So out of shape here...I ordered the Ab Lounge!

I'm so unhappy with my weight and appearance! I've seen the ads on TV for the Ab Lounge. Doing my research, one reviewer said it's better to just get down on the floor and do crunches or situps, but that sounds too hard!
I visualize myself thin and frisky, but I'm feeling old and frumpy!
Anyone here have an Ab Lounge and want to give me a review?
Patty

I don't like paying money for things I can do "naturally" in other ways. The 3-4 times I've bought "machines" they end up not being used and eventually thrown or given away, sold, etc.

I did get serious about exercising earlier this year and bought myself a 3 month gym membership with 10 sessions with a personal trainer (once a week so nearly the whole 12 weeks or so of the membership) and the trainer taught me a lot of things that don't need a gym or fancy equipment.

One thing I would have NEVER thought of was to sit on a bench and then stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down, etc. Eventually we added weights but I hadn't thought about how, as a couch potato and out of shape person I sit for long periods in front of the computer here, the TV, eating, reading, in the car. I mostly sit! Who would have thought that merely sitting down and getting up could be "exercise." For me, a beginner and someone really out of shape, it is!

Another thing he had me do was to take a medium-sized, soft, rubber ball (kind of basketball/dodge ball size but "soft") and put it between my knees/thighs while sitting and squeeze. I'd seen people squeezing tennis balls in their hands to help their wrists (I guess?) and this was similar, between my thighs. I was supposed to squeeze like I was trying to pop the ball :-) and hold it for a count, etc. Very easy to do in front of TV or any other time I'm just sitting!

All the exercises he had me doing besides cardio I could do without anything except the ball and a set or two of inexpensive drugstore hand weights. I was doing pushups off of walls, various arm/weight combinations and balancing! I found I had trouble standing on one foot and extending the other leg to the side/back, etc. so we spent time practicing "balance." For cardio he had me using the treadmill and bicycle but at home, I use my lovely stairs in my townhouse :-)

Were I you I'd build up to the ablounger. Start even easier than that, (find a school/park swing set you fit on and work at height? I think that would work the same muscles) and see if you'll keep at working out. I had to quit the gym on about week 7 or 8 because my asthma started acting up and I didn't have it under control. I knew better from experience with myself to know I shouldn't buy a year or even 6 months worth of membership so paid "more" for the 3 month one (it wasn't on "sale" the other ones were) to see if I would keep at it. You can always buy whatever (I'm still tempted by Bowflex machines) at any time in the future! Make sure you're really into consistent working out and then buy something you want as a reward?

I hear ya, Perna. I too have bought and then not used many types of home exercise equipment, eventually selling it at a drastic loss or giving it away!
I like the idea of the ball between the knees. Where can I get such a ball? I can take it to my work!
Patty

I have the Ab Lounge.. I like it. It is much easier than doing sit ups on the floor and a lot less back strain..My son bought it from Wally World..Like the treadmill it is sitting there watching me. Since the weather is cooling down, I will get back to making good use of the Ab Lounge and treadmill... For cardio I try walking up and down the steps l0 or more times a day or at least 5 times a day... I also have started walking the dogs at night.. The one dog goes a few blocks and he sits and growls at something across the street. I can't see what he is growling at so I get scared and go back home.. lol.....If the dog was a shepherd I wouldn't worry.. But there is nothing a pug can do to protect one.. I am just starting to leave the house again, after a few years. Anyway these small walks are rather nice..

RF...you sound like me...I should walk the dog, but I also don't like to leave my house!
Patty

Rather join a gym than buy that, or get a bike. Getting out of the house is part of excercise... the fresh air will do you good.
I recently found a very good and healthy (I think?) way to diet. Before each meal down a glass of water. This will fill up your stomach and you'll feel fuller sooner. Be careful to do this if you have kidney problems though...

Don't let excercise be a drag to you... do something fun. There are small things you can also do if you're lazy like like me. While I shower I stand on my toes and go up and down the whole time, when I watch TV I sit on one of those big balls and try fun positions on it, this really helps with good posture. When I sit infront of my computer I do but clenches. I just clench and see how long I can hold it... eventually I forget about it and relax and do it again when I remember. I'm not a big excercise fan so I do the little things and it really halps me.