Recently, during a conversation with a close friend, I happened to mention that I used to have a set of weights but due to a small house and kids that can't leave anything alone, had ditched them some time ago.

Well, a few days later, my friend turned up on my doorstep with a Shake Weight for me to borrow.

Apparently he had purchased it after seeing it advertised on a shopping channel when he was working in the States. I have to admit, that I lost a little respect for him after that revelation!

Anyway, this Shake Weight is apparently new technology that will improve my upper body by using it for just six minutes a day and it's 300% more effective than traditional weights. Thanks to what is described as Dynamic Inertia (isn't that an oxymoron?) which apparently increases muscle activity.

Hmmmm... There really is one born every minute, I thought to myself.

Oh well, I'll give it a go just to prove how ridiculous the whole thing is.

So how did I get on??

Well, it's very easy to use, basically you get a 2.5lb weight, some instructions plus you get a DVD showing you different exercises, correct posture etc.

It certainly makes your arm ache after the first few goes, but you soon get used to it and I have to say that it's a bit too easy really and you certainly need to do it for longer than six minutes to feel any benefit.

Now, I have to say that as the DVD has 3 work out sections:

Total Body Workout
Latin Dance Workout
Brazilian Booty Workout

I was starting to think that this wasn't really marketed with your average real ale, football watching male in mind, but hey I actually found it all very enjoyable in a guilty pleasure kind of way but the truth is it just wasn't enough for me so I grew bored rather quickly.

I guess if you are just doing this inbetween watching Jeremy Kyle and Loose Women then you might tone up your bingo wings, and it's six minutes of your day when you will be keeping your chubby fingers out of the cookie jar, it might be for you!

I didn't and probably wouldn't pay for mine but if I did then it would have set me back about £25 in the UK. However, I have a feeling that over the next 12 months these will be readily available at charity shops and boot sales around the country.

So, in conclusion,

* It does work but not as well as it promises to.

* It appears to be quite well made and difficult to break.

* You don't need a lot of space to work out or to store it.

* It's a bit pricey, but I'm guessing you could pick one up second hand with relative ease.

All in all it's alright and any exercise that you do is better than nothing.

3 Stars from me and if you want to see this in action then I suggest you have a look on YouTube at the official and rather amusing unofficial clips!

Thanks for reading.

Moon Out.