Myth busted!

As a personal trainer, I hear "I want to lose this" (then the client grabs her sides and belly, and gives it a good shake). Losing weight around one's midsection is a common goal and also healthy for your heart, however it won't happen with sit-ups, crunches, or planks alone.

Contrary to popular belief, buying the Ab Roller or the Ab Lounge won't get you the 6-pack abs you desire (or that they advertise). If the company threw in a treadmill with your purchase for $19.95, then you might have a chance. You must remove the fat that lies on top of the muscle before you can see any definition. If you do hundreds of crunches a day, you might have 6-pack abs, but if you don't do anything to remove the fat that sits on top, you'll never see all of your hard work.

This basic principle applies to the whole body, not just the abs. If you desire chiseled arms or leaner legs, my answer for you is strength training and cardio, cardio, cardio! There is no such thing as 'target training.' You must condition the whole body and work it as one unit to achieve the results you desire. So, don't throw out your Ab Lounge, just hop on the treadmill for 30-45 minutes prior to using it (3-5 days/ week), and you will start to see those abs you've been working for!