Six Pack Abs - Do you buy?

[IMINXTC]

Considering the seeming cornucopia of muscle ripping machines - from the simple to the ridiculous - being endlessly paraded on commercial media, there must be an incredible niche market out there.

Must admit: I have a plastic, concave looking thing stuffed behind the desk, designed for facilitating crunches. It actually does work and comes in it very handy when I get the notion, perhaps once a year, if that often. Seems a day up and down on the ladder involves the equivalent of several workouts, but realize that can be pure deception.

Do you find yourself occasionally stumbling over finely-engineered apparatuses folded neatly in closets, under the bed or in catch-all rooms, designed for the ever illusive, ripping abs?



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[tango]

Ripping abs? It's been years since I could even see mine. My stomach is getting smaller as I take up exercise but from what I gather these picture-perfect six-pack stomachs take so much work to achieve and maintain it's just not something I'm going to even aim for. I'll be happy when I've got a stomach more like a washboard than a beach ball.

[-SEEKING-]

Who needs a "Six Pack" when you've got a KEG!

[Fenris]

Who needs a "Six Pack" when you've got a KEG!

The fate of most of us I suppose

[Sojourner55]

Fitness products rake in nearly a billion dollars a year. And I'd be willing to bet that 3/4 of all products sold, end up gathering dust--just like several items I have purchased over the years. The motivation to buy is our sincere desire to get in shape, and the sell is the smooth production of the commercials. So....we make the purchase, but soon thereafter, lose our motivation. I think it's basically a case of "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

BTW, for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, here's a recent Youtube video that exposes one of the tricks used in some commercials to exaggerate the "dramatic results" achieved with their products. I know I'll be looking a little closer at the "before" pictures from now on.

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[Liquid Tension]

I don't know. To me, why do I need six pack abs when I have a solid block of butter abs instead.

[Sojourner55]

Who needs a "Six Pack" when you've got a KEG!

My theme song is the Beer Barrel Polka.

[A Seeker]

I have a magnificent six pack!

Its unfortunate that being buried under about a stone of Fine single malt whiskey, lardycake, and KFC, you'd need to be a surgeon to actually see it, but I take great satisfaction in knowing that its there! Tree falling in the forest and that.

[BrianW]

I'm in the same boat. Only way you see my abs would be to have x-ray eyes.

[ChristianCoffee]

I love my abs:

They prevent me from seeing when I need to clip my toenails.

They provide a spot to rest my next plate of food.

They prevent me from "planking" because kids would try to climb on me and use me as a teeter-totter.

They keep me well insolated in cold weather.

And I never have to worry about being in fashion because white and black T's are never out of style.

[IMINXTC]

Used to do marathon sit-up sessions in High School, afterwards laying on the couch moaning for days.

I think 30 consecutive full sit-ups now would likely make me pass out

[nzyr]

Do you find yourself occasionally stumbling over finely-engineered apparatuses folded neatly in closets, under the bed or in catch-all rooms, designed for the ever illusive, ripping abs?

I don't. They say cardiovascular fitness is what everyone needs. And this can be gotten via a low fat diet coupled with exercise. And not smoking helps too. Foods I think a lot of people should avoid are: bacon, sausage, lunch meats, hotdogs, mayonnaise, etc. Or at least eat very little of them as they tend to be high in artery clogging fat. Low impact aerobics such as walking and biking are good forms of exercise.

[IMINXTC]

I don't. They say cardiovascular fitness is what everyone needs. And this can be gotten via a low fat diet coupled with exercise. And not smoking helps too. Foods I think a lot of people should avoid are: bacon, sausage, lunch meats, hotdogs, mayonnaise, etc. Or at least eat very little of them as they tend to be high in artery clogging fat. Low impact aerobics such as walking and biking are good forms of exercise.

I totally agree. Walking and diet have helped me a great deal. I'm no longer capable of bicycling, but the long walks seem just as beneficial.

I gained very swiftly, largely due to mild thyroid problems, but managed to lose it all through careful diet and exercise. Being semi-retired, there is less demand for heavy physical work, but I've learned to keep it going a few hours a day. Really helps!

But, you're right - the aerobics are essential, also for reducing and controlling blood pressure.

[BrianW]

I used to be very seriously into resistance training (free weights) and did the heavy bag, lot of walking, jump rope etc. I also ate like a horse. I was never the Arnold type but I wasn't what you would call fat either.

I quit working out seriously for a while........OK for a long time.......... and I ballooned up in the belly and the face. It was kind of crazy how soon the weight packed on until it was pointed out to me that I was still taking in the same amount of food and not burning it off. I was then what you would call Fat. Capital F on purpose.
I also developed Diabetes.

So I changed what I eat, I'm trying not to eat so much and I bought a Total Gym. Yeah, the kind that Chuck Norris and Christie Brinkley shill on the infomercials.

I love the thing. Seriously love it. I really can get a total body workout on it and I would honestly recommend it to anyone who has the will to get on the thing everyday and put some effort into it.

The only reason I post this is because not all of the things you see on TV are gimmicks. I've also seen ads for Kettlebells and after doing a few workouts with a friends set (Some hardcore workouts that left me sweating and shaking LOL) I can say that they are awesome but also something that takes dedication and will.

And that's the whole point of any exercise. You have to have the dedication and will to do it correctly (no matter how you exercise) coupled with the correct way of eating. Diets are a fad and worthless. How you eat is a way of life.

[IMINXTC]

So I changed what I eat, I'm trying not to eat so much and I bought a Total Gym. Yeah, the kind that Chuck Norris and Christie Brinkley shill on the infomercials.

I love the thing. Seriously love it. I really can get a total body workout on it and I would honestly recommend it to anyone who has the will to get on the thing everyday and put some effort into it.

This Total Gym is the one that has caught my attention recently. Thinking of perhaps setting up in the basement after a bit of remodeling.

Your recommendation really helps!