Vibration belt. Vintage magazine ads show it was a hit in the ’70s and ’80s. Utpal Dutt also used one in the 1979 film Gol Maal. Claim: Vibration stimulates fat cells and jiggle burns them. Of course, it doesn’t work. Life is never this easy.
stationary bike. It has been around since the 1930s. But the familiar version, which covers pedaling and imaginary distances, was invented in 1968 by American chemist Keene Dimick. It’s popular at the gym, but rarely at home (try pedaling in one place and see how quickly it gets boring). Over the years, it has come to serve only one purpose, as a receptacle for clothes you wear, but aren’t ready to toss in the wash.
Bull worker. Was your uncle impressed by photos of muscular dudes (including boxer Muhammad Ali) crushing on this rod-and-bow-style isometric gadget? The portable home fitness version was invented by Gert F. Kölbel in 1962 and had its heyday in the 1980s. It’s still a good strength-building tool. Hitch: You should already be quite fit to begin with.
Masai barefoot shoes. Running low on motivation? Go to Africa. How do Maasai people manage toned thighs and no cellulite? This must be because they walk on sand, not flat surfaces. Enter MBT, a brand with convex soles on many pricey sneakers, which claimed to mimic a rolling motion with every step. Paris Hilton wore them. Madonna did the same. The gimmick worked well from the 1990s to the early 2000s.
Bowflex. What does every 1990s home need? Why, a good all-in-one gym machine. Bowflex was all kinds of flex. It showed that you were interested in all-around fitness, had the money, and had a whole room to house your big device. But where is the bench? Why are there no free weights? The company is nowhere near as popular as it once was.
Belly Trimmer. When it comes to belly fat, there’s a sucker born every second. Kids of the Indian ’90s will remember cable-TV infomercials for these double-spring devices that claimed to spot-target abdominal muscles, make crunches easier and promise washboard abs. ₹After 3,999+ shipping and taxes (and a lot of back pain), the middle parts continue to spread. And belly fat is often the first to appear and go.
balance board. go ahead Remove the dust from under the bed. These inverted UFOs have emerged in the last decade as inexpensive, elegant ways to build core strength, improve balance, correct posture and tone the body. The whole body had to sit upright, like on a skateboard that didn’t go anywhere. It got very boring before it showed results.
Fitbit. Who knew that tracking one’s activity would become such a great fitness motivator? And who knew we would give up our personal data and location so easily? The first trackers counted steps even when you were on a bus, boat or elevator. Top-end tracking sleep and oxygen levels will also predict the arrival of covid. Alas, the company is going out of business by leaning into cheap Garmins and smartphone apps.
waist trainer. If a corset is like a bra for the torso, think of a waist trainer as a corset for the abs. Hooks, compression, stretch-resistant fabric, boning, and wicking all combine to hopefully keep you in it all day, or at least let the body learn to stand up straight and tuck it in. The Kardashians love it. , so it’s no surprise that their fans do too. Do they work? Not happening. Instead, the core muscles remain unused, weaken and users complain of shortness of breath, just like in a corset.
Butterfly abs. Even in 2000s infomercials these vibrating stick-on devices seemed too good to be true. Place them on flabby arms, stomach or jiggly thighs, and they promise to pulsate fat, leaving you with a toned body. These were glorious massagers, and not very good either – they vibrated so strongly, their own glue couldn’t hold them to the skin.
From HT Brunch, April 22, 2023
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