You may or may not have heard of Slendertone, they are quite well-known for their marketing material. This often features men and women with chiseled abs maybe running through hills, across a beach or at home reading a book whilst wearing their products. Allegedly, getting abs can be a lot easier than you have ever realized.
I tested out one of these devices for this review to see if it is the magic clinically-proven transformative piece of machinery that the company seems to promise.
What’s An Ab Stimulator?
Slendertone products in general work by using Electrical Muscle Stimulation technology (also known as EMS) which passes an electrical current to the body via gel pads or electrodes. The ab stimulator technology actually simulates the same effects of regular exercise by causing the abdominal muscles to contract.
This tones and strengthens core muscles in a very similar way to exercise. Although there are similar products on the market, the manufacturer is probably the most popular in this field.
The great thing about this particular product is that there are varying levels of intensity. You can gradually build on how intense Electrical Muscle Stimulation is, the more regularly you use the belt.
Obviously the higher you set the number on the product, the better your abs will look over time but it’s completely up to you how you choose to use it. It is recommended that you use it for around thirty minutes every day, although it’s completely up to you if you want to use it less/more.
What is the Slendertone Ab Toning Belt?
The Slendertone ab belt is a device that you wear around your waist and is manufactured by Bio-Medical Research Ltd based in Ireland.
Once strapped to the body so that it covers the belly and the gel pads touch the skin, it is powered on with a button press and then you select the intensity level. The first time you do this, you might brace yourself (like I did being not sure what to expect). Every 5 seconds, there will be EMS pulses sent through your core causing your abdominal muscles to contract.
All that’s left for you to do is sit, or stand and let it work its magic. The tingly sensation can feel a little weird and the contractions may be uncomfortable if you set the intensity too high at first but it isn’t painful. #
It’s probably a good idea to build up tolerance and core strength before going to full intensity. After a few days I was at level 45 and it goes all the way up to 150.
The stimulation intensity can be adjusted with buttons on the front and the LCD display shows how long it is left in the toning session. The experience is not bad, it’s actually somewhat relaxing at a low intensity, like a massage. But the benefits will obviously be limited at a low intensity. Also, as it is slim, it can be worn under clothing. I found myself doing chores and watching Netflix while wearing it. It apparently can be worn during workouts to make them more intense, if that’s your style.
The LCD screen is a little limited. But if you need more information, such as progress tracking data, they have recently released the Slendertone Connect Abs which has some of these high-tech features and a mobile app. Many people say that they feel these products work muscles that they exercise with normal crunches.
It is very difficult to find a traditional exercise routine out there that actually does that when compared to an ab stimulator, so this can be really appealing to give your body (and abs) an extra boost.
Long Term Results
The marketing material states that:
- 100% of users had firmer and better tones abs after 4 weeks in clinical trials.
- 72% of these had improvements in abdominal endurance.
- 54% felt improvements in their posture
These are somewhat vague measures to claim and compare against when using the toning belt for yourself. There are all sorts of other variables that can be thrown into the mix, such as diet and what other types of exercise you are also doing. All of these things can affect your waistline and weight.
I tried to use the belt every day for 4 weeks. But, to be honest, I didn’t use it every single day. That would take some dedication, just like going for a gym session every day, there will be some time when you don’t feel like it.
Overall for me, it made a difference. I certainly felt a muscle soreness in the abdominal area the following day after a good session. So I knew it was working.
After the 4 week period, I can say that my stomach area felt tighter. I could feel it tensing up when I wanted it to and I could also see a part of my abs showing. This brings me to the problem with these devices. They don’t burn fat.
So if you have a higher body fat percentage, you might have some tight abdominals and a strong core, but you won’t be able to see them as they are hidden under a layer of fat. But, it does create the motivation to do more. After I could start to see my abs, I started to change to a healthy diet, get fit and hit the gym more often.
After more uses, I needed to change the replacement gel pads. Then I noticed that I dropped a waist size.
Side Effects
There is no doubt that the device is a different kind of fitness product and the electric type feelings can be a little worrying but you’ll be pleased to know, that the device is entirely safe to use. It is FDA approved, which means it has had rigorous testing and isn’t thought to be dangerous in any way. These types of belts are actually worn around the world by sports professionals and physical therapists.
There are not known to be any pre-existing health conditions that are dangerous to use with the device. Although if you want to be sure, it might be best to check with your personal doctor.
It is generally recommended to both men and women of all ages who want to firm up their core and get visibly noticeable abdominal muscles. Although you should keep in mind, that it is better to work out regularly in conjunction with one of these devices in order to get the intended results.
What Are The Ab Belt’s Features?
The Slendertone ab belt offers a complete workout for all muscles in the core. Whether you are looking to get beach-ready or you just want to change your entire lifestyle, this product can definitely help you with that. Diet and exercise are important but everyone can use a little helping hand and this is what the product offers.
There are a number of different intensity levels, all of which you can control using the built-in remote control. The feeling of it can be a little strange at first, so this is ideal if you are new to this kind of product and need to build yourself up slowly. It is rechargeable via USB. Although the rechargeable battery life on the equipment is pretty good, it is recommended that you charge it before each use. If you are looking for a device with even more features, be sure to check out the Slendertone Connect Abs.
Pros
- It is really easy to use and relatively comfortable to wear too With a digital display, the device is always really easy to control using the plus and minus buttons.
- Want proof that the product works as well as you want it to? The claims made by the company are backed by science and you can’t go arguing with science.
- The belt is completely rechargeable, which really saves on the cost of batteries and means you can use it whenever you want.
- When you start to feel and SEE your abs after using the product, it is going to motivate you by being healthy. Whether it inspires you to hit the weights or eat more vegetables, this can only be a good thing!
- There are no known side effects of using the product. It is FDA approved and completely safe for both males and females to wear on a regular basis.
- Not happy with the device for one reason or another? It comes with a money-back guarantee so you can get a refund if there are any issues.
Cons
- You can’t expect to eat at McDonald’s every day and sit watching Netflix while still getting results with the product! You need to put in maximum effort in all areas of your life for it to work effectively, in other words – you can’t rely on it too much.
- It might be a little on the expensive side for everyone’s budget.
- Somewhat lacking in features compares to the newer Slendertone Connect Abs.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are definitely more benefits than drawbacks to using this belt. While it might not perform miracles, it’s very effective, especially if combined with healthy habits. Reviews from customers all over the world who have had success with the Slendertone, show it’s definitely worth investing in if getting abs and strengthening your core is a goal you have!
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