I 'ummed' and 'ahhed' a lot over my decision to purchase a Slendertone, but I'm glad I did. It seemed like a lot to spend for a product that might be a fad. But within weeks of purchase I noticed a visible difference in my waistline. The Slendertone system uses adhesive pads that stick onto the skin, administering a stimulus that makes the muscles contract. The pads can be sticky and tricky to position, and the effectiveness of the belt depends on them being in tip-top condition: as soon as they start to wear the belt becomes less effective, so making sure these are constantly replaced can be a chore and the ongoing expense needs to be taken into account before purchase. When the Slendertone is on you can really feel the powerful contractions working. I certainly have not lost any weight since using the system, and I'm not convinced that it burns any calories, but it does give a deep workout that will give noticeable results. The advantage over conventional exercise it that wearing the belt is more time efficient, and easier for people with back problems (I've suffered years of back pain from doing sit-ups so this is a great device for me).