27 Jul 2008
Toning Sculpting Fitness Gimmicks
Top 5 Worst Fitness Gimmicks of All Time
Motivation for this weeks Fitness Top 5 List came when I was on the elliptical machine at the gym. Even though I was blaring Rammstein in my headphones and trying not to pay attention to the television I couldn’t help but notice one of the latest fitness gimmicks fresh new infomercial.
It was Zumba which is a Columbian Latin American dance which I researched to have sold more than 3 million DVDs in over 30 countries. The downright cheesiness of the video had me laughing out loud. Especially when I saw the extra “Zumba Toning Sticks” which looked like brightly colored plastic femurs.
Even though I would not call Zumba a fitness gimmick, because it actually involves moving your body for a long duration of time, the “toning sticks” were pretty gimmicky.
The Zumba infomercial gave me the idea to rate, more of a Hall of Shame of fitness gimmick products and their marketing.
I created the list of some of my old and new favorites such as the thighmaster, electric ab belt, and of course six second abs. Make sure you check out the list and subscribe to AskTheTrainer.com RSS
The fitness world is filled with gimmicks. The gimmick fitness products are only half of the story. The people pay for the product but what they really are paying for is the results.
As far as As Seen on TV fitness products go, people buy the marketing rather than the products. The marketing is so slick and deceptive people will even buy a piece of gimmicky equipment they see on TV in the local sporting good store, even if they are not impressed by the product.
The slick marketing for most products almost always involves sitting in front of the TV exercising and almost always uses words like toning and sculpting.
Toning and sculpting is based on the fitness myth of spot reduction.
The myth of spot reduction is so ingrained in people’s heads in the United States some refuse not to believe it.
This is the only logical explanation why these fitness gimmicks continue to trick people. Each infomercial is laced with every red flag known to man and yet people still believe they can still tone and sculpt their bodies rather than either lose fat or gain muscle.
You must watch the video on this weeks top 5 list of the new electronic “Ab Contour Toning System” which is absolutely preposterous.
