Slendertone Flex Pro Abdominal Muscle Toner
Filed Under (Abdominal Abs) by admin on 23-11-2009
Tagged Under : Aaa, Abdominal Muscle, Abs System, Control Settings, Crunches, Efficacy, Electrode Gel, Girdle, Good Shape, Great Shape, Home Shopping Network, Intensity Levels, Muscle Toner, Quack, Qvc, Slendertone Flex, Stomach Area, Tactic, Thoughtful Touch, Workout
Slendertone Flex Pro Abdominal Muscle Toner
The Slendertone? Flex Pro Abs system provides multiple toning options for those who want greater variety and challenge from their ab training program. With intensity levels from 0-99, the Slendertone? Flex Pro gives you maximum training flexibility and provides a great toning session for even the most advanced users.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Surprised, actually works.
When I first received the Slendertone, I was very skeptical of its claims. Clearly, it looked like another quack item from the QVC or Home Shopping Network, with big promises but little results. The people pictured on the front of the box were clearly already muscular to begin with, leaving me highly doubtful of any potential Slendertone device efficacy. Another ShamWow like product.
When I opened the box, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Slendertone came well equipped; it came with its own batteries (big plus! 3 x AAA), 3 electrode-gel pads, a nice little carrying bag, assorted other items, and a pretty solid looking Slendertone. The device itself looks a bit like a girdle with an electronics module and mini-display; the module has a few buttons on the sides to control the programming, and the mini-display is cleverly positioned to facilitate operation. It would’ve been nice if they included a memory option to have the device recall the last used strength setting, so I wouldn’t have to re-program each time upon use.
I do appreciate the independent left/right control settings; that’s a thoughtful touch. My abs are better developed on my right hand side, so I can set the workout on my left to be stronger.
A word about my body type before we begin; I’m thin, good shape, but not great shape. I workout and run 3 times a week; my stomach area is thin, and somewhat but not really defined, and after doing many crunches, was open to another tactic for better defining the abdominal area. Note, this probably won’t work very well if you have folds of fat covering your abdomen, because obviously you’ll have to do some cardio to rid yourself of those extra fat cells.
FIRST WEEK; I set the device on level 25, and used it for 20 minutes at a time. The first time I used it, it felt ticklish, possibly because it was on a low setting. I also used it after eating a meal (bad idea), and felt stomach pains afterwards. So I decided to take a break from using the machine.
SECOND WEEK; I set the device to level 30, and used it after my gym workouts (but before any meals). In all of my gym workouts, I do regular crunches, as well as crunches on medicine balls, and reverse decline crunches. Using the Slendertone was like getting a nice “massage” after a hard workout, further working the abdominal area.
THIRD WEEK; Kept up the same routine of using the Slendertone after my gym workouts, and moved the device to level 35. I think I’m starting to see some better definition around my abs! Could it be the Slendertone, or just my imagination? Hmm, better keep using it.
Slight setback between 3rd and 4th weeks when I decided to splurge and eat at a buffet restaurant.
FOURTH WEEK; After recovering from the buffet restaurant, increased to level 40. During Slendertone usage, I also tensed my stomach area to increase effectiveness.
After 4 weeks of continuous usage, I’d say the Slendertone has helped me to get a better defined stomach area. I wouldn’t say it’s a perfect six-pack like the Spartans in the movie 300, but it seems to be more effective than just doing crunches on my own. And that, is pretty helpful. 5 stars for actually being effective, and not gimmicky.
5 Stars Surprisingly… It Seems to Work
I’m a skeptic by nature, so the Slendertone FlexPro Abdominal Muscle Toner seemed like a ‘joke’ to me when I received it as part of the Amazon Vine Program. My husband, a guy who works out daily and has for over 30 years, spotted this item and decided he wanted to be my ‘guinea pig’ for the test drive of this item. For the record he is ‘fit’ = 165 pounds, 5′10″, 32″ waist, 10% bodyfat and does abdominal exercises daily. He’s also 74 years old.
Despite being fit for any age, he still has ‘problem’ areas (love handles) he doesn’t like and can’t seem to get rid of thus the desire to try the belt. I was a bit stunned by his offer, but let him go for it.
The following are his comments from the past 4 weeks of daily use (mid-intensity #3-4, 30 minutes 1x a day). He did not lose weight or change his diet of beer and pizza during this time. He continued his daily 1 hour work-out routine, simply adding time with the belt at the end while he was cooling off before his shower.
Comments made regarding the belt and its use 30 day trial are as follows.
Week 1:
“The belt when turned on feels ‘tingly’. If turned up too high, it actually hurts!”
“As much as I work out, I can’t imagine this thing is going to do any good.”
“The gooey pads (3 of them) seem weird, but if they are covered up with the plastic wrap they came in, the belt doesn’t work.”
“The pads are expensive… I wonder how long they’ll last before I have to buy more?”
“I’m having trouble finding just the right setting.”
Week 2:
“I can’t tell if it’s doing any good or not?”
“It actually hurt when I wore it while I went walking this morning…”
Week 3:
“I don’t know… give me a few more days.”
“How much are those extra pads anyway?” (About $25 on Amazon for 3 sets of 3.)
“I’m not going to turn it up too much. It seems to work the muscles when I put it in the mid-range.”
Week 4:
“I’m not sure if it’s the device or not, but my Levi’s fresh out of the dryer are fitting better around the waist. All my pants are going on a lot easier and buttoning easily.”
“I want to keep using it because damn-it… it seems to work.”
Our ‘Non-Skeptical’ Conclusion:
This belt is a good supplement to further tone already fit abdominal muscles by waking up the muscles in the abdominal area with low-level electrical currents. It’s similar to very expensive machines used by physical therapist and should be used as directed for maximum benefits.
5 Stars Slendertone
This take a little while to get used to. Correct placement on your abdomin is essential. Once you get it on and get it turned up you will be able to see your muscles contracting. It has a range from 0 to 99. My experience is that you really have to get it up over the 50 mark for it to be effective. I’ve been using it for 3 weeks now but can’t keep up with the 5 time a week that is suggested. There are gel contact pads that you need to operate the belt. It comes with one set that are supposed to last for about 30 times. They run around $12 for replacments. They are COLD when you first put the belt on but they warm up to body temp pretty much right away. I see some difference and feel that if I were using it 5 times a week instead of 3-4 I would definately see a lot of difference.
3 Stars It Does What It Says It Will Do… Its Just Not For Me
I can’t complain about the belt doing what it says it will do. It does make your ab muscles twitch I just did not find this overly comfortable, enjoyable or beneficial. Like most people who would look at this, I’m thinking – sit ups without doing sit ups. Nice. I just have to wear this belt thing on my spare tire and eventually I will look like the guy on the box right? Wrong. First of all, there is no such thing as spot weight loss. Lose weight and it comes off how your body wants to consume it, not based on where you want it to come off. [Side note, this is a good thing. Could you imagine if doing sit ups only took fat away from your tummy and left it on your back or your arms or your face. Eeck]
If I had a flat stomach and I wanted to add some definition I could see this product working. For me, someone how just plain needs to loose weight, I didn’t find it overly helpful.
The tingling sensation that shows up as you are getting shocked by the three AAA’s never goes away but you do stop noticing it as much. I didn’t find this to be very comfortable. I bugged me. Doing situps and crunches seem to be less uncomfortable.
Make sure you cover the little gel pads with their piece of plastic or you will have a nice collection of fuzz and other crap on them. They are sticky.
All and all, I would not recommend this product for anyone looking to loose weight or gain a six pack. It does a very small part in either of those two goals. Especially for the money, you would be better off with body weight exercises and a better diet.
4 Stars It works! Who knew?!
I used to be very diligent in working out prior to giving birth to my son, but since then juggling the life of being a mom, wife and small business owner has left me with very little time for my normal running and yoga routines. I still do yoga in the evenings but only 2 or 3 nights a week and my diet has suffered as there are many days when you just don’t have time to prepare anything that doesn’t come in a box. You moms know what I’m talking about! That said, I was SO excited to receive this and start using it. I absolutely feel stronger in my abdomen after three weeks of use with two 30-minute sessions per day, though I don’t notice any physical change. I’m sure that will come with time but nothing happens overnight. More importantly than strengthening my abs, it has given me the motivation to get back into the swing of things and start taking better care of myself and my family.
It was very easy to pick up and use the first time, but I was a little freaked out by all the potential hazards. I suppose that comes with anything, though. I knew this thing couldn’t kill me, so I was willing to give it a try! It really does take some getting used to as you are literally receiving shocks to your abdominal muscles. It wasn’t painful, but it was very distracting for me and also very unsettling in the beginning. I do admit, I almost gave up due to this but I told myself all new things take time getting used to and so I stuck with it and I really am glad that I did. For the money spent, you could probably get several “traditional” devices, such as a pull up bar and/or sit up board and achieve the same results, but you need time to use those items. I’m not saying this in any way replaces the old fashioned way of working your abs, but for someone like me who scarcely has an hour in an entire day for herself, its hard to make yourself work out with that time rather than just kick back and take a breather for the first time all day. I can use this while I work, while I clean the house, make dinner, etc. It’s been invaluable. Recommended!!
