Exercise Machine ads----Big Scams?

redhotfirebird

Ok, so we've all seen the ads about the new Tread Climber (using this machine specifically, because it's the commercial that grates on me the most).....burn over 600 calories in a half hour.

As someone who used to be seriously into fitness (and trying to get back in), I scoff every time I see the ads for that. Did you notice the small print? Yeah, it's there. The reason you can burn 600 is IF you are setting yourself to do the highest intensity for the half hour....a setting that few can keep up. So it's a bit ridiculous! If I ran full-out for a half hour (and I mean eye-bulging, gut-hurting, can't-catch-my breath and fall-over-with-a- heart-attack speed) for a half hour, chances are I would also burn that (but once only, as I would likely be in ICU after attempting it). But it's not practical for most people. You do NOT burn 600 walking gracefully like it shows on the ads. FALSE ADVERTISING!

Here's a good article on it:
http://www.quicktofit.com/does-the-bowflex-treadclimber-really-back-up-its-bold-claims/

Pay particular close attention to the quotes:

---"This means that you would have to perform about 9 hours on the Treadclimber just to burn 1 measly pound of fat…Coincidentally, this is about the same amount of time it would take to burn 1 lb of fat using a treadmill"---

and

---"However, the participants used the meal plan that comes with the Treadclimber which goes to show that you cannot achieve your weight loss goals without controlling your calorie intake."---

So in a nutshell, we learn what? That using a regular exercise machine (or even just regular exercises on your own) AND by following a healthy diet, we can still lose what the TC claims it does, AND it doesn't cost you 3G to do it.

And yeah, yeah, I know.....some people may chime in, saying they did lose weigh using a TC, and I'm sure they have.....but there are just as many that also lost and did not require a machine like that. It's the statements from this company (and others) that imply that these machines do so much more.....and they don't. What they really do with stunning results is reduce the weight of your wallet.