The Ab Circle Pro vs The Firm Wave
As a Personal Trainer I often come across infomercials offering equipment for exercising at home and I compare them and then write reviews on each regarding value for money, ease of each to use and set up, and how much good they will do a client.
Two pieces of equipment currently very popular are the Ab Circle Pro and the Firm Wave. The Ab Circle Pro has kneepads, handlebars and a semicircular track to glide around. You kneel on the kneepads, place your hands on the handlebars thus leaning forward in an all fours position, and swing the kneepads from side to side.
Using the Ab Circle Pro you move the kneepads from side to side while leaning on the padded handlebars; your abdominal area and waist muscles are toned and you get a cardiovascular heart and lung workout at the same time.
The body positioning on the Ab Circle Pro can feel quite challenging to start with if your upper body is weak, but within a week or so of regular use you will start to strengthen and tone your arm and chest muscles. The all fours positioning is also very good for strengthening the bones in your arms.
You need to be careful to position your hips and spine correctly when you’re exercising on all fours; if you let your lower back sag like a hammock and your abdominals bulge then you will soon get a sore back. Keep your tummy muscles pulled in and your spine in neutral and you will find your abs are in the perfect position to be toned efficiently and correctly.
The problem with doing sit-ups on the floor is that they are often done incorrectly and make the abs bulge in the wrong direction! There have been several reports of the kneepads being uncomfortable to use on the Ab Circle Pro, but I would suggest that wearing some hockey or football kneepads when you use the machine should solve that problem.
With the Ab Circle Pro you also get a low-calorie diet guide and a short DVD. Like most other home exercise devices, the Ab Circle Pro will indeed help you lose weight and build lean, sculpted muscle if you use it on a regular basis, overhaul your eating habits, and combine it with other types of regular exercise as well.
Comparing favourably to the Ab Circle Pro pricewise is The Firm Wave, which is formed of strong polymer and is in the shape of a humpback bridge. One side is stable for step and similar exercises, and the other side rocks for increased calorie burn and to challenge postural muscles. With the Wave you get a number of useful DVDs with various fat burning and toning workouts on them.