What's a toning belt?

am I on candid camera? Is this a serious post?

Original Post by floggingsully:

What's a toning belt?

 I think it's like a timing belt for your car.

Seems like a messy way to exercise.

Isn't this the belt that jiggles you around and is suppose to build muscle?

Original Post by spirochete:

am I on candid camera? Is this a serious post?

Yeah, you wear it w/ those cool Victoria's Secret shoes and get a full body workout while you are walking down the street! I think I will go out and get both of these and give up my gym membership.

Original Post by kashicat:

Yeah, you wear it w/ those cool Victoria's Secret shoes and get a full body workout while you are walking down the street! I think I will go out and get both of these and give up my gym membership.

 You are one of my favorite posters

Original Post by spirochete:

Original Post by kashicat:

Yeah, you wear it w/ those cool Victoria's Secret shoes and get a full body workout while you are walking down the street! I think I will go out and get both of these and give up my gym membership.

You are one of my favorite posters

Right back at ya!!

Toning Belt: the clue is in the name, google it ;)

scubatoy was closest but so far away it doesn't jiggle you it sends a electrical pulse in to your abs, which causes the muscles to contract.

I googled "toning belt" and everything on the first page of results was trying to sell me something, which sends up a big red flag.

It basically says that you can get a six pack without doing any work, I guess this "miracle technology" has figured out a way to spot reduce fat.  I call shinanigans.

I've also had the electro-shock-muscle-contration thing as part of physical therapy and it didn't do much of anything.

First, I just love the word shinanigans.

And I had the electro-shock-musce-contraction thing too, when I sprained my hand in middle school. I'd turn it up high, and my hand would flop around like a landed fish gasping for breath. Made the kids laugh... good times.... but I don't know that it ever helped my hand. It definitely didn't do anything to build muscles.

Some of my friends in college got something similar (a bunch of little pads that stuck to you and "shocked" your muscles), we'd get all drunk and hook it up to our forarms and turn the thing all the way up, makes your hand contract into all shorts of funky positions.  Good times.

I think what everyone is trying to say is that you need to get off the juice (hee hee) and try doing some real exercise.  It will be a much more efficient use of your time.  You don't need to do a bunch of sit-ups either, you can do lunges, squats, planks, etc. instead.  Also, you'll read in about a zillion other posts that the only way to really see your abs is to drop your body fat%.  I seriously doubt that this toning belt is helping you do that.

Original Post by floggingsully:

Some of my friends in college got something similar (a bunch of little pads that stuck to you and "shocked" your muscles), we'd get all drunk and hook it up to our forarms and turn the thing all the way up, makes your hand contract into all shorts of funky positions.  Good times.

 you guys had a weird definition of fun in college

We were out in the middle of no where, there wasn't a whole lot else to do.

Original Post by floggingsully:

We were out in the middle of no where, there wasn't a whole lot else to do.

Should've tried cow tipping....heard that was fun. 

There is too much negativity and sarcasm in this forum. Isnt the point of having this forum to help people? you have answered my question but not in a way which I think is right... I asked whether the way in which I have used it i.e. the amount of time I used it for was beneficial compared to how others have used it. By telling me that using this is not building muscle because the treatment you had for your muscle problems in college (which by the way is called a TENS machine) did nothing to build muscles. Who has muscles on their hands? no one!

TENS Machine

"For various reasons, pain-killing medication is not always acceptable. Another option for pain relief is a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator (TENS machine). TENS machines deliver small electrical pulses to the body via electrodes placed on the skin. This is thought to help ease pain. The research evidence to support the use of TENS machines is not strong, but they seem to be popular with people who have pain."

And Mhaskel

[quote]Also, you'll read in about a zillion other posts that the only way to really see your abs is to drop your body fat%. I seriously doubt that this toning belt is helping you do that. [/quote]

thanks for replying seriously despite calling me a alcoholic :P any way i agree to 'see' your abs you do need to lose weight but you should also consider that:

To lose weight you first need to build muscle, more muscle means more blood flow, meaning more oxygen to your muscles and you wont get tired so therefore you can do more. If this device (which does work builds muscle)I can then therefore do more abdominal exercises without feeling tired or pushing myself into exhaustion...

See here for a reference

http://www.theloseweightdiet.com/blog/39/lose-weight-and-bui ld-muscle/

[i thought I should post the link cause the way i am perceiving this forum someone will contradict me, regardless of how much i do know about this they will insist they are right]

EDIT: and when I said use google I meant look for images to familiarise yourself not look for buying one (despite what links will come up first)

im_a_cc -

I am so sorry that you thought I was calling you an alcoholic!  Apparently I'm not as funny as I thought!    I was really referring to the "juice" (electricity) in the toning belt.  So Sorry!

In any case - I understand that strength training is not only beneficial, but essential to weight loss if you're trying to maintain muscle mass.  However, my point was simply that I think that regardless of any gains that you have made, you've probably "outgrown" the toning belt.  That is to say, if you're not happy with the results, it's probably because the belt is not an efficient or effective means of strengthening your abs. 

I admit that I have not used one of these belts, but I find it hard to believe that they provide a significant benefit - if they did everyone would be using them and they wouldn't be scoffed at (body builders would put up with the highest intensity possible if it meant that they could gain muscle faster).  My personal impression which is not based on any facts that I can reference, is that you need to start really exercising, eating in a calorie deficit, and losing fat to see improvement. 

So to answer your question - I have no idea if you're using the toning belt correctly, but you might consider changing your routine and doing something completely different to aid in your fat loss/muscle gain goals.

oh electrical juice LOL. I thought you meant alcohol cause juice, sauce, booze all weird words like that mean alcohol lol... no offence taken or anything  just a communication  breakdown (stupid continents) anyway, the belt isnt my only source of exercise and I agree with you say totally I suppose I should really do more crunches lying here does F£(% all really (how unfortunate) and how unfortunate I cant be a alcoholic and be thin and healthy

Ok, I know you think we've been sarcastic....but seriously if this toning belt worked so great then why after 1+ years of using it are you not proudly showing off your six pack?  I am sorry but I am a trainer....I work in a gym....I have trained athletes....my friends are athletes, trainers and body builders AND never once in all these years has anyone of them EVER used or even so much as mentioned a toning belt.  If you want to get nice flat abs than eat a clean diet and exercise.  It really isn't all that complicated. It does however require hard work and a major commitment.  So to answer your question, it doesn't matter if you use the stupid thing the right way or the wrong way or if you used it for 100 years it isn't going to do much for you and if it was it would have done it by now.

A 12-week EMS training program demonstrated beneficial effects on muscle strength and power in elite rugby players on particular tests. However, rugby skills such as scrummaging and sprinting were not enhanced.
Effects of Electromyostimulation Training on Muscle Strength and Power of Elite Rugby Players
The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
Article: pp. 431-437 Volume 21, Issue 2 (May 2007)