I bought one of these things (it really fits in nicely with all the art deco and moderne furniture in my apartment . . . maybe doilies would help). I’m trying to do 20 reps, 3x a day, on the damn contraption, in an effort to regain something of a “waistline.”
I don’t expect to lose much in the way of weight, but if I can refigure myself from a size 12 skirt back down to a size 10 . . . Anyone ever use one of these things? Any tips?
(By the way, it is damn hard to balance your weight hanging by your elbows when one of your elbows is all metal bars and springs!)
What exactly are you doing on this? Are you doing Roman chair crunches where you support your weight on your elbows and curl your knees up to your chest? That’ll tighten and tone your abs a bit but, truthully, most waist flabbiness isn’t lack of muscle, it’s overfat. If you’re worried about the waistline, you’re gonna have to seriousy consider the “D”-word.
Also, as you age, everyone, even the superfit, tend to gain weight more easily on the waist. I have a female friend who’s 46, 5’9", 140 with 18% bodyfat (extremely good for a woman her age) who also works out like a fiend. Even she complains about the weight redistribution one her waist…
I agree with termorviolet that this will only help strengthen your abs, not shrink it.
However, instead of dieting, I think that an aerobic exercise will probably help you lose weight quicker.
Well, I don’t know if it will help your figure, but now I can’t get the image of you using it while in a pencil skirt, sweater set and pearls out of my head.
Eve it looks like something on which to hang one’s hand washable dainties. So, at least, if the excercise thing doesn’t work out you have another use for it.
Oh, and if you want to use it as a decorative item, I think a tapestry hanging from it would look better than doilies.
astro that was highly disturbing yet mildly arrousing.
Yeah, what tremorviolet said. Once you get your muscles stronger, the only way to show them off is to remove the layer of fat over them. The only way to do that is diet. Cardio type stuff helps, too.
Having said that, that thing’s a lot more useful than the usual froo-froo exercise devices people get. Waaaay better than an ab-blaster.
Hell, wouldn’t mind one myself. I’m a complete man whore for Roman Chair crunches and chinups. Chinups/Pullups are one of the best upper body exercises you can do, in my opinion.
Actually, before I go to work in the morning, that’s pretty much accurate.
As far as “exercise,” isn’t doing those “Roman chair crunches” (band name!) exercise? Certainly knocks the wind out of i]me.* Should be burning up some calories!
It’ll burn some calories but it’s not the sustained type exercise you need to really lose weight. Walking would be better. And building muscle in general is good for burning calories and with that machine you can do fun things like dips and pull-ups (although that will increase your shoulder size, my shoulders have gotten so big from rowing that I can’t wear my mom’s 1950’s suede mink-collared car coat anymore. ). I have always wanted one of those tho’, I love dips. I’ve got one of these in the middle of my living room which goes smashingly with my Heywood-Wakefield…
Well, I walk (briskly) about 2 miles/day. And I don’t want to do anything that might risk increasing my shoulder size, I already make Joan Crawford look like David Spade!
). I have always wanted one of those tho’, I love dips. I’ve got one of 