That Ab Lounge is a popular piece of exercise equipment produced by Fitness Quest and marketed mainly through television infomercials. The Ab Lounge is endorsed by fitness guru Tony Little, who is best known for his Gazelle Glider machines. Fitness Quest claims that use of the Ab Lounge is simple and yields results from working out as little as 10 minutes a day three times a week.
Function
"Work smarter, not harder" is the marketing tagline of the Ab Lounge, which purports to strengthen and tone abdominal muscles with less effort than standard sit-ups or crunches. The promotional materials of the equipment state that this is achieved through the wide range of motion that machine offers. In addition to creating stronger and better looking abdominal muscles, the Ab Lounge owner's manual states that regular aerobic exercise on the machine will lower your stress level, reduce blood pressure, decrease cholesterol and improve your sleep.
Types
As of September 2010, there are two models of Ab Lounge offered by Fitness Quest: Tony Little's Ab Lounge Extreme Pro and the Ab Lounge Sport with Fitness Computer. The Extreme Pro model includes two healthy meal guides, extra padding, a Tony Little workout DVD, holds up to 275 lbs. and retails for $179.99. The Sport model includes a pull-up strap, workout DVD and a fitness computer that records time, calories burnt and repetitions. The sport model sells for $99.99.
Technique
To use the Ab Lounge machine, you sit in it with your feet forward on the foot rest. Your hands hold the bar or strap above your head. You then exhale as you pull your body into a crunch and flex your abdominal muscles. As you inhale, you release your abdominals and sit fully back into a flat position. The Ab Lounge owner's manual offers several variations on this exercise, called the jackknife, including laying on your side and extending your legs forward to target different areas of your core muscles.
Warning
Some fitness equipment review websites state that the Ab Lounge promotional materials make promises the machine simply cannot deliver. Exercise Equipment Expert Review Journal states that the Ab Lounge does not give a good workout because your arms are raised and you cannot get a "full forceful contraction of the targeted abdominal muscles."
Considerations
Ab Lounge exercises should only be undertaken when the machine is on a level surface and there is at least 3 feet of clearance in front of and behind the machine. Though the promotional materials claim that the Ab Lounge can be used by anyone, persons exceeding the maximum weight limit of the machine should not use it. A physician should be consulted before beginning any exercise program and Fitness Quest advises eating a healthy diet in combination with your exercising to achieve maximum results.
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