Ab Lounge Review

If you are under 5’ 4” this model is not for you. You probably won’t be able to place your feet correctly. Unfortunately the literature on this model does not give us that information. This is the first Ab Lounge model made. You can find it for under $175.

A description

The Ab Lounge is one model of lounger made by Fitness Quest. This is a machine for the abdominal muscles which claims to tighten and tone your upper and lower abs and obliques quickly. According to their ad The Ab Lounge helps to transform flabby abs into sensationally sexy swimsuit abs.

I noted above the oblique muscles. Those are the muscles on your sides of your waist. When you work your abdominal muscles you are strengthening your back as well so even if you hate doing crunches and do not care if you ever have a 6 pack or even a flat stomach think of your back.

The Ab Lounge is a light weight, 36-pound machine. It is actually less a machine than it is a lounge chair and that is what it looks like. It is a pretty blue color, made of flexible, soft material that will hold a maximum of 275 pounds.

It measures 54" long x 31-3/4 wide" x 45-1/2" high.

I like machines for overweight people, people who have injuries or illnesses because they often have a hard time getting up and down from the floor.

The Ab Lounge frame is made of rolled steel and I have no doubt that the frame is quite durable. I am not as sure about the lounge itself. Any material after awhile especially when a lot of weight is put on it will start to rip or sag.

It has adjustable foot pedals which are nice. Your feet will be on the pedals or the base of the machine but as you extend into a full range of motion you will want your ankles resting on the pedals. For much of the time you will have your knees bent to do what the Ab Lounge calls the Jack Knife.

It also comes with a video with Rosalie Brown showing you a routine. I always recommend watching whatever video comes with whatever product you buy. Although the Ab Lounge does not require much figuring out, you will want to do the exercises properly. This video will help you. If you have never done a jackknife crunch (It is like a jackknife diving move) watching it done is helpful.

Jo, Your Personal Trainer, Tells You How This Works:

We are told that the Ab Lounge Jack Knife works our abdominal muscles with a fuller range of motion than crunches or sit ups. Those of you old enough may remember the days when we did sit ups. We would have someone hold our legs or tuck them under a couch and sit up. For a long time now, crunches, which are a small movement, are seen as the best way to tone the abdominal muscle. A jack knife is essentially a double crunch. Your head comes up as your legs come up.

There is a feature of the Ab Lounge that I do not like. Although they advertise it as using a full range of motion, I disagree. I think stretching your muscles to work your core is essential. However hyper-extending either forward or backward (going back to the point where your chest is lower than your waist) is never something I would suggest a client do. I have a whole host of information about this that may be beyond the scope of this review. I will be glad to post it separately if anyone wants that information.

Warnings:

Please get advice from your doctor before starting any exercise program. And please keep your children away from the Ab Lounge. It will be very enticing for children.

There were problems with the folding mechanism resulting in the recall of this piece or the ability to send away for a piece that would fix it. If you are buying one now it should be safe.