Slendertone, the makers of the Slendertone Ab Belt, claim that it will give you stronger, firmer muscles without exercising. According to the manufacturer, “Slendertone uses Electronic Muscle Stimulation (EMS) technology to create strong, deep, comfortable contractions in your muscles. It mimics the body's natural muscle movements; signals are sent between the gel pads, engaging the nerves that control your muscles and causing them to contract naturally. It feels like you are tightening/flexing and then releasing/relaxing your muscles. As you advance, your muscles will get stronger and firmer, and you will get accustomed to the feel of EMS muscle conditioning. This sensation is powerful enough to recruit most of the muscle fibers in the muscle region, yet comfortable enough to have a conversation while using it”.
What do the experts say?
Mediword states, “ EMS can increase muscle hypertrophy (growth), endurance and strength. EMS may be used only for this or with regular weight training by aiding recovery and helping muscles grow and get stronger. EMS can increase body temperature, heart rate and metabolism (promoting energy and fat absorption from the body)”.
According to Medicinenet.com,” While an EMS device may be able to temporarily strengthen, tone or firm a muscle, no EMS devices have been cleared at this time for weight loss, girth reduction, or for obtaining ‘rock hard’ abs”.
According to author Maia Appleby, “Electric ab stimulators were (and still are) used in medical rehab situations. They are designed to keep muscles from atrophying (wasting away) in situations where a limb must be immobilized. For example, if you broke your leg, the doctor could place an electrode on the muscle and use electricity to make it contract. This would provide a minimum level of stimulation, thus keeping the muscle active”.
More directly to the point Maia goes on to say, “As far as building muscle, such as the ads on TV claim, this is not backed up by research. The level of electrical stimulation necessary to build up the abdominal muscles to what you see on TV would be extremely high and thus very painful”.
My Personal Review
Unable to get a consensus of opinion from the “experts” I decided to take matters into my own hands. Let me clearly state upfront: I am not fat (a statement which has been disputed from time to time). I have a 32 inch waist, but do I have rock hard washboard abs? Let me put it this way I have no fear of someone dragging me down to the stream to wash their clothes by beating them against my rock hard abs. No, my abominable area can better be described as a soft and warm region upon which a puppy might choose to lay.
I bought and strapped that Slendertone bad boy on. From the very first second, I knew it was working because I could hear it beeping incessantly. The problem was I couldn’t feel anything. Undaunted, I continued to turn up the intensity until it was at full 100 intensity level. By that time I felt something - cramping in my fingers from the 300 button punches that it took to turn it up to full power. I thought I felt something else, a very minor cramping feeling in my stomach, I was also aware that I might have only imagined that I felt something. The one thing I can say categorically, I would have felt ten ab crunches much more.
Lance Morton - Lance Morton is a writer, hypnotists, personal fitness trainer, and the author of Mentally Create your Ideal Weight.
