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My Slendertone System-Abs Review

 

July 22, 2010 By Tom Leave a Comment

A man with toned abs sitting in a red chair.

Hello everyone. As regular readers of Free Fitness Tips will know I have recently trialled Slendertone System-Abs for Men for a full six weeks.  Today I am going to be providing an in-depth review of  Slendertone System-Abs for Men and confirming whether it does really work.

I am going to be breaking this review down into the following sections:

  • 1) PRODUCT OVERVIEW:- This section will discuss how Slendertone System-Abs for Men tones your abdominal muscles.
  • 2) EASE OF USE:- This section will discuss how easy it is to get started with Slendertone System-Abs for Men.
  • 6) DOES IT WORK?:- This section will answer the key question…”Does Slendertone System-Abs for Men really work?”

1) PRODUCT OVERVIEW

Slendertone System-Abs for Men is an electronic abdominal toning belt.  According to the product information Slendertone System-Abs for Men uses the only clinically proven electronic muscle stimulation (EMS) toning technology to exercise all of the abdominal muscles (not just those under the belt).  EMS works by sending signals between the pads of the belt.  These signals switch on the nerves that control your abdominal muscles causing them to contract and relax rhythmically.  EMS technology has been used in hospitals and by physiotherapists for over 50 years to rehabilitate and strengthen muscles.

2) EASE OF USE

Slendertone System-Abs for Men is very easy to use.  When using it for the first time you need to charge the battery for 3 hours which can be done by plugging the power unit into a mains socket.  Once it is fully charged you then plug the power unit into the belt.  Next you unfold the belt and stick the three adhesive pads that come in the box over the three silver studs on the Slendertone System-Abs belt.  Once all this is done the belt is ready to use.

Using the belt is very simple.  You wrap it around your stomach in between your waist bone and your ribs (covering your belly button), securing it with the velcro strap.  Once the belt is securely wrapped around your stomach you then turn the power unit on and select how long you want the toning session to last (you can choose 20 minutes, 25 minutes, 30 minutes or 40 minutes).  After you have chosen the duration of your session it begins at the lowest intensity of 1 and you can manually increase it to the maximum intensity of 99.

Overall, Slendertone System-Abs for Men is one of the easiest, simplest fitness products I have ever used.  Once it has been charged and the adhesive pads are attached it takes less than a minute to put the belt on and start a toning session.  The battery life is fantastic too.  After charging the power unit for the first time I only had to charge it once more during the entire six week period.

3) HOW IT FEELS

Using Slendertone System-Abs for Men is quite an odd sensation.  On the lower settings it feels like very strong tickling.  On the higher settings it is a similar sensation but much stronger and a lot less comfortable.  It is less like tickling and more like your stomach is being forced to contract very tightly.  I would even go as far as saying that the highest settings are almost painful in the first few weeks.  However, I found that your stomach does adjust to these higher settings after the first few weeks.

Overall, whilst Slendertone System-Abs for Men is never comfortable on the highest settings you do get used to it and it does become bearable.

4) GOOD POINTS

1) You can Multi Task:- One of the best things about Slendertone System-Abs for Men is that you can do other things whilst wearing it.  You can walk around the house, watch TV or even go for a bike ride or jog whilst wearing the belt.  This gives Slendertone System-Abs for Men a great advantage over other stomach toning exercises because they normally have to be performed in isolation.

2) It does Strengthen and Tone your Abdominal Muscles:- After using Slendertone System-Abs for Men for six weeks my abs definitely did feel firmer, stronger and more toned.

3) It does not feel like Exercise:- This one may sound quite lazy but using Slendertone System-Abs for Men does not feel like exercise.  You simply strap it on, select the duration and intensity, then let the belt do its thing.

5) BAD POINTS

1) It does not Burn Body Fat:- The biggest disappointment I can see people having with Slendertone System-Abs for Men is that it does not burn body fat.  In defence of Slendertone, they never make any claims that their product will do this.  They promise stronger, firmer abs and they do deliver on this promise.

However, even if you have the strongest, most toned abdominal muscles in the world you are never going to see them unless you burn enough body fat to make them visible.  Unfortunately, achieving this is very difficult.  You need to clean up your diet and do more cardiovascular exercise.  In my opinion, burning enough body fat to make your abdominal muscles visible is a lot harder than getting them toned enough to form a six pack.

2) It is Expensive:- There are a number of different Slendertone ab belts available for men but at the time of writing even the cheapest version costs £69.99.  The belt I used in this review – Slendertone System-Abs for Men – costs £119.99 and there is another more powerful version – Slendertone System-Plus for Men – which costs £139.99.  On top of this there is also the cost of purchasing replacement adhesive pads.  They need to be replaced every six weeks and each set of replacement pads comes in at £11.99.  So even if you go with the cheapest model, purchasing a Slendertone ab belt is quite a significant investment.

6) DOES IT WORK?

I will begin this section with my ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos which can be viewed below.

1) Centre Abs Photo ‘Before’ (left) and ‘After’ (right) completing the Slendertone 6 Week Plan

A front shot of my abs before starting the Slendertone 6 Week Plan. A front shot of my abs after completing the Slendertone 6 Week Plan.

2) Left Side Abs Photo ‘Before’ (left) and ‘After’ (right) completing the Slendertone 6 Week Plan

A left shot of my abs before starting the Slendertone 6 Week Plan. A left shot of my abs after completing the Slendertone 6 Week Plan.

3) Right Side Abs Photo ‘Before’ (left) and ‘After’ (right) completing the Slendertone 6 Week Plan

A right shot of my abs before starting the Slendertone 6 Week Plan. A right shot of my abs after completing the Slendertone 6 Week Plan.

As you can see from the photos there is a visibile improvement in the appearance of my abs over the six weeks.  Whilst using Slendertone System-Abs for Men has definitely had a positive effect, the improvement is also down to me following a pretty strict diet and exercise routine over the six week period.

As I said above, Slendertone System-Abs for Men does strengthen and tone your abdominal muscles so technically it does work.  However, to ensure that your abdominal muscles are visible you also need to burn enough body fat and Slendertone System-Abs for Men will not do that for you.  It certainly helps build your abdominal muscles but it is not a substitute for diet and exercise.

Based on other Slendertone reviews that I have read, I think a lot of people expect to use the belt for a few weeks and then have a nice set of six pack abs at the end of it without any additional effort.  The truth is that you still have to do the hard work by watching what you eat and maintaining a regular exercise routine.  Otherwise you will not see any difference in the appearance of your abdominal muscles, even if they have got firmer and stronger.

7) OVERALL RATING

7/10

Slendertone System-Abs for Men is a great alternative product for strengthening and toning your abdominal muscles.  It is also very convenient and easy to use.  The reason I have not given it a higher score is that it will not burn body fat and therefore will not give you six pack abs on its own.  However, if you eat a clean, healthy diet and exercise regularly Slendertone System-Abs for Men is definitely worth considering.

Filed Under: Abdominal Exercises, Featured, Product Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

 

The Slendertone 6 Week Plan: Week 6

 

July 13, 2010 By Tom Leave a Comment

A woman with toned abs standing on a beach.

Hello everyone. Today I am going to be posting my feedback on the final week of the Slendertone 6 Week Plan.  I actually finished last Sunday (4th July 2010) but I have been too busy to do this final post until now.  So read on to find out how I got on…

Feedback on the Slendertone System-Abs Belt

This week I stuck to the following intensity levels on Slendertone System Abs:
- Monday (Day 1):- 65.
- Tuesday (Day 2):- 75.
- Wednesday (Day 3):- 85.
- Thursday (Day 4):- 85.
- Friday (Day 5):- 90.

Overall, I found Monday to Thursday OK.  I could feel the belt working my abs but it was not too strong for me.  However, setting 90 on Friday was really tough and my muscles were quite sore on Saturday morning.

Feedback on my Exercise Routine

Since it was my final week on the Slendertone 6 Week Plan I really stepped up my cardio this week.  I did my normal three day weights routine and also did 20 minutes cardio at the end of each session.  On top of this I did two intense 40 minute runs on the treadmill.  Overall, this was probably my best week in terms of cardio.

Feedback on my Diet

Just like with my exercise routine, since this was my final week of using the Slendertone System Abs belt I tightened up my diet even more.  I cut out my pre-gym meal and also all the fruit that I normally snack on.  On top of this I cut out all carbohydrates from my diet apart from the ones I would have at breakfast.  So for breakfast I would have either oatmeal and fresh fruit or poached eggs on a wholemeal bagel.  For lunch I would have a homemade chicken salad.  Then for tea I would have tuna with steamed vegetables, some chopped tomatoes and herbs.  On the Sunday I did a full fast and did not eat any food.  Whilst it was tough, I did manage to completely stick to this rigid diet and in the process reduced my overall caloric intake for the week.

Feedback on the appearance of my Abs

Since it was my final week of the Slendertone 6 Week Plan I have taken some new ‘after’ photos.  You can view the ‘before’ photos in this post and the ‘after’ photos are below…

1) Centre Abs Photo after completing the Slendertone 6 Week Plan

A front shot of my abs after the Slendertone 6 Week Plan.

2) Left Side Abs Photo after completing the Slendertone 6 Week Plan

A left side shot of my abs after completing the Slendertone 6 Week Plan.

3) Right Side Abs Photo after completing the Slendertone 6 Week Plan

A right side shot of my abs after completing the Slendertone 6 Week Plan.

Overall, I think the appearance of my abs has improved over the last 6 weeks.  They also feel a lot stronger and firmer than they did before I started using Slendertone System Abs.  Whilst there is still room for further improvement I definitely feel there has been a positive change.

Summary

Overall, I do think Slendertone System Abs has helped tone my stomach muscles over the last 6 weeks.  Unfortunately, the belt does not help you burn body fat and personally I have found this to be the hardest part of the 6 week trial.  Whilst I have managed to shed some fat from my stomach it has been very difficult to get rid of it all, even with the reduced caloric intake and increased cardio levels.  This is not a criticism of Slendertone System Abs itself as the product does not claim to burn body fat.  However, in order for your toned abdominal muscles to be visible you need to get rid of this stomach fat.  If you can manage that then Slendertone System Abs can be a great tool for helping you get six pack abs.  Just be aware that the belt will not burn the fat for you.

I am going to be posting a full Slendertone System Abs review in the next few days.  In the meantime if anyone has any experience with the Slendertone 6 Week Plan or Slendertone System Abs in general I would love to hear how you found it…

Filed Under: Abdominal Exercises, Product Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

 

The Slendertone 6 Week Plan: Workouts Explained

 

July 5, 2010 By Tom 1 Comment

A woman with her hands placed over her abdominal muscles.

Hello everyone.  As regular readers of Free Fitness Tips will probably know I have been participating in the Slendertone 6 Week Plan.  I am now almost at the end of the 6 weeks but have still not fully explained the exercise routines that are part of the plan (despite numerous promises that I would do this in previous posts).  So today I am finally going to discuss these exercise routines in greater detail.

INTRODUCTION

As I discussed in my initial post on the Slendertone 6 Week Plan, it consists of two main parts:
- 1) Five Weekly Slendertone System-Abs Toning Sessions.
- 2) Three 30 Minute Exercise Sessions.

These three 30 minute exercise sessions are actually two different workout plans that are alternated three times a week over the 6 week period as follows:
- 1) Week 1:- Plan 1, Plan 2, Plan 1.
- 2) Week 2:- Plan 2, Plan 1, Plan 2.
- 3) Week 3:- Plan 1, Plan 2, Plan 1.
- 4) Week 4:- Plan 2, Plan 1, Plan 2.
- 5) Week 5:- Plan 1, Plan 2, Plan 1.
- 6) Week 6:- Plan 2, Plan 1, Plan 2.

Each workout plan is basically a 30 minute circuit training routine that can be performed within the comfort of your own home.  Below I will be discussing each plan in greater detail.

WORKOUT PLAN 1

Workout plan 1 consists of 11 exercises in total each of which is explained below:

1) Skipping (1 Minute):- This exercise can be performed with or without a rope.  If you do not have a rope simply replicate the skipping motion with your body.

2) Step Ups (2 Minutes Total – 1 Minute on the Left Leg, 1 Minute on the Right Leg):- Use your staircase and step up two steps then down two steps.  Lead with your left leg for one minute and then lead with your right leg for a further minute.

3) Half Jacks (1 Minute):- To begin step to the right and place your weight on your right leg.  As you do this raise both arms sideways so that they are parallel to the floor.  Then return to your starting position and repeat the same motion but stepping to the left.  Continue performing half jacks for one minute alternating between your left and right side.

4) Leg Curls (1 Minute):- To begin step to the right, moving your left foot behind your right foot.  Then step to the right again moving your right foot back to the normal standing position.  After this curl your left leg towards your buttock and remain balanced on your right leg.  Then return your left leg to the ground and step to the left, moving your right foot behind your left foot.  After this step to the left again moving your left foot back to the normal starting position.  Then curl your right leg towards your buttock and remain balanced on your left leg.  Continue performing leg curls for one minute alternating between left and right leg curls.

5) Knee and Kick Combo (10 Minutes):- To begin raise your right knee towards your stomach, taking your right leg off the ground and balancing on your left leg.  Then extend your right leg from the knee in a kicking motion.  After this bend your right leg and return it to the ground.  Then repeat the same motion with your left leg and balance on your right leg.  Continue performing this combo for 10 minutes alternating between left and right knee and kick combos.

6) Wide Squats (3 Minutes):- To begin stand with your feet slightly wider than your hips and have your knees in line with your toes.  Then bend your knees and lower yourself into a squatting position, keeping your back as straight as possible.  After this slowly return to a standing position, tightening your abdominals and gluteals as you come up.  Continue performing this squatting motion for three minutes.

7) Seated Reverse Flyes (3 Minutes):- For this exercise you will need a chair and two food tins (beans, peas, soup etc).  To begin sit in the chair and hold the food tins.  Then lean forward and stretch your arms towards the floor with your palms facing inwards.  After this slowly lift your arms to the sides, keeping them as straight as possible on the way up.  Once you reach shoulder height nip the shoulder blades together and slowly return them to the starting position.  Continue performing flyes for three minutes.

8) Press Ups (1.5 Minutes):- To begin get on all fours with your hands directly beneath your shoulder and your fingers pointing forwards.  Then straighten your legs and bring your knees off the ground so that your hands and feet are fully supporting your body.  After this bend your elbows and lower your body towards the ground, stopping once your nose touches the ground.  Then straighten your elbows and return your upper body to the starting position.  Continue performing press ups for one and a half minutes.

9) Chest Press (1.5 Minutes):- For this exercise you will need two food tins.  To begin lie on the floor with your knees bent, your feet flat and a food tin in each hand.  Then place your elbows on the floor at chest level with your knuckles pointing towards the ceiling.  After this push towards the food tins towards the ceiling, keeping your hands parallel to your chest.  Stop just before the food tins touch and then slowly lower your elbows back towards the ground.  Continue performing chest presses for one and a half minutes.

10) Lateral Lift (3 Minutes):- For this exercise you will need two food tins.  To begin stand with your feet at hip width and hold a food tin in each hand, keeping your arms by your sides.  Then slowly raise your arms to shoulder height, keeping them straight but avoiding locking the elbows.  After this slowly lower your arms back down to your sides.  Continue performing lateral lifts for three minutes.

11) Lunges (3 Minutes):- To begin stand with your feet at hip width with your right foot forward and your left foot back.  Keep your hands by your side or placed firmly on your hips.  Then lift the heel of your left foot slightly off the ground and lower your body down by bending your knees.  When your left knee reaches a right angle stop bending and raise yourself back up to the starting position.  After this place your left foot forward and your right foot back.  Repeat the same motion with your right leg.  Continue performing lunges for three minutes.

WORKOUT PLAN 2

Workout plan 2 consists of 11 exercises in total each of which is explained below:

1) Jabs (2.5 Minutes):- To begin the jabs stand in a normal position and do a quick punch with your left arm whilst slightly twisting your torso.  Repeat this motion with your right arm.  Continue jabbing for two and a half minutes.

2) Half Jacks (2.5 Minute):- Same exercise as the half jacks described in workout plan 1.  Continue performing half jacks for two and a half minutes alternating between your left and right side.

3) Skipping Combo (5 Minutes):- This exercise can be performed with or without a rope.  If you do not have a rope simply replicate the skipping motion with your body.  To begin raise your left heel to your left buttock.  Then raise your right heel to your right buttock.  Repeat this motion eight times.  After this skip forward eight steps and then skip back eight steps.  Repeat this motion eight times.  Then do eight skips on the spot.  After this start at the beginning of the cycle and raise your left heel to your left buttock.  Continue performing this skipping combo for five minutes.

4) Grapevine/Kneelift (1 Minute):- To begin step to the right with your right leg, keeping your left foot behind your right foot.  Then lift your left knee towards your stomach and lower it back down.  After this step to the left with your left leg, keeping your right foot behind your left foot.  Then lift your right knee towards your stomach and lower it back down.  Continue performing this motion for one minute alternating between your left and right legs.

5) March and Kick Combo (5 Minutes):- To begin march on the spot three times and do a front kick with your left leg.  Then march on the spot another three times and do a front kick with your right leg.  After this repeat the above motion with side kicks instead of front kicks.  Then repeat the above motion with back kicks instead of side kicks.  Continue performing these march and kick combos for five minutes.

6) Easywalk & Wide Squat (2 Minutes):- To begin take one step forwards and one step backwards.  Then perform a wide squat (as described in workout plan 1).  Continue performing this combo for two minutes.

7) Bicep Curl (3 Minutes):- For this exercise you will need two food tins.  To begin stand with your feet at shoulder width with your arms by your sides, holding a  food tin in each hand.  Make sure you keep your elbows tight to your side at all times.  Then curl your left hand towards your bicep by bending your elbow.  Once it is fully flexed slowly lower your left hand back towards your side.  Then repeat this motion with your right hand.  Continue performing bicep curls for three minutes.

8) Tricep Dip (3 Minutes):- For this exercise you will need a chair which is placd against a wall.  To begin have your back to the chair and place your hands behind you to touch the edge furthest away from the wall.  Then straighten your legs in front of you whilst keeping your body raised off the ground so that it is fully supported by your hands and feet.  Slowly bend your elbows and lower your body until your buttocks are just above the ground.  Once you reach this position slowly straighten your elbows to return to the starting position.  Continue performing tricep dips for three minutes.

9) Wide Squats (3 Minutes):- Same exercise as the wide squats described in workout plan 1.  Continue performing wide squats for three minutes alternating between your left and right side.

10) Chest Flyes (3 Minutes):- For this exercise you will need two food tins.  To begin lie on your back with a food tin in each hand.  Then stretch your arms above your chest and keep your palms facing inwards.  After this slowly lower your arms till they are almost touching the floor.  Then slowly raise them back to the starting position above your chest.  Continue performing chest flyes for three minutes.

11) Back Extension (3 Minutes):- To begin lie on your stomach and place your hands behind your back.  Then raise your upper back off the floor but make sure you do not overarch your lower back.  Hold this position for a second then return to the starting position.  Continue performing back extensions for three minutes.

SUMMARY

Overall, the Slendertone 6 Week Plan workouts provide you with an effective, quick, full body workout that can be performed with minimal equipment in your own home.  Whilst this has obvious benefits I personally prefer working out at the gym.  However, if you are a fan of bodyweight training you might want to give them a try for yourself.

I will be back tomorrow with my final week 6 update on the Slendertone 6 Week Plan.  If you do decide to give the above workout plans a try be sure to let me know what you think by leaving a comment on this post.

Filed Under: Abdominal Exercises, Bodyweight Training, Product Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

 

The Slendertone 6 Week Plan: Week 5

 

June 30, 2010 By Tom 3 Comments

A shirtless man with toned abs.

Hello everyone.  I have now completed the penultimate week of the Slendertone 6 Week Plan and am back wit a weekly update on how it went.

Feedback on the Slendertone System-Abs Belt

This week I stuck to the following intensity levels on Slendertone System Abs:
- Monday (Day 1):- 60.
- Tuesday (Day 2):- 65.
- Wednesday (Day 3):- 75.
- Thursday (Day 4):- 75.
- Friday (Day 5):- 85.

As with the previous two weeks I also ensured that I did a focussed abdominal workout on top of the five Slendertone sessions.  I noticed this week just how much I have got used to the feeling of Slendertone System Abs.  Between Monday and Thursday I noticed the belt much less whilst wearing it.  However, when I reached Friday and increased the intensity level to 85 (the highest I have been) it was a different story.  This setting really squeezed my abs tight and I could feel every pulse that the belt made.

Feedback on my Exercise Routine

For the last two weeks my exercise routine has been really solid.  This week it was still very good but not quite up to the standards I achieved in weeks 3 and 4. I managed to do my usual three day weights routine but only managed one treadmill session (for the last 2 weeks I have been doing two).  Whilst I was dissapointed not to have done as much cardio it was still a productive week.  I managed four good workouts and overall I was happy with this.

Feedback on my Diet

My diet was similar to my exercise routine this week – good but not as impressive as previous weeks.  Between Monday and Friday I ate my usual healthy options of breakfast (oatmeal and fresh fruit or poached eggs on a wholemeal bagel), lunch (a homemade beef or chicken salad), a pre-gym meal (tuna, steamed vegetables and herbs) and tea (a hot meat dish with lots of fibre rich vegetables with fruit for snacks.

However, I was working for my friend at the weekend which meant I was was rarely in the house.  Because of this I had to grab food on the go and in a lot of cases there were no healthy options available.  Overall, it was still a good week despite the slight dip in the quality of the food I ate on Saturday and Sunday.  I still managed to eat some healthy foods over the weekend when I got the opportunity and between Monday and Friday my diet was almost immaculate.

Feedback on the appearance of my Abs

My stomach does look a lot tighter than it did before I started using Slendertone System Abs and overall I think my abdominal muscles have become quite strong and toned.  However, there is still some fat covering my stomach which I really need to lose before I start seeing some proper definition.  So overall like most weeks I am going to say the appearance of my abs has improved but they are not perfect.

Summary

After completing five of the six weeks it is now crunch time.  As I mentioned above I really need to lose some more fat from my stomach area to bring out the definition.  Next week I am going to be really strict with myself by cutting down on calories, cutting down on carbohydrates and increasing the amount of cardio I am doing even further.  My plan is to cut out my pre-gym meal (which should reduce my overall calories), stop snacking on fruit (which should cut out some calories and also drop my carbohydrate intake significantly) and do at least 20 minutes cardio per day (40 minutes plus on none weight lifting days).  Hopefully, this reduction in calories consumed and increase in calories burned during the final week will strip the final layer of fat from my stomach and reveal the definition underneath.

Filed Under: Abdominal Exercises, Product Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

 

The Slendertone 6 Week Plan: Week 4

 

June 22, 2010 By Tom 4 Comments

A close up of a woman's toned abs by the pool (large).

Hey everyone.  I have now finished week 4 of the Slendertone 6 Week Plan so thought I would check in with a weekly update on how I am getting on.

Feedback on the Slendertone System-Abs Belt

This week I stuck to the following intensity levels on Slendertone System Abs:
- Monday (Day 1):- 55.
- Tuesday (Day 2):- 60.
- Wednesday (Day 3):- 70.
- Thursday (Day 4):- 70.
- Friday (Day 5):- 80.

I also did a specific abdominal workout during the week.  Overall, this week was not quite as tough on my abs as week 3.  However, I could still feel the belt working – especially when I reached level 80 intensity.

Feedback on my Exercise Routine

After completing a solid exercise routine during week 3 I followed up with another strong exercise performance this week.  I got to the gym five times and in the process completed my full weights routine whilst also covering some serious miles on the treadmill.  I again managed to do over an hour’s jogging which helped me burn a considerable amount of calories.

Feedback on my Diet

This week my diet was very good.  I went out for a pub dinner with my friends on Thursday night but the rest of the week I stuck to healthy, natural foods.  For breakfast I had either oatmeal with fresh fruit or a wholemeal bagel with poached eggs.  Then for lunch I had a homemade meat salad.  Before going to the gym I would have tuna with steamed vegetables.  Then for tea I would have a meat and vegetable dish making sure that it contained lots of high fibre vegetables.  For snacks I would stick to fresh fruits such as apples, bananas and oranges.

Feedback on the appearance of my Abs

Overall this has been a very positive week.  My diet has been good, my exercise routine has been solid and I have increased my intensity levels on Slendertone System Abs.  Thankfully this is improving the appearance of my abs.  I can see the fat coming off and they are looking ever so slightly more toned.  My abs are still not perfect but they are a lot better than when I started using Slendertone System Abs.

Summary

This was the second consecutive week where I saw an improvement in the appearance of my abs.  For the final two weeks of the Slendertone 6 Week Plan I am planning to do more of the same as it seems to be a winning combination.  Hopefully, this will allow me to build on the improvements I have noticed and give me an impressive set of abs by the end of week 6.

Filed Under: Abdominal Exercises, Product Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

 

The Slendertone 6 Week Plan: Week 3

 

June 15, 2010 By Tom 11 Comments

A shirtless man showing off his toned abs.

I am now exactly half way through the Slendertone 6 Week Plan.  Below is a description of how I am finding it so far.

Feedback on the Slendertone System-Abs Belt

This week was the first where I completed both a full program on Slendertone System-Abs plus a focussed abdominal workout at the gym and boy did I feel it.  When using the belt I stuck to the following recommended intensity levels for week 3:
- Monday (Day 1):- 50.
- Tuesday (Day 2):- 55.
- Wednesday (Day 3):- 60.
- Thursday (Day 4):- 60.
- Friday (Day 5):- 75.

I also did an abdominal workout on the Monday after over three weeks without doing any abdominal exercises (not counting Slendertone System-Abs).  From Tuesday onwards my stomach muscles felt like they were being ripped apart.  By the time I got to the the final Friday session on Slendertone System-Abs my stomach felt like it had taken a real pounding.  Overall, this was definitely the toughest week I have had since starting the Slendertone 6 Week Plan.

Feedback on my Exercise Routine

This was definitely the best exercise week I have had since starting on Slendertone System-Abs.  I again managed to complete the two exercise routines that are part of the Slendertone 6 Week Plan (as I keep saying in every post I still need to do a full article on the Slendertone 6 Week Plan workouts…it will be published soon…I promise).  I also managed to get to the gym five times where I completed my full weights routine and also significantly increased my cardio levels with some intense jogging sessions.  Overall, I did more than an hour on the treadmill during the week and burnt some serious calories.

Feedback on my Diet

Unfortunately, whilst this was probably my best week so far in terms of exercise and the impact of Slendertone System-Abs, the same could not be said for my diet.  It was not a complete disaster but I could have eaten a lot better over the weekend.

Between Monday morning and Friday afternoon I ate clean healthy foods.  I stuck to my usual breakfast (either oatmeal with fresh fruit or a wholemeal bagel with poached eggs), lunch (a homemade beef or chicken salad), pre-gym meal (tuna with steamed vegetables), tea (a meat and vegetable based dish loaded with fibre rich vegetables) and snacks (fresh fruits such as apples, bananas and oranges).  However, on Friday I had a works night out which meant fast food and rather large amounts of alcohol.  Then on Saturday, England were playing their first game of the 2010 World Cup which led to more junk food and alcohol being consumed.

Feedback on the appearance of my Abs

Despite my alcohol and junk food diet over the weekend I think all the extra jogging had a positive effect on the appearance of my abs.  For the first time my stomach looked like it was a little bit tighter and carrying a little less fat.  There is still much more room for improvement but this is the first time since starting the Slendertone 6 Week Plan that I have noticed a postive change in the appearance of my abs.

Summary

After my third week of using Slendertone System-Abs I have finally seen a small change in the appearance of my abs.  It was the toughest week I have experienced on Slendertone so far but the belt and the additional jogging seem to be finally having an effect.

During week 4 I am going to carry on increasing the intensity on Slendertone System-Abs (as recommended), maintain my current exercise levels (particularly when it comes to the jogging) and try to improve my weekend eating habits.  Hopefully this will make the small improvements I have noticed this week into bigger, more substantial ones come the end of next week.

Slendertone System-Abs
Filed Under: Abdominal Exercises, Product Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

 

The Slendertone 6 Week Plan: Week 2

 

June 10, 2010 By Tom 4 Comments

A woman in a bikini with toned abs.

Hello everyone.  I’ve just completed week 2 of the Slendertone 6 Week Plan.  Below is a discussion of how I got along.

Feedback on the Slendertone System-Abs Belt

I found that I was a lot more used to the sensation of using Slendertone System-Abs this week.  It still feels odd when I start the program initially but after about 5 minutes I notice the belt much less and can concentrate on other things as it works away.

This week I increased the intensity to the recommended levels listed below:
- Monday (Day 1):- 60.
- Tuesday (Day 2):- 50.
- Wednesday (Day 3):- 65.
- Thursday (Day 4):- 65.
- Friday (Day 5):- 70.

I found that the start of the week was not too bad and I was pretty comfortable on levels 60 and 50.  However, Wednesday to Friday was a different story.  Level 65 is very tough and I felt my abs tightening very strongly.  Level 70 is almost painful and really forces your abs to tighten up.

Feedback on my Exercise Routine

This week my exercise routine was much better.  I managed to get to the gym 3 times and do my weights routine.  I also managed to complete the 2 exercise sessions that are recommended as part of the Slendertone 6 Week Plan.  I will be posting more about these in a future post but they are basically mini-circuit training sessions and give you a good cardiovascular workout.

Feedback on my Diet

Overall, my diet was very good this week.  I had a chinese takeaway and a bag of crisps over the weekend but other than that I stuck to mainly fresh natural foods.  For breakfast I had either oatmeal or a wholemeal bagel with poached eggs.  Then for lunch I had a homemade chicken salad.  Before going to the gym I would have a homemade tuna salad.  Then after finishing the gym I would cook a meat and vegetable based dish making sure it was loaded with fibre rich vegetables.

Feedback on the appearance of my Abs

Currently there is still no change in the appearance of my abs.  However, on Saturday morning (after completing a Slendertone System-Abs session on level 70 the night before) my abs really felt like they had been worked hard.  My muscles were sore and my stomach was tight.  In fact it was a very similar feeling to the one you get after doing a particularly intense abs session at the gym.

Summary

After my second week of using Slendertone System-Abs I still did not see any change in the appearance of my abs.  However, they did feel like they were being worked much harder by the end of the week.  This week I am planning to step up my cardio routine significantly and do a lot more jogging whilst also maintaining a healthy diet.  Hopefully, this will burn some additional body fat and let me start seeing some definition around my stomach.

Slendertone System-Abs
Filed Under: Abdominal Exercises, Product Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

 

The Slendertone 6 Week Plan: Week 1

 

June 3, 2010 By Tom 7 Comments

A man with toned abs flexing.

As regular readers of the Free Fitness Tips Blog probably know I am currently trialling the Slendertone 6 Week Plan.  I finished my first week of the trial last Saturday so today I am going to be giving my feedback on week 1 of the Slendertone 6 Week Plan.

Feedback on the Slendertone System-Abs Belt

As I discussed in my last post using Slendertone System-Abs for the first time is a very strange sensation which I can best describe as strong tickling.  In my first week I followed the recommendations in the Slendertone 6 Week Plan and used Slendertone System-Abs 5 times for a period of 25 minutes whilst gradually increasing the intensity each day.  Below is a day by day breakdown of the levels I used:
- Tuesday (Day 1):- 35.
- Wednesday (Day 2):- 40.
- Thursday (Day 3):- 45.
- Friday (Day 4):- 45.
- Saturday (Day 5):- 60.

I found as the week went on I slowly got used to the feeling of using Slendertone System-Abs.  As I increased the levels it got noticeably tougher and by the time I reached level 60 on Saturday I could feel my abs contracting very strongly.  I also noticed that my abs felt a little tighter on the days after using Slendertone System-Abs.

Feedback on my Exercise Routine

Last week was a pretty poor for me in terms of exercise.  I got to the gym 3 times and completed my weights routine but I did not do any cardiovascular exercise and I also did not manage to start the exercise routine that the Slendertone 6 Week Plan recommends.  This was largely down to having a full week at work and then a busy bank holiday weekend where I was rarely at home.  I have a lot less on this week so hopefully I will have a much more productive week in terms of exercise.

Feedback on my Diet

For the majority of the week my diet was very good and I ate mainly fresh, natural foods.  However, as I said above during the bank holiday weekend I was rarely at home.  Because of this I did not have time to prepare my meals in advance on Sunday and Monday so I had to grab my food on the go.  This meant the food I ate was not always the healthiest.  However, I have a much quieter weekend this week which means my diet should improve.

Feedback on the appearance of my Abs

Whilst my abs do feel tighter than they did prior to using Slendertone System-Abs I have not noticed any change in the physical appearance of my abs.  However, it is only week 1 and there are a number of improvement I need to make to my diet and exercise routine during the coming weeks.  So whilst there is no change in the appearance of my abs yet it is still early days.

Summary

Overall, after week 1 of the Slendertone 6 Week Plan my abs do look the same as they did before I started.  However, they do feel tighter than they did prior to using Slendertone System-Abs.  Also I did not have the best week in terms of diet or exercise.  If I make improvement in these areas and continue to use the belt then I will hopefully start to see some noticeable changes in the appearance of my abs over the next few weeks.  Only time will tell.

Filed Under: Abdominal Exercises, Product Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

 

My First Thoughts on Slendertone

 

May 29, 2010 By Tom 7 Comments

A close up of a woman's abdominals as she holds a dumbbell.

Hello everyone.  I’m on my fourth day of using Slendertone System-Abs so thought I would post a quick update on my initial thoughts and how I have found it so far.  Today I am going to describe setting up the belt for the first time, using the belt for the first time and how it felt after using it for the first time.

Setting Slendertone System-Abs Up for First Use

After I had unpacked the belt my first task was to charge the power unit for 2-3 hours.  Once the power unit was charged I then had to attach the pads that came with the belt.  This was done by removing them from their packaging and sticking them to the three metal studs which are positioned on the left, right and centre of the belt.  Once the pads were attached Slendertone System-Abs was ready for its first use.

The whole process of setting up the belt was quite different to what I imagined.  I thought once charged you would just strap the belt on and start using it.  I never imagined there would be pads involved.  However, it was still a relatively simple process and nothing I could not handle.

Using Slendertone System-Abs for the First Time

To begin using Slendertone System-Abs I wrapped it around my stomach making sure that the three pads were firmly stuck to the left, right and centre of my abdomen.  I was quite surprised just how sticky the pads were and it is quite an odd sensation to feel them on your stomach.  It is not odd in a bad way – just different.

The Slendertone 6 Week Plan recommends that you start on level 35 for your first use of the belt so I decided to go with that.  To get to level 35 I had to turn the belt’s power unit on and then cycle up through the levels until I reached number 35.  This was another strange sensation as I felt the impact of the belt getting stronger and stronger the higher the level went.  It is quite a difficult feeling to explain but I would probably liken it to really strong tickling.

Once I reached level 35 I then just left the belt to run its 20 minute course.  It took a few minutes to get used to the sensation as the belt gradually worked my stomach and then let it relax in a steady, continuous motion.  After the 20 minutes were done the power unit beeped and the belt shut down.  I then removed the belt, covered up the three sticky pads with the plastic sheets provided and put it away.

Feelings after Using Slendertone System-Abs for the First Time

After taking the belt off I was pleasantly surprised as my abs did feel like they had been given a mild workout.  The feeling was nowhere near as strong as doing a set of crunches, leg raises or planks but it is more than I expected.  The next day my abs felt slightly tenser too so the belt had definitely done something.

Summary

My main thought after using Slendertone System-Abs for the first time is just how odd the sensation is.  From the sticky pads to the actual “strong tickling” sensation of the belt it really is a strange experience.  I have never quite felt anything quite like it before.  However, I am sure I will get used to it over the next few uses.

The good thing is the belt appears to be doing something.  Whilst the physical appearance of my stomach has not changed yet it does feel ever so slightly tighter.  It is still early days but the first signs are positive.

Filed Under: Abdominal Exercises, Product Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

 

I’m Doing The Slendertone 6 Week Plan

 

May 26, 2010 By Tom 16 Comments

A photo shot of a male bodybuilder's abs.

Hello everyone.  Today’s post is a special one for the Free Fitness Tips Blog as I am doing my very first product review series.  Hopefully it will be the first of many.  The product I am going to be reviewing today and over the next few weeks is Slendertone System-Abs – an electronic abdominal toning belt.

Why Slendertone?

You may be a little surprised that I am reviewing an ab belt as I have previously stated that I don’t think they work.  Well to tell you the truth that is the main reason I am reviewing this product.  Last month Yazmin from Slendertone got in touch with me.  She asked if I would be willing to try their 6 week challenge to see if it would change my mind on ab belts.  Since I have never tried an ab belt personally (I have formed my views by reading around the subject) I approached this challege with an open mind and accepted Yazmin’s invitation.  So for the next six weeks I will be trialling Slendertone System-Abs as part of the Slendertone 6 week plan.

What Is The Slendertone 6 Week Plan?

The Slendertone 6 Week Plan is an abdominal toning program that has been put together by Claran Byrne (Slendertone’s toning expert) and Elise Lindsay (Coleen Rooney’s personal trainer).  It involves two main parts:
– 1) Five Weekly Slendertone System-Abs Toning Sessions:- This involves using Slendertone System-Abs five times a week whilst gradually increasing the intensity with each session.
– 2) Three 30 Minute Exercise Sessions:- This involves performing two pre-designed 30 minute workouts (I will give more details of these in a future post) on an alternating basis, three times a week.  So in week 1 you perform three workouts in the following order; workout 1, workout 2, workout 1.  Then in week 2 you alternate and perform; workout 2, workout 1, workout 2.  You then repeat this alternating schedule between weeks 3 and 6.

The Slendertone 6 Week Plan also advises participants to follow some basic dietary advice e.g. reduce your carbohydrate intake, reduce your alcohol intake, stop snacking, eat less sugar etc.

How Does Slendertone System-Abs Work?

According to the packaging Slendertone System-Abs use the only clinically proven electronic muscle stimulation (EMS) toning technology, exercising all of the muscles of the abdomen and not just those under the belt.  EMS works by sending signals between the pads.  These signals switch on the nerves that control your abdominal muscles causing them to contract and relax rythmically.  EMS technology has been used in hospitals and by physiotherapists for over 50 years to rehabilitate and strengthen muscles.

What Are My Initial Thoughts?

My initial thoughts on Slendertone System-Abs are that it is too good to be true.  I am finding it hard to make myself believe that wearing an ab belt for 30 minutes can have the same effects as performing a focused abdominal workout.  I would love it to work but I am just finding it difficult to convince the cynic in me that it might be an effective abdominal toning tool.

On the flip side I have read a lot of positive, independent reviews on Slendertone System-Abs so there are definitely some people out there who believe the product works.   Plus, I have never tried this product or anything like it before so I have no actual experiences to base my thoughts on.

Overall, I have my doubts but I am going to try and keep an open mind whilst participating in the Slendertone 6 Week Trial.  Only time will tell whether my first impressions are correct.

How Will I Be Measuring My Progress?

I have decided that the best and most honest way to measure my progress will be through photos of my abdominal area as I participate in the trial.  I will probably post new photos once a week to see if any physical changes are taking place as I complete the Slendertone 6 Week Trial.  So without further ado here are the ‘before’ photos (apologies for the relatively poor quality – I do not own a digital camera so had to use my mobile phone)…

1) Centre Abs Photo before starting the Slendertone 6 Week Plan

A central photo of my abs before starting the Slendertone 6 Week Plan.

2) Left Side Abs Photo before starting the Slendertone 6 Week Plan

A left photo of my abs before starting the Slendertone 6 Week Plan.

3) Right Side Abs Photo before starting the Slendertone 6 Week Plan

A right photo of my abs before starting the Slendertone 6 Week Plan.

Summary

Whilst I am still a bit sceptical as to whether Slendertone System-Abs will work I am also quite excited by the possibility that I could be proved wrong over the next six weeks.  I will try to post an update tomorrow about my first experience using Slendertone System-Abs and then do an update every few days after that.  I will also be continuing with my regular gym workouts (three weights sessions and one or two cardio sessions per week) so that my activity levels remain constant.  This will mean that I can confidently attribute any changes in my stomach tone to Slendertone System-Abs.

If you have previous experience using any of Slendertone’s products I would love to hear your views.  Did they work for you?  Are there any particular products you would recommend?  Are there any negative effects people should know about?  Let me know by leaving a comment.

Filed Under: Abdominal Exercises, Product Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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