Ab King Pro: Why You Shouldn’t Trust Fitness Infomercials
So you’re lying in bed watching late night television. The caffeine and sugar has kept you awake, and infomercials are the only thing playing on any channel. As you use your remote control to channel surf, you suddenly see an infomercial for a cool-looking fitness product known as the Ab King Pro. “Wow!” you exclaim. “This dude lost 105 pounds just from using this machine for three minutes a day and it only costs $119!” The fact that it costs nothing to do a set of crunches on your living room floor seems to evade you. Suddenly, the Ab King Pro is on the par with the Holy Grail. Operators are standing by. You’re in luck. You reach for your cell phone.
Stop right now!
If the producers of the Ab King Pro infomercial had a nose like Pinocchio, it would now be as long as the entire Route 66. In fact, there are so many false claims about this product that it’s hard to know where to begin. However, let’s start with the myth of spot reduction. This wishful thinking concept was popular in the 1960s and 1970s. However, there have been so many studies disproving the myth of spot reduction that it’s had to understand why people still believe in it. Even though this information is available in every fitness magazine, people cling to the spot reduction myth like a child who refuses to stop believing in Santa Claus. This puts people at the mercy of companies such as Ab King Pro.
What the Experts Say
On October 27, 2007, and article was featured in Mainlander, which is a New Zealand publication. Apparently, a group of local fitness experts had expressed their concern about the misinformation that companies such as Ab King Pro are presenting to the general public. A panel of five renowned fitness experts was asked to review six fitness products, which were often featured in popular infomercials. Of the six products reviewed, the Ab King Pro failed in every category. The panelists agreed that the Ab King Pro was:
- Based on unscientific principles
- Made unrealistic claims about its benefits
- Was potentially unsafe in certain situations
- Did not provide enough variety to hold consistent interest
The Truth is Out There
There are only four ways to achieved the coveted flat abs. These include:
- Reducing body fat through aerobic exercise: You need to burn fat to lose fat
- Eating a low fat diet: Better yet, limit the amount of fat you eat in the first place
- Improving postural alignment: If you slouch or arch your back, your stomach will always look bigger
- Staying well hydrated: When you’re dehydrated, your body stores fluid, in order to keep you alive. This results in abdominal bloat. Drinking extra water reduces the bloat, and leads to a flatter stomach.
You might notice that “performing abdominal exercise” is conspicuous by its absence. That’s because performing any type strength exercise will not make any part of your body any smaller. It simply makes it stronger. Furthermore, there’s a good possibility that the cut up six packs you see on the Ab King Pro infomercials may have been photo shopped. Very few people, elite athletes included have that kind of cut and definition. That said, a few changes in your diet, exercise routine can significantly decrease the amount of abdominal fat in your body. That’s better than anything that Santa can bring you!
If You’re Still Not Convinced
There are some people who are motivated by gadgets. In that case, if that’s what it takes to get you exercising, it’s certainly better than nothing. Of course, since most people hate to waste money, spending $119 is certainly a motivating factor. If you do decide to purchase this machine, it will be more effective if you first learn to activate your deep core muscles. For ten seconds a day, draw your navel towards the spine. In other words, tighten your belly and hold it tight for ten seconds. Perform this exercise ten times a day. Then, when you use the Ab King Pro, remember to engage your core while performing the exercise. If you keep your abs loose, you’ll be using your back, and the exercise will be less effective.
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