Slendertone - does it work?
Slendertone - does it work?
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Discussion

g3org3y

Original Poster:

22,442 posts

220 months

Sunday 21st August 2011
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As part of my cousin's mid year resolutions he's decided to:
1) lose weight
2) dump current gf
3) get new (hotter) gf

As part of this, he's bought one of those Slendertone machines. In essence a belt that electrically stimulates the muscles underneath presumably to tone.

Does this stuff actually work?

Surely you need to do some hardcore aerobic exercise too to actually burn the fat off the abdo. No point having toned abs with a beer belly over the top.

I could see why it would work, but it just seems a little too easy that you can sit around and get a fair abdo work out.

He seems quite smug about it. Should I be mocking him or planning to borrow it (if it actually works!?)?

Taita

7,994 posts

232 months

Sunday 21st August 2011
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It might work (someone here will be able to tell you - cosmetic fitness only imo) but you are right you need to strip the fat off the top with diet and moving more!

RemainAllHoof

79,982 posts

311 months

Sunday 21st August 2011
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You are correct. It will help as it does build the muscle and muscle burns fat but it's like using a thimble to empty a bath... I suppose if he leaves it plugged in all day, the extra movements he makes might help even more.

Ordinary_Chap

7,520 posts

272 months

Sunday 21st August 2011
quotequote all
It's a waste of space.

As others have said if he's got fat there, then even after 6 months with the machine the fat will still be there but now he will look fatter as he's got muscle under the fat.

How about he gets a proper diet and some exercise!

RemainAllHoof

79,982 posts

311 months

Sunday 21st August 2011
quotequote all
Ordinary_Chap said:
How about he gets a proper diet and some exercise!
I wonder if it is of use to someone like yourself, however?

RemainAllHoof

79,982 posts

311 months

Sunday 21st August 2011
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monkey gland

574 posts

184 months

Sunday 21st August 2011
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He will probably find that he ends up with the male equivalent of a gunt.

I suggest, given his reported smugness, you allow him to carry on with it.

Ordinary_Chap

7,520 posts

272 months

Sunday 21st August 2011
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RemainAllHoof said:
Ordinary_Chap said:
How about he gets a proper diet and some exercise!
I wonder if it is of use to someone like yourself, however?
Maybe but these things are hard to quantify!

I'd prefer to spend the money on good quality nosh!

thetapeworm

13,766 posts

268 months

Sunday 21st August 2011
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I put one in the bin today, good fun to torture yourself with but not a magic solution that cancels out a love of pies frown

RemainAllHoof

79,982 posts

311 months

Sunday 21st August 2011
quotequote all
Ordinary_Chap said:
Maybe but these things are hard to quantify!

I'd prefer to spend the money on good quality nosh!
Yeah, true.

Tiggsy

10,261 posts

281 months

Sunday 21st August 2011
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RemainAllHoof said:
Yeah, true.
I've used one in the past - I would do crunches to failure, then hold a plank to failure then lie there are zap myself.....actually, as part of a core routine it had it's place. (though if someone said something has to go.....cheap inflatable gym ball or slendertone....I'm keeping me ball!

Ordinary_Chap

7,520 posts

272 months

Sunday 21st August 2011
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Tiggsy said:
RemainAllHoof said:
Yeah, true.
I've used one in the past - I would do crunches to failure, then hold a plank to failure then lie there are zap myself.....actually, as part of a core routine it had it's place. (though if someone said something has to go.....cheap inflatable gym ball or slendertone....I'm keeping me ball!
I don't really do any stomach exercises since I squat/deadlift.

I also treat the muscle as a muscle and do 3 sets of 8 with a weight or incline situp since you're trying to build it.

It's one of those things I don't really worry about since it gets a workout from other exercises.

RemainAllHoof

79,982 posts

311 months

Sunday 21st August 2011
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Ordinary_Chap said:
I don't really do any stomach exercises since I squat/deadlift.
Does it really work the abdominals? I thought this would train various back muscles.

didelydoo

5,533 posts

239 months

Sunday 21st August 2011
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RemainAllHoof said:
Does it really work the abdominals? I thought this would train various back muscles.
Sure does- think of your stomach/back as a corset for your spine- need to keep both very tight to keep good form, especially as the weight goes up.

I rarely do any abdominal work (though I probably should...) and my midriff is pretty solid smile

g3org3y

Original Poster:

22,442 posts

220 months

Sunday 21st August 2011
quotequote all
Thought as much, thanks for the feedback. I'll suggest to him to buy a new pair of trainers instead/as well!

Tiggsy

10,261 posts

281 months

Monday 22nd August 2011
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Ordinary_Chap said:
I don't really do any stomach exercises since I squat/deadlift.

I also treat the muscle as a muscle and do 3 sets of 8 with a weight or incline situp since you're trying to build it.

It's one of those things I don't really worry about since it gets a workout from other exercises.
My training is a bit more rounded these days. Some days I'll train all parts ( Inc abbs) with 5 sets of 5 other days I'll go high reps, on any muscle group. I did chest last week and went light but did 1000 reps for the whole workout. Like to mix up the training and nice to know my body can turn it's hand to anything from heavy to endurance.

RemainAllHoof

79,982 posts

311 months

Monday 22nd August 2011
quotequote all
didelydoo said:
Sure does- think of your stomach/back as a corset for your spine- need to keep both very tight to keep good form, especially as the weight goes up.

I rarely do any abdominal work (though I probably should...) and my midriff is pretty solid smile
Ah, I see. I tend not to lift that heavy weights as I train alone.