and I was wondering if there are any customer/user reviews out there? This ab gadget seems a lot like the Ab Circle Pro, which is a hot fitness product right now. Like the Ab Circle -- and many other infomercial exercise machines -- the Total Core seems to do a lot of the work for you... which doesn't make a whole lot of sense. After all, if you're not doing the crunches and sit-ups on your own, you're not going to get as much ab stimulation as possible. The Total Core does seem to be a little better made than most of the other low-quality gadgets out there, but we're still not yet willing to buy it just to see whether it's another crappy gadget or if it's a legitimate tool for strengthening and toning the abdominal muscles.So if you or (anyone you know) have used the Total Core, please take a moment to leave your reviews in the comments section below. Also feel free to leave any questions, comments, ratings, etc. there, as long as they're all related to the product.
By the way, before you go and purchase this or any abdominal machine, just remember one thing: you can do ab exercises all day long but, unless you lower your overall body fat percentage, you're not going to have "six pack" abs anytime soon. The only way to get rid of belly fat and get a lean, sexy midsection is to use proven diet and exercise techniques.Click here for more reviews and info about the Total Core Ab Machine!
In case you haven't seen it, here's the ad for the Total Core that we've been seeing on late-night television lately:
Related: Here is a Total Core review we just found. Here are some reviews of the Ab Circle Pro machine, the main competitor of the Total Core.
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39 comments:
My sister just bought the Total Core exercise machine a couple of weeks ago. She says that she likes it because it's easier than doing crunches or using one of the ab machines in the gym. I'm thinking about getting one myself but I'm looking for some more good reviews. anyone?
I bought the Total Core ab machine in February and just recently got around to setting it up and using it on a consistent basis. After about a week or using it I can honestly say that it's not the best abdominal machine I've ever used... but it's certainly not the worst either! What I DO like about it a lot is that there is no stress on my back or neck. I tend to pull on my neck when I do crunches and situps so, for me, that is a big benefit. My husband tried to use it but he's 6' 4" and nearly 300 pounds. His body simply didn't fit into this particular piece of exercise equipment... so if you're extra tall or heavy this might not be for you. I've been doing upwards of 50 crunches per day on my Total Core and I'm probably about 50/50 on wether or not to continue using it. It definitely helps me do ab exercises and supports my back, but it provides not support for the neck, so you're left straining your neck muscles after the first dozen or so reps. I'll probably continue to use the Total Core for another 2 weeks. If the neck pain goes away (because my neck muscles have gotten stronger) I'll keep using it. If not, I'll probably sell it or give it to a friend.
Glad to hear the good news Jen. I owrk for the company that does the UK advertising for the total core. You probably found us through our TV channel on sky??
DB im sorry to hear about your neck...If you experience any problems at all please stop using it.
If anyone else has any problems... as long as you have bought from us or our sister company new image we offer a full 30 day returns service.
DB... Again Im sorry to hear about your neck
My totalcore arrived from Hong Kong damaged, I paid $109 and it will cost $89 to return it. I find the totalcore of extremely poor quality and absolutely useless, it doesn't do anything. The Company I bought it from www.totalcore.com.cn/ are rude and unhelpful, I now have a boken machine which is not worth £1.09 never mind $89. I am very very very disappointed and begrudge totally the money I have spent.
I have heard similar stories from UK customers who have bought from dodgy sites. Im sorry to hear your bad news about the refund. Did you know the comapny you bought from was based in china? $89 dollors seems a lot of postsge!!
As a rule (and if possible) i would only recommend buying from your country of origin.
We are the main UK distributor. We only have the rights to ship within the UK and will only accept sales from the UK.
We do offer a full 30 day refund to our customers but... they do have to pay the return postage. However within the uk you should only be looking at around £4/5.....
What a load of marketing rubbish. You cannot spot reduce fat! Calories expend > calories in = weight loss. Sit ups do not reduce stomach fat.
hi, i brought the total core deluxe and received delivery of it on monday, i sent it back today [wednesday] i tried it out and found it did absolutely nothing. yes it supports your back and neck but i felt like it absolutely nothing for my abs, i couldnt feel it working at all, get better results of one the old school ab rollers, i do not recommend this item at all, your money is far better spent elsewhere !!!
thanks for the comments
Hi. I've been looking for Total Core Extra reviews and I found this page. I think it looks like a good ab machine but I really want to know how well it works before I make the purchase. I just saw that Amazon is offering a discount so that makes the decision a little easier. Anyway, if anyone has used the "Extra" version please leave your review and opinion on here and I'll check back in a week or so. Thanks!
My hubby got me a Total Core a couple of weeks ago and so far I LOVE IT! It's the first ab exerciser that I actually enjoy using and it really helps motivate me to workout. Using the Total Core and a healthy diet I've already lost a couple pounds and about an inch from my waist... so I'm very happy with this product. Highly recommended to anyone (women especially) who want to lose weight and tone up their stomachs!
hi i really want one of these machines but from what i'm reading they really aren't that good for getting rid of ab and belly fat. my main goal right now is to lose the fat around my tummy so that i can start to get a six pack by the time summer comes around. is the total core the solution or not? i know i need to diet and do cardio to burn the fat but i think im gonna need more help and i want to know if this is it??
hey there,
I'm a runner, I do martial arts & I mountain bike; I'd safely say I'm very fit. But I had a severe crash mountain biking (technically a very nasty face-plant that left me in an ambulance!) that caused whiplash that made situps painful on the neck - so recovering on my sofa over xmas I stumbled across the tv ad & went for it - got it today & will report back. I'm from the "no pain no gain" school of thought so have my doubts - but the USA tv ad was very convincing..
Ok, I gave it a fair shot - but in my opinion an utter and total waste of money.
293 repeats over a 30 minute period and not the slightest feeling or indication I'd done any exercise whatsoever - pointless.
The crucial thing here is that it assists your movement - which is like having an electric motor on your pushbike - you still go through the motions of pedalling but you don't get any benefit from it!
I've read other reviews that say it might work but you have to do many more repetitions that you normally would with situps; well are you really going to do this every day for an hour or more? I very much doubt it; after all, it's daft just working on one muscle group for so long in any case - there's other muscles need equal attention.
It also can rub on your spine between the rollers & I'm not happy with that happening each day either.
I'm a little annoyed I was taken in by this. It's going on Ebay & I'm going back to horrible situps - at least they are guaranteed to work!
I've been using the Total Core for several months now and so far I'm very happy with my purchase. I have a lower back problem and this is pretty much the perfect home exercise machine for me. It's definitely strengthened my abs and take alot of the pressure/pain off my back!
does the total core lose fat?
Hi,
No it can't help you lose fat - you need aerobic exercise that increases your heart rate & breathing (& basically makes you sweat & get a little out of breath) to burn fat - & it's not a quick process. Any sort of abdominal strengthening will target those muscle groups only; in a similar way that you wouldn't expect to lose weight by weight lifting.
je suis déçue
car j'acheté un total core ab que j'ai vu à la tv sur euroshopping
et j'ai reçu un total core qui ne correspond pas du tout à ce que j'ai vu, donc je l'ai envoyé au fournisseurs et ils m'ont envoyé un autre égal donc j'ai réalisé qu'ils fabriquent de fausses total core sil vous plaît dites moi qu est ce que je dois faire pour récupérer mon argent et surtout pour avoir l'original américain
after buying totalcore in january 2010 i have had nothing but back trouble and i mean severe,i have never had back problems in my life and i am 49 years old.i certainly wont attempt to use this again as i am haeding into my 6th week with pain and no sign of easing off.Mary from Ayrshire
You are better of going and buying an exercise bike, while you ride that and lean as far forward as possible and raise your knees as high as you can when pedling great ab workout and its cake :D
I think this machine could be a danger We bought one this year ,it was only used about 20 times.My wife was using it when the back went straight to the foor. one of the tubes came away
Thanks, Sean.
You've basically confirmed my own suspicions; that you can't lose the fat without getting out there and burning the calories with some serious cardio work.
Going to save my money & keep running. Hope you get better soon :)
Thanks cpt - I'm totally fine & recovered now, back doing "proper" exercise with no gimmicks. I hope more people read this blog & realise hard work & good eating habits help weight loss & create fitness - not smiling models in California going through the motions for tv ads! There's no shortcuts basically.
Hi there,
I've just seen the very impressive add on TV for the total core exercise machine and was half way through ordering one unitl I can across this site. I've now decided not to purchase on the basis of what I am reading. thanks to all for the comments.
Can someone advise how best to loose the 'belly-fat' after having kids? I'm 37, I do walk every day for an hour but I still have that gathering around the tummy almost 15 months after having our last child
IMPORTANT NOTE (Please read): If anyone has bought one of these machines (or anything else) using a CREDIT card, than WRITE to your credit card company AND they will more likely than not provide you with a REFUND for the money paid, its the law (you should quote: Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974).
Credit card companies will do this especially when the company you bought from is dodgy, not co-operative or is based abroad. Companies based abroad are usually copycat companies (offering bogus products). And REMEMBER... Always try to pay for your shopping with a CREDIT card if your are shopping online, especially when you are purchasing expensive items. Good luck!
I'm disabled with spine injuries and related arm and leg & nervous problems, mainly on my left, but affecting both sides. The Totalcore has been invaluable for me in trying to keep myself as fit as possible.
Granted, I am fairly fit and "sporty" for your average disabled person, but where previously I had to wait for physio supervision to do any situps and were doing blocks of six, my very first morning with the Totalcore I managed 125 and I'm now doing that twice a day.
The aftersales support is great too - we had a minor problem with one of the green resistance springs, but when I rang customer services, even though I was struggling to describe the problem, the Lady knew exactly what was wrong and how to fix it. As I didn't have the paperwork to hand, she found me in the computer from my surname (no postcodes here in Eire) and arranged to send out two spare parts straight away with no questions or quibbles.
I'm loving this machine - it makes such a difference for me.
I bought the Total core and found it to be rubbish also. The advertisments are very misleading. There was nothing in my pack to say i could return it and to be honest its gathering dust under my couch since i got it. The only type of person i could see getting any use from this would be a very obese person, they could use it to start doing light tummy exercises.....will never buy again of the tv
oh my! I was about to purchase this product later this afternoon, but thanks to this blog it made me decide not to buy the product anymore. Yep I agree to what other people posted here... THERE'S NO SHORTCUT TO HAVING A GREAT BODY!
Hi
Thanks for all your info on the Total Core, I was going to buy one..but now i wont be doing..
To anonymous a good way to loose weight..I have a lower back injury and hate running and gyms..so took some swimming lessons and am getting into that now this was to get rid of belly fat..however swimming with Slimming World plan to help me make better food choices(not a diet)
hope this helps...
Although total core will do something towards helping tone it won't tone and build muscle alone. With abs in particular if you sat and did 100 crunches a day you would not achieve toned abs as abs as a muscle get used to repeat excercises. as a result after a short while the excercise will have no real effect. The only way to tone the abs and help the core as a whole is to mix up exercises, by all means use the total core but also squats, the plank, leg raises and even just sitting on an exercise ball with back straight legs at a right angle from the knees with knees together and eyes close until you no longer wobble will give you far more results.
Overall Total Core gimmicky with some good there.
a lot of fake versions out there - beware
Also even the official site is saying only works if if used along with diet plan and cardio exercises.
save yourself some money and just do the diet and cardio
I bought the "deluxe" version with the ball/pump/counter/DVD.
I do have disabilities but I'm also a gym veteran who eats a really healthy diet and is almost psychotic about how many calories go in.
I've put on some extra weight over the years of my illness (which used to leave me bed-bound) and decided I needed to try and combat that. I'm limited to what I can do but I usually walk briskly as I can or jog for an hour twice per day and do 100 - 150 crunches after my jog. I do strength training every second day.
I've tried this out over a period of 6 weeks along with cardio and light weights. I can safely say that this thing is utterly useless.
The seat is so uncomfortable my butt has hurt for most of the past 6 weeks, not to mention my poor unsupported neck. I'm mortified to publically admit that I've used this thing in my twice daily workouts for as long as 6 weeks. I should've binned it after my first try but I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt.
Anyway, there has been little change to my mid-section or my weight with a loss of about 6lbs and 1 inch around my middle. I do not attribute that to the Total Core but to my diet and cardio. As I've said, all the Total Core did was hurt my butt, neck and bank account and leave me with a pile of scrap to recycle.
It should be noted I recognised a couple of actress/models in the infomercial - none of these people got their bodies from using this piece of rubbish.
Hard work in the gym and watch what you eat - it's the only way!
my wife has been using this machine for around a year now and has found it to be a very useful item and loves using it every night ,but the tube inside one of the green tubings has snapped and now it cant be used,we have been searching the internet for this replacement part but to no avail,could you please let us know were we can obtain one and what would be the cost,colvik
I really love this machine! But you have to USE it for more than a magazine rack! HAHA! You DO have to be careful not to overdo the first few times or you will be sore...PROOF that it's working! Will it help you to lose fat? NO! It's purpose is to strengthen the core without hurting you neck or back. You WILL need to do cardio to burn the fat. Using the balance ball that came with it makes it better too. And if you use some weights...even better. It was never intended to be a miracle product to lose weight...NO SUCH THING! In the end...I LOVE this machine!
Bought it yesterday returned it today! I wanted this for a while and finally decided to buy it at £74.99 on offer still very expensive ! Tried it straight away very easy to set up but it just feels like its not doing anything ! I could not feel a thing as i used it. Feels far to easy to push back could do the same sitting on the floor it would probably be more comfy too , the machine seat is very hard and the back and neck rest becomes quite painful quickly ! Can't feel my tummys excercised at all just ended up with a sore back ! My advice just don't buy it absolute waste of money ! Feel stupid for even getting taken in by the advertising !
ive just bought the Total core £18 off ebay, Im 20 stone 6'5" tall and will start using it tonight. I will start off with 100 sit-ups per night and report back next wednesday to let you all know how its going. I feel i am a fair trial for the machine, Then lets see what the Total core MAnagement say then. Again i have cut down my calorie intake, stopped drinking with the exception of one night a week (3 beers) all i want from it is to improve my abs. Wiil update you all on how its going
This machine is not great for exercise. I tried using it a few times but it didnt work great for the abs. However, I did use it for making love to my girl while she was on top and I was using the machine and it was interesting....regardless I returned it
HI,
After reading all your reviews, I feel i should not go ahead and buy this machine. But the ads are very convincing and show how the machine works wonders. So, one final question to all who have used it. Does this machine give results of used religiously?
Just plain & simply - don't buy it. It is rubbish.
I think it really works, because when i was using this i can feel pressure on my abs during and after doing sit ups with total core ab machine. However, my only concern is the quality especially the spring at the back, i don't know what happened but it suddenly didn't work anymore. The spring at the back that will help you push forward From lying position to sitting position is not Working anymore. I tried to disassemble it and assembled again but still not working. Can anyone help me how to make it work again?
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