either end, and instead of merely lifting, you, yes, shake it. Exercise physiologist Amy Dixon, group fitness manager for Equinox in Santa Monica, Calif., isn't surprised the Shake Weights are selling so well - according to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), in its first year on the market, more than 2 million Shake Weights were sold and they have since surpassed the 4.5 million mark. "People are always looking for the new hot product and the quick fix," Dixon says. "This product promises fast results and has a marketing campaign that promotes the idea of 'sexiness' - if you want sexy arms like the people on the commercials, you need a Shake Weight!"

But will it really give us sexy arms? Wanting to test out some of the claims made by the Shake Weight informercials - primarily that the Shake Weight can "increase your upper-body muscle activity by up to 300 percent compared to some traditional weights" - ACE commissioned a team of exercise scientists from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. The researchers compared the degree of muscle activation when using the Shake Weight to using a traditional dumbbell of equal weight, and they came up with some interesting results.

So, does the Shake Weight actually work? Find out after the break.

The Power Plate Demystified

FitSugar — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:05:00 PDT

The rich and famous have long been fans of the Power Plate, making us all the more curious to check out this high-priced, high-tech fitness machine. Hearing that the machine's vibrations make every exercise more challenging, we had celeb trainer Adam Ernster walk us through a few moves to get a feel for the machine. Learn how the Power Plate works when you watch the video.

Mistakes Made in the Bedroom: Why You Wake Up Exhausted

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 03:16:20 PDT

Ugh, is it 6:30 a.m. already? If you constantly wake up in the morning exhausted and in a fog, here are eight reasons why.

Your room is like a cave. I love sleeping in utter darkness, but if blackout shades prevent daylight from streaming in and slowing waking you up, your internal clock won't know day from night. Exposure to sunshine in the morning will signal your brain that it's time for your body to waken. And when you do, it'll be gradual, so you'll wake up feeling rested.
You skipped yesterday's workout and actually can't remember the last time you sweat it out. Exercise burns calories, but it also burns up energy. If you have too much, you'll be too restless to settle. Stick to a regular exercise routine, working out at least three or four times a week in order to reap the benefits in the bedroom.
You stayed up late tweeting and looking at friends' Facebook photos. I know it's difficult to disconnect from the world, but when you check your email "real quick" it's easy to get sucked in and before you know it, an hour has gone by. Besides keeping you up late, the lights from your phone, computer, and TV stimulate you brain, so when you finally shut off the lights, it takes your mind a while to calm down enough to drift off to sleep. Make a promise to shut off all technology at least an hour before bedtime and read a book, take a bath, or do some stretches before bed instead.

Continue reading to find out other reasons why you're not waking up rested.

Tina Fey Talks Beauty in Her New Book

Allure — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:44:31 PDT

We're excited to present this story from Allure!

I'll admit that my girl-crush on Tina Fey has only intensified after reading her new book, Bossypants. It had me laughing like a crazy person on the subway because she's so willing to divulge her nerdy proclivities (as a kid, she relaxed after school by putting on a colonial costume) and her beauty struggles (though, for the record, she's adamant about having all of her "original teeth and face parts"). It's worth reading every page of the book, but here, a few favorite Fey thoughts on beauty.

Celebs Like to Shake It

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:50:58 PDT

At first, the Power Plate seems like another gimmicky weight-loss product, but its website features endorsements from fit celebs like Madonna, Courteney Cox, and Hilary Swank. On top of that, it's used by over 60 college and pro sports teams, and the Police brought one with them on their reunion tour. That's some serious ~~celeb~~ street cred.

The secret behind the Power Plate is its vibrating plates. The manufacturer claims that if you stand on it for 10 minutes a day, three times a week, you'll lose weight, tone your body, and improve bone density. To really maximize the benefits of the machine, it's encouraged that you do the same exercises you would do on the floor - sit-ups, for example - on the Power Plate.

Cougar Town actress Cox says the Power Plate was essential in shaping her up for her new role: "The Power Plate machine has dramatically changed my workout. I know that every muscle in my body is being ignited in ways that you can't do with traditional training."

To see a video of Cox's trainer Michelle Lovett demonstrating the Power Plate,