Expensive gimmick? (Bodi-Tek EMS Sports Elite 2)

Member Name: tommy7

Product:	Bodi-Tek EMS Sports Elite 2
Date:	10/04/01 (4717 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lazy Man's best friend

Disadvantages: Won't replace exercise

The first impression most people have of Bodi-Tek is that it is a lazy way of trying to achieve a better physique and that it probably will not work.

I am not sure why people have the second preconceived idea but I must admit it is the one thing that put me off buying the system. It was only through reading opinions on Dooyoo that I decided to give it a try. (If you are thinking about buying Bodi-Tek I would check out Roebuddy's op, as it was this one that convinced me).

So what is it?
==============

Bodi-Tek was developed mainly to be used by astronauts. Apparently the effect of gravity puts your body through a strenuous workout during the day. In space you don't get the benefit of this so an artificial method was needed. It uses EMS (Electronic Muscle Stimulation) to contract and expand your muscles so that your brain thinks that you are doing a workout.

Where to get it from
====================

I bought my system online from www.boysstuff.co.uk. The system was £125 with postage and packing taking the cost up to just under £130. There are various different systems available so it may be best to shop around before deciding which one to go for. It was sent by recorded delivery and arrived about 10 days after I placed the order. The slight delay was caused by it being out of stock and the site kept me up to date so I would recommend checking this site out.

Initial Impressions
===================

At first I was disappointed by the size of the package. With all that was enclosed I expected a fairly bulky parcel but it was quite compact. The reason behind this is the storage is incredible. Everything is stored in a leather case, which has hidden and zipped compartments. The case contains the control panel, the adaptor, 8 large pads, 4 small pads, 2 large straps, 2 small straps and 4 leads. The case is about the same size as a Dreamcast machine (poor example but it's ly
ing beside one just now!). This is great for transporting it and the case is full of spare compartments as well as the assigned ones. This was a real bonus as it was not something I had considered before I ordered it and the Bodi-Tek people deserve a lot of praise for this.

What does it feel like?
=======================

The feeling when you use Bodi-Tek is certainly unique and a lot of people who I have used it with have not liked the initial experience. I must admit I was surprised at the feeling, which has to be experienced to get an idea of what happens. Like most others I naively thought I would strap this on, not feel a thing and look like The Hulk after a period of time. What actually happens is your muscles contract as if for example you were lifting a heavy weight. Your muscle then relaxes when the signal stops and contracts again at the next signal. In this sense you are actually going through a workout but without putting in any real effort. It is not an entirely comfortable feeling but is a lot easier than trying to do 450 sit ups. The makers think that half an hour on Bodi-Tek could be the equivalent of that many sit-ups and I know what I prefer.

Does It Work?
=============

I was amazed at how quickly I started to notice a difference. There is little or no difference to muscles which are well developed, but there was a difference in less developed muscle groups within the first week. I thought that this may have been in my head but others have confirmed this.

The thing I like best about Bodi-Tek is you place pads on the exact muscles you want to tone or build up. Some muscles can be difficult to try and build up using conventional methods but with this system you can target the exact muscle groups and work exclusively on them.

How do you Use It?
==================

It is quite a simple process to get started. Firstly decide which muscles you want to work on, select th
e appropriate size of strap and put it on. The pads need soaked for about 20 seconds before use then they are slipped under the strap and connected to the control panel.

The best feature is you have 4 independent controls to adjust the power of the signal. This means that you can work on well developed muscles at a high setting and work on lower developed ones at a lower setting.

As well as setting the power you can also control the delay between the signals and the length of each signal. This means that you have total control over the workout. I genuinely cannot think of a way to improve the control over the signals.

Improvements?
=============

Although I think that this is an excellent product I would have liked to have seen a couple of extra smaller straps. You are given 2 large and 2 small. This means that if you are working on your arms you cannot work on your legs and vice-versa. This is just a small point and there is a catalogue provided so I can buy the extra straps but I would have thought that a lot of people would have liked 2 more small straps.

Summary
=======

I think that Bodi-Tek is a great product and when you break down the cost it is not overly expensive. When you consider the joining fees for some Gyms are higher than the cost of the whole system it quickly puts the price in perspective. However, it should be used as a supplement to a regular exercise campaign and not in place of. Bodi-Tek provides nothing in respect of a Cardio-vascular workout so it is essential that real exercise is also taken.

Like all things it will lose its appeal through time but this can be true of Gyms as well and it is a lot less time consuming than travelling to a Gym.

I did look for a good Gym in my local area before I bought this but found that I would have to travel 30 miles to get a Gym with all the facilities I wanted so it was an easy choice for me.

If you are tempte
d give it a try!

Summary: