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TV exercise devices: 6-pack abs in 14 days?
If you believe that an exercise machine can reshape your body in two weeks, have we got an AMAZING! offer for you. Lots of offers, actually, from doctors, fitness experts, and regular Joes and Jills who claim in infomercials that their devices can remove the pint of holiday eggnog that has migrated to your hips. Do such machines work? To find out, we tested 12 ranging in price from $80 for the Bun and Thigh Max to $2,000 for the TreadClimber. Many of the claims are overblown, some of the pitchmen may not be quite as devoted as you’d think (see "Hosts & boasts," below),
and some of the machines are not very effective. But several--generally the most expensive--are worth considering. That said,
you’ll need to choose carefully, calculating total cost. Otherwise, feeling the burn could mean getting burned. Consider the workout you prefer. The best routines mix aerobic exercise with strength training. Your least expensive option is to buy sneakers (for aerobic exercise) and free weights (for strength training) and to do crunches (sit-ups, for working abdominal muscles). If you think a machine will help motivate you, there are plenty of options. Treadmills and elliptical trainers are tried-and-true choices for aerobic workouts; home gyms with stacked metal weights can improve muscle strength. Infomercial machines tend to claim they provide all forms of exercise. In reality, they usually focus on aerobic exercise, overall strength training, or working out abs or “buns” and thighs. The Ratings group the devices--including aerobic, strength-training, abdominal, and bun and thigh devices--to make choosing easier. Under CR Quick Recommendations, we list the best choices, along with less-hyped alternatives: treadmills and a home gym that were high-rated in past tests, plus some inexpensive options. Add up the total cost. Does the price include shipping? If not, you’ll fork over more--an extra $200 for heavy equipment like the TreadClimber. Is the focus on low monthly payments? The online pitch for the Bowflex Power Pro XTLU cites “payments as low as $53 a month,” but you’ll end up shelling out at least $1,750 (including shipping) and could pay an annual interest rate of 21 percent. Ask about return policies. If you don’t like a machine once you’ve tried it, some companies promise to return all your money, but many will charge for shipping at least one way. Look for disclaimers. Ads that tout weight loss often say, “Your results will vary” and “Weight loss requires aerobic exercise…and/or reduced calories.” Don’t cheap out. As the price decreases, we found, so do the quality and effectiveness of these devices. Those costing less than a few hundred dollars probably aren’t worth the money. Take your time. Some ads say that you’ll save if you order “now.” When we asked about buying later, we got the impression that the offer would still hold.
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