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The Top Eight Most Ridiculous Pieces of Exercise Equipment
Eric Belliveau • September 19, 2017

It’s true… don’t always believe what you read or see on TV or in a fitness magazine. Companies will create some of the most ridiculous things and will spill lies just to get your money. As fitness professionals, it’s almost comical to us of some of the things that are out there and that “GUARANTEE” results in just 30 DAYS! After reading this and seeing some of the things that are out there, you might start to feel that much more grateful that you ended up here at CPC rather than spilling your money on pretty embarrassing products trying to get those results. Hope you enjoy the laugh!

1. Sketchers Shape Ups

This shoe was THE thing that you needed to get in shape… I remember seeing everyone in them when I was younger, and advertised everywhere! These hunky chunky shoes were supposed to increase your caloric burn, improve posture, and give you a nice big booty for just $80! Kim Kardashian was the one who even showed them off on TV, so they MUST work! Mmmm… not so much. To me, it looks like a nice way to sprain an ankle, get plantar fasciitis, and gain a few inches in height.

2. AB Lounge

I swear that everyone and their mother had this thing in their living room. It was the “ULTIMATE ABDOMINAL MACHINE” claiming to get you those six pack abs you’ve always wanted! You could watch TV while you were getting your six pack abs on, or even take it to the beach! Let me just ask you as question…. Did you ever really see anyone get those 6 pack abs that ever had one of these? I know I didn’t. Looks like a bulge disk waiting to happen for me!

3. The Thigh Master!


This was the easy, portable, inexpensive piece of equipment to tone those inner thigh muscles and get those sexy hips you always wanted! All you had to do was just sit and squeeze those thighs! Ya… I don’t think anyone ever ended up looking like Suzanne Somers. Maybe this might only be beneficial if you want to the break the world record for the number of watermelons broken between your legs in a minute. But even then… just no, Suzanne Somers…. Just…. No. Stop.

4. Body by Jake

There are MULTIPLE pieces of equipment here that Jake created. I remember my parents even had Body by Jake in our living room growing up. Jake’s infomercial shows all these ripped models using these pieces of equipment stating it’s fun, easy, and comfortable! Want to know what it was used for? To hang clothes on. Thanks Jake.

5. Vibro-Belt

This belt was for abdominal stimulation that gives off heat and vibration for ultimate abdominal contraction! All you must do is just sit on the couch and get yourself tickled to death. Then before you know it, you’ll have toned abs!

6. 6 Second Abs

I remember seeing this everywhere! “Get that perfect stomach and lose a pant size in only seven days!”. Just place the machine on your lap, hold the top handle bars and crunch away. I heard it definitely doesn’t do what it says, but it holds the record for breaking the fastest out of any other fitness product.

7. The Abductor/Adductor Machine

You still see this in gyms today, which is mind blowing to me. This machine may be the most useless piece of equipment. It is a machine that is targeted towards women to get their thighs toned and stronger glutes. I could go into the ins and outs of why it’s awful for you, but just trust me when I say to just stick with deadlifts and squats… it will also save you from awkward moments when your legs are spread eagle in this machine and then you make eye contact with someone. No thank you.

8. Last but not least… The Shake Weight

Do I really have to elaborate on this one? I’m just going to keep my mouth shut.
 Tiffany Cooper from San Diego… You do what you need to do, girl.

The Meat Hangover

By Eric Belliveau • October 7, 2020
When it comes to taking meat out of your diet, some people have the idea that they will only see positive changes immediately following this choice. While those positive changes are definitely part of the deal, so is an adjustment period for your body.

We're Trying

By Eric Belliveau • September 23, 2020
We were all thrown on this crazy ride together. Emotions were running high but so were patience, empathy, inclusion, and respect. Most of us could rally behind the #WeAreInThisTogether manta. We wanted to do right by each other - donate to charities, lend a hand, check-in on one another. Do our part. As the days turn to weeks and the weeks into months these dispositions decayed rapidly. I know that this Quarantine order has been going on for a long time. I know that a great number of us do not agree on the why. I know an even greater number of us are “over it”. I am painfully aware of the difference of opinions surrounding the pandemic. It is impossible to NOT be aware of this. This leads us all to frustration, anger, resentment, and the feeling that you are not being heard. Very real and very human emotions! It is okay to feel this way. I am not only writing this from the perspective of a fellow struggling human. I do find myself struggling with everything I mentioned above. Not just daily but multiple times a day. My ability to focus has been challenged by my worry. My ability to create time for myself and focus on self-care has been derailed for fear of other things becoming more pressing. I work on this every day. I am not only writing this from the perspective of one of the business owners who were never given a playbook for this. For weeks on end I thought WTF happened to the business and how would our model need to change and remain viable, how each business owner had to either weather a period in which we were completely shut down or allowed to operate under capacity restrictions, etc. The unknown of what the timeline would bring and whether we would be able to continue our dreams or make an extremely difficult decision of not continuing. This still haunts every one of us daily. I AM very much writing this as a service provider! I am writing this as an impassioned human who genuinely loves what I do for a living. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to have built a career surrounding something I get excited about every day. I am making a stand for all of us that make their living in the service industry. To the receptionist, hostess, waiter, cook, dry cleaner, teacher, technician, barista, utility worker, automobile service technician… It is truly impossible to be inclusive of everyone here.  No one human mentioned above asked for this ‘situation’ we are in. We are sure as hell trying to provide a level of normalcy, service, care, and happiness to the lives in which we choose to serve. With added restrictions, added expense decreased capacity and the fear of being fined or shut down for doing it incorrectly, everyday.

The Meat Hangover

By Eric Belliveau • October 7, 2020
When it comes to taking meat out of your diet, some people have the idea that they will only see positive changes immediately following this choice. While those positive changes are definitely part of the deal, so is an adjustment period for your body.

We're Trying

By Eric Belliveau • September 23, 2020
We were all thrown on this crazy ride together. Emotions were running high but so were patience, empathy, inclusion, and respect. Most of us could rally behind the #WeAreInThisTogether manta. We wanted to do right by each other - donate to charities, lend a hand, check-in on one another. Do our part. As the days turn to weeks and the weeks into months these dispositions decayed rapidly. I know that this Quarantine order has been going on for a long time. I know that a great number of us do not agree on the why. I know an even greater number of us are “over it”. I am painfully aware of the difference of opinions surrounding the pandemic. It is impossible to NOT be aware of this. This leads us all to frustration, anger, resentment, and the feeling that you are not being heard. Very real and very human emotions! It is okay to feel this way. I am not only writing this from the perspective of a fellow struggling human. I do find myself struggling with everything I mentioned above. Not just daily but multiple times a day. My ability to focus has been challenged by my worry. My ability to create time for myself and focus on self-care has been derailed for fear of other things becoming more pressing. I work on this every day. I am not only writing this from the perspective of one of the business owners who were never given a playbook for this. For weeks on end I thought WTF happened to the business and how would our model need to change and remain viable, how each business owner had to either weather a period in which we were completely shut down or allowed to operate under capacity restrictions, etc. The unknown of what the timeline would bring and whether we would be able to continue our dreams or make an extremely difficult decision of not continuing. This still haunts every one of us daily. I AM very much writing this as a service provider! I am writing this as an impassioned human who genuinely loves what I do for a living. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to have built a career surrounding something I get excited about every day. I am making a stand for all of us that make their living in the service industry. To the receptionist, hostess, waiter, cook, dry cleaner, teacher, technician, barista, utility worker, automobile service technician… It is truly impossible to be inclusive of everyone here.  No one human mentioned above asked for this ‘situation’ we are in. We are sure as hell trying to provide a level of normalcy, service, care, and happiness to the lives in which we choose to serve. With added restrictions, added expense decreased capacity and the fear of being fined or shut down for doing it incorrectly, everyday.
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