Contour Abs

You may have seen the ads for the Contour Abs system on TV, wondering if it can really be as good as it sounds. Informercials are rarely good sources for objective information, so let's take a closer look at what Contour Abs is and whether it can do what it promises.

Be inspired by pictures of guys' abs!

What Is Contour Abs?

Contour Abs is essentially another contraption using an electric current to make your muscles contract. In this incarnation, it's a belt with a battery pack you slap on around your waist while watching TV, reading or otherwise just sitting around. To ensure conductivity, you have to apply and replace gel pads against your skin as well.

The ads claim it's a system developed by Swiss medical professionals and is "used all over Europe", although there are few specifics on this. The Contour people further claim to have a revolutionary, "re-engineered" approach to electromuscular stimulation, although how this product differs from the other EMS units that have been around for 30 years is not explained in much detail either.

How Does It Work?

The brain controls muscles by sending tiny electrical impulses through your nervous system. Once the impulse has made its way to the correct muscle, it contracts until the brain ceases to send the impulse.

Simply put, the Contour belt taps into the body's electric system and zaps your abdominals with a weak electrical current. The muscle can't tell this impulse from the ones coming from your brain, so they contract as if you had just made an effort to flex your abs. Repeat again and again, and you get something of an isometric workout.

Pros and Cons

Naturally, Contour Abs and other EMS-based exercise systems have the benefit of using the muscle and building certain strength. There's a reason rehab specialists use EMS to help car accident victims and others regain use of their limbs. Are home EMS systems safe? Safe enough to be sold to the American public, at least.

What is less clear is efficiency in terms of reducing waist size. Although owner Ken Sherman claims to have lost four inches off his waist, that old myth of abdominal training somehow burning off waist fat still doesn't hold water regardless of the product being hawked. Abdominal crunch machines, sit-ups, twists and EMS-machines all work to strengthen the muscles. That's good and dandy, but in order to get a slim waist, you have to burn off the bodyfat covering the muscles. If anything, just bulking up the muscles without putting in the time on the Stairmaster will most likely increase the total circumference of your waist.

Customer Reviews

Customer reviews of Contour Abs are decidedly mixed. Sites like FitnessInformercialReview.com have customers raving about how great it works as well as accusations of being a complete scam. There are also complaints about shady business practices, ranging from unauthorized credit card charges to inferior product quality coupled with inept customer service. Thill Logistics, the parent company that carries the Contour brand, has an "Unsatisfactory" rating by the Wisconsin Better Business Bureau.

Conclusion

If you absolutely, positively hate abdominal crunches, you may find this product useful. Just bear in mind that it will work primarily by strengthening the abdominal muscles, not magically melting off fat.

However, if you can find the time to do a couple sets of crunches a few times a week, especially in conjunction with good, old-fashioned jogging or other cardiovascular exercise, you'll most likely get equally good or better ripped abs without paying a dime..

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