"Aber-cizers" and your opinions of them?

[Citruscide]

So... you see a wide variety of "ab" machines on the market today... whether you see an infomercial, or you see them scattered throughout your local fitness store... what are your thoughts?

Have you found some that actually work? Some that are actually bunk? Express opinions here... when I get back from work tonight, I'll put up a few ideas on some that I have used, and didn't like... :)

c-ditty

[Citruscide]

While I'm at it... how about all types of equipment??? Their value vs. their benefit... but I wanted to stress the AB machines... because they seem to be highly marketed to work the abs.

Here is an arm machine... do you think it is worth 995.00 for the actual benefit to the biceps?

http://www.bigfitness.net/store/images/U0664B.jpg

C-ditty

[jnuts]

Originally posted by Citruscide
]

Here is an arm machine... do you think it is worth 995.00 for the actual benefit to the biceps?

C-ditty

Nope.

I've got a set of free weights and dumb bells for my garage and a bench. I also own a machine that allows me to do lat pull downs and low rows, because I can't really do that with free weights.

I really, really want to get a squat rack, but don't have $$ to do that right now. For now I just use some attachments on the back of the bench to help hold the bar while I squat.

[jnuts]

I guess you could say that you wouldn't need the Lat pull down machine if you just did chinups, but right now my shoulder can't take me doing chinups.

[saint808]

i think the only things that would be beneficial to abs would be a swiss ball and maybe an ab wheel which you can make for like $10 at any hardware store... but still even those aren't truly necessary.

[saint808]

and let's face it most people think that doing ab work will get you a six pack when they should know it's more about diet than anything else.

[jnuts]

I like simple equipment... Things that allow me to do dips, etc.

And I also like lifting at home, not at a gym.

[argent]

Maybe to a gym owner where multiple people can use it. Definetly not for 1 person though. Far more effective and more cost efficient ways to train your biceps.

[desertrhino]

Maybe the question one should ask himself whenever he's contemplating a sizeable expenditure on machines is whether the trade-off justifies it. A grand for that machine? Huh, how much other free weight equipment would that buy? If you spent that grand on dumbbells/bars, etc. would you have a larger arsenal to tackle your objectives with greater versatility? I don't know, just food for thought...

[desertrhino]

Maybe I'm sort of stupid about it but I have active memberships at three large gyms, one offering racquetball, one offering a pool, and the third being hardcore. They each have a variety of ab machines and I have tortured myself brutally on just about every one. It wasn't until I walked away from them and used intensive exercise to isolate those muscles that they began to build. Use ab machines? I'd only use them on a secondary basis.

[GUEST]

10-11 years I wanted to do an ab exercise on a machine. An older guy came over to me, he was about 50, dressed in full grey russell athletic sweats (old school style :)). He literally pulled me out of the ab machine. He asked me why I was doing abs there and not leg raises, full ROM sit-ups, etc....I didn't have an answer. He continued to tell me that there will never be anything easy regarding training the body. That the most difficult exercises will turn out to be the most rewarding. Challenge yourself was the most important thing.

Still to this day he is in the gym training. He is over 60 now. Strong as an ox. I have learned and I will always pass to ANYONE who would want to learn. Lets keep the chain going forever!!!!!!!

[GUEST]

Originally posted by PolishHammer
10-11 years I wanted to do an ab exercise on a machine. An older guy came over to me, he was about 50, dressed in full grey russell athletic sweats (old school style :)). He literally pulled me out of the ab machine. He asked me why I was doing abs there and not leg raises, full ROM sit-ups, etc....I didn't have an answer. He continued to tell me that there will never be anything easy regarding training the body. That the most difficult exercises will turn out to be the most rewarding. Challenging yourself was the most important thing.

Still to this day he is in the gym training. He is over 60 now. Strong as an ox. I have learned and I will always pass to ANYONE who would want to learn. Lets keep the chain going forever!!!!!!!

[WODIN]

Very cool Hammer...

[Worrow9187badass]

I don't use the ab machine at the gym.. but at home I like the ab roller.. it motivates me seeing it and I can do it in front of the TV.

I don't like it because it makes things any easier.. it just holds your neck and back straight so that you don't fuck yourself up doing crunches.

[Citruscide]

So, PH, you are saying the ab machine and that arm-blaster is good then... right? LOL

C-ditty

[Lord_Suston]

All the boxer i train with never use ab machines.. Just haging kness raises and decline crunches. Hundred of reps with weight:mad: .. Diet is the key to see abs but to strengthen them.... Machines to me are use when injured or trying to get back into shape

Hammer, good thoughts