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Flex Belt review

Recently, I said the next phase for my training would be to work on my abdominal muscles, to contribute towards building a stronger core. Guess what? I made a start and thought it would be the perfect opportunity to try out and test a specialist product, called the Flex Belt.

I’ve read a lot of stuff online about it – and of course, I’ve seen the promo videos. But I wanted to take a closer look myself and make up my own mind. Let’s be frank, who doesn’t love the sound of giving their abs a workout, while sat on the couch watching TV!?

In this Flex Belt review, I’m going to reveal exactly what I discovered when I got the product and tried it for myself.

Flex Belt

The Flex Belt

Abdominal toning belt with: 10 toning programs, 150 intensity levels, rechargeable controller, 2 year warranty, 60-day money back guarantee

Do you already know what the Flex Belt is?

Do you already know what the Flex Belt is?

Have you seen the science behind it?

Have you seen the science behind it?

Are you aware of the supporting research?

Are you aware of the supporting research?

If you’ve answered yes to any or all of these questions, you may like to:

SKIP THE RESEARCH AND JUMP TO: start of the product review

That’s where I discuss my personal experiences and what I learned by using it.

If, however, you want to equip yourself with more knowledge about the Flex Belt, how it works, and who manufactures it, start right below…

What is the Flex Belt?

The Flex Belt is an electric muscle stimulator (EMS device) for training the abdominal muscles. It wraps around the waist and has 3 pre-positioned medical-grade gel pads (also known as electrodes) on the inside.

What is the Flex Belt?

Impulses are transmitted from the controller – to the pads – and this makes the muscles contract, mimicking conventional exercise.

It has been designed to tone, strengthen and firm the abdominal muscles. This particular type of EMS product is commonly known as an ab belt, with the Flex Belt being a high spec. top-of-the-line version.

What is the Flex Belt? Click to Tweet and tell people!

Anybody who has checked out my piece about abdominal toning, will already be acquainted with the product.

Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) is a technique used by:

  • Athletes
  • Physical therapists
  • Sports scientists
  • And many others
athletes use EMS
physical therapists use EMS
sports-scientists-use-EMS
many others also use EMS

It has become such a popular method because it enables you to work muscles with considerably less stress and strain on the joints and tendons.

Typical uses for EMS include:

  • Training
  • Rehabilitation
  • Recovery
  • Cosmetic appearance (muscle toning)
for training
for rehabilitation
for recovery
for Cosmetic appearance – muscle toning

Because of the way the Flex Belt has been designed, it works all of the major abdominal muscle groups (upper abs, lower abs and obliques) at the same time. This is achieved by a combination of two factors:

  1. The position of the pads inside the belt
  2. The variety of different programs (impulse patterns)

Does it work?

Flex Belt round the waist

Tones the muscles? Yes.
Strengthens the muscles? Yes.
Firms the muscles? Yes.

Says who?

For starters, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared this product: “for toning, strengthening and firming abdominal muscles.”

Why is this credible?

Because under no circumstances will the FDA clear an electric muscle stimulator for sale in the USA, unless the manufacturer can prove to them that it works, and does exactly what they claim it can do.


If a company claims their EMS device tones, strengthens and firms abdominal muscles, they need to prove that to the FDA – before they can get clearance to market it – and sell it to the general public.

While I was researching this I came across the work of Dr. John P. Porcari, Ph.D., Professor (in Exercise and Sports Science), University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.

He’s the Program Director of the Clinical Exercise Physiology (CEP) program and also the Executive Director of the La Crosse Exercise and Health Program.


I saw some of Porcari’s studies into the Flex Belt (which I’ll come onto in a minute). His findings also back up the claims made by the manufacturer, which have been rubber-stamped by the FDA.

Still, I wanted to do some digging – and find out exactly who he is – and what makes him the best-qualified person for this.

Google search for Dr. John P. Porcari, Ph.D., Professor in Exercise and Sports Science

I’ve seen his name pop up a few times during my research. It turns out he’s an expert in the field of electric muscle stimulation devices, with a specialist knowledge on EMS ab belts. That’s not a bad start…

And after some deeper, more creative searching (in places like academic journals, university websites, specialist magazines), I discovered more about his professional background and credentials.

Dr. John P. Porcari, Ph.D. - professional background and credentials

Here are some facts and pieces of relevant information:

  1. Has conducted more than 20 different clinical studies in the category of abdominal exercise and workout equipment
  2. Is considered an authority on EMS devices and their effectiveness
  3. Has conducted 2 in-depth clinic trials on the Flex Belt
  4. One of his research pieces about how men can age-proof their muscles featured prominently in the October 20, 2014 edition of Time magazine
  5. Received the Award of Excellence from the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation in 2010
  6. Has conducted research at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse since his arrival in 1989

OK, he seems like a pretty well qualified person for this and passes my background check. So let’s take a look at the findings…

The study he conducted in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (in 2005) monitored a group who used the belt five times per week, 20-40 minutes per session, for eight weeks.

The report found the product:

  • To be effective in increasing abdominal strength and endurance
  • Significantly reduced abdominal and waist girth
  • Improved self-perceived abdominal firmness and tone
  • 54% of participants even felt their posture had improved as a result of the stimulation

In the conclusion of his study, Dr. Porcari stated:

The results probably can be attributed to the strength of the electrically induced muscle contractions made possible by the quality of the electrodes utilized in the belt system, as well as the stimulator itself.

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Money back guarantee

The manufacturer backs its claims and supporting evidence with an impressive money back guarantee. They state that in a matter of 4-8 weeks you will see results and:

If you are not completely satisfied, we ask you to take advantage of our 60-day money back guarantee.

You can read more about it at the bottom of this page on their site. What they’re effectively saying here is they’re so confident you’re going to love their product that you can give it a try, and see what it can do for you. I really do love this, the best thing about it is it makes it a totally risk free purchase.

Who can benefit?

Clearly, the product can be beneficial to people who want to tone, strengthen and firm their abs. However, I can think of some situations where it could potentially be of particular use*:

  • Fit and healthy subjects who are looking to add variety to their training program
  • Parents (and people with similar responsibilities) who don’t get much time to themselves
  • People whose joints can’t handle traditional core strengthening exercises
  • Those who suffer from pain (e.g. in the lower back) / have mobility issues and find it difficult to do conventional exercise
  • Individuals who are rehabilitating from injury, surgery, etc.
  • Anybody who likes the idea of being able to work their abs from home

Dr. Porcari believes that it:

Would be beneficial for a wide variety of fitness levels… I think even people with low back pain or people who can’t do curl ups or abdominal work would have a tremendous benefit…

*Please note the instruction manual says to get your doctor’s permission before using the product if you:

Have a bad back, have any serious illness or injury not mentioned in the guide, have recently undergone a surgical procedure, take insulin for diabetes, want to use it on a young child, suffer from muscle or joint problems or want to use it as part of a rehabilitation program.

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Is it safe?

The FDA has cleared it as a class II medical device for direct to consumer sales.


EMS technology has been used by the medical community for decades now. One of the most common uses for EMS is by physical therapists, for help with muscle re-education.

That being said, there are certain situations where individuals shouldn’t use EMS.

For example, the first “Do not use if” – in the instruction manual is – if “You have an electronic implant (e.g. cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator)… or suffer from any other heart problem.”*

*The manual contains lists of “contra-indications, warnings & precautions”.

The takeaway here is:


If you’re even the slightest bit unsure of whether it’s suitable for you, check with a medical professional first.

I’m not going to go into how to use one of these machines here and create a list of dos and don’ts – because it goes without saying that you must always read the instructions and any other accompanying documentation – before operating any EMS device for the first time.

One final point on safety is a general one about electronic ab belts. As I mentioned earlier in this section, the Flex Belt has been cleared by the FDA, however, there are many others that keep popping up online – on marketplaces like Amazon and eBay – that don’t have clearance.

Why you should select an electrical muscle stimulator that is legally marketed according to FDA regulations
Screenshot from the FDA website outlining why you should select an electrical muscle stimulator that is legally marketed according to FDA regulations. This screenshot was taken on March 22, 2016. To check for the most up-to-date information you can visit that page.

So if you do ever decide to go ahead and purchase one, check it’s FDA cleared before handing your cash over.

Here are just a few reasons why FDA regulation is so important:

  • Demonstrates safety and effectiveness of devices
  • Ensures cables and leads comply with electrical safety standards
  • Has passed the criteria for being properly designed, manufactured, and labeled
  • Means the product is capable of what it is marketed to do (e.g. tone, strengthen, firm)

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Who manufactures it?

The brand behind the Flex Belt is Slendertone, a company that belongs to Bio-Medical Research (BMR) Ltd.


Based in Galway, Ireland, BMR is backed by over 50 years of experience in developing and producing such products:

BMR manufacture electrical stimulation products of medical device quality, supported by strong, clinical evidence and subjected to controlled product trials.

In my opinion, it’s good to know a bit about the background and history of the manufacturer.

There are a number of badly made, cheap ab belts available online – from companies I’ve never heard of before. It wouldn’t surprise me if there were even counterfeits knocking about as well.


Not so long ago, four companies (who made toning belts) were charged by the Federal Trade Commission for making false promises about their devices. They ended up having to paying $12 million in settlements.

I wouldn’t dream of going anywhere near such a product unless I was 100% confident that it was produced by a credible and trustworthy company, like BMR. It’s just not worth the risk when it involves your health and wellbeing.

If you’ve already done some research and taken a look at other ab belts, it’s likely you’ll have seen Slendertone System Abs.

At this point, you’re probably thinking:

“Wait a minute, it’s exactly the same as the Flex Belt?”

While the controller might look the same, it doesn’t have the same specification (programs, intensity levels, etc.) and capabilities as this top-of-the-line device. I’m going to come onto this in a minute and explain why it matters.

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Programs

The controller has 10 toning programs to choose from, with the concept being that you start on P1 and work your way up.

There are 10 toning programs to choose from

P1 is a basic program and is the first one you will use when you start your training. As you work your way through the programs they become more challenging and make your muscles work harder.


10 plateau busting programs is how the manufacturer describes it. One of the things I really like about this particular device is that it has more programs than other ab belts.

These extra programs come in handy because the body gets used to doing to the same thing, over and over again.

For example, if you go to the gym to work on a resistance training program and do the same thing each time, after a while your body is going to get used to it.

Eventually, you will plateau and this workout will have very little impact. To avoid this, people add variety and make regular changes to their training program.

Changes can include:

  • Different amounts of reps and sets
  • Varying rest periods
  • And doing completely different exercises

This regular practice of changing things is a technique called muscle confusion.


Developed for muscle confusion: The clever thing about the Flex Belt is that it’s been developed for muscle confusion. The designers clearly understand how to work the muscles effectively – and maximize results.

The 10 programs provide variation in the following ways:

  • Duration – they range between 20-40 minutes
  • Some programs are more intense than others
  • Length of contractions vary
  • Length of rest periods between contractions vary

So you already have a great deal of variety built-in, as you advance through the programs. On top of that you can eventually look to mix your training up.

The first five programs are designed to prepare and build you up for the others. (Inside the instruction manual there’s a training plan guide to help you with this.)

After the “Expert” ones (numbers 5-7), there is an endurance one (number 8), which lasts 40 minutes and has the longest duration of them all.

9 and 10 are the bonus programs and they give you short workouts with rapid contractions.

Program name Session duration Training level
P1: Beginner 20 min light
P2: Intermediate 25 min moderate
P3: Advanced 30 min moderate
P4: Expert 30 min strong
P5: Pro (i) 30 min strong
P6: Pro (ii) 30 min strong
P7: Ab-Power 30 min strong
P8: Endurance 40 min light
P9: Crunch (i) 3 x 10 crunches moderate
P10: Crunch (ii) 3 x 10 crunches moderate

There’s such a lot of scope to mix it up yourself and reap the benefits of muscle confusion training. Regular sessions and plenty of variety will ensure you do just that.

They recommend that you use the belt five times a week, until you’ve reached your goals and then you can reduce it to two or three times a week thereafter.

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Intensity levels

This device has a generous 150 levels of intensity, it’s yet another impressive feature that sets it apart from the rest.

The Flex Belt has 150 intensity levels

Having this level of control over the strength of the impulses is highly desirable, it means you can fine-tune it – until you’ve got it just the way you like it.


There’s nothing worse than an EMS device with limited control over the power. Imagine owning an ab belt that had only 10 levels to choose from, level 5 wasn’t strong enough for you but level 6 was a bit too much.

With this thing, you’re never going to experience that unwanted problem.

Operating the device

I think it would be fair to say I’m highly competent and very experienced when it comes to using EMS devices. Nevertheless, I found this product and controller an absolute doddle to setup and operate.


What’s great is the designers have kept it as simple as possible and not added anything that’s difficult or overcomplicated to understand. If you can use a cellphone you’re going to find this thing a breeze.

Without going into a full-blown “how to setup the belt”, it basically involves three main steps:

  1. Charge the controller unit
  2. Connect the controller to the belt
  3. Attach the gel pads to the belt

It’s all very straightforward and once you’re ready for your first session, you remove the covers from the pads and position the belt, as described in the instructions.


There are just three main buttons required for operation, along with the two sets of up / down arrows (for the intensity control). As you can see from the image below, these are for: on/off, information and programs.

Because of the way these are clearly labeled – with symbols – there’s no chance of getting confused about which is which.

Flex Belt controller unit buttons

Its LCD display does what it should – and what’s nice – is the countdown timer is large and very easy to read.

To give you an example, when I sit on the couch and use it, I rest the controller next to my leg and can read it without any difficulty, (that’s roughly 25 inches from my eyes). Not bad, hey?

The last thing you want with something like this is a small screen and to not able to read the display, unless it’s a couple of inches from your eyes.

It’s not a massive screen but that doesn’t matter, for me it’s a plus point – if it was any bigger it would compromise the design of the controller and mean the unit would have to be larger to accommodate it.

In turn, that would mean it wouldn’t fit in the pouch (of the belt) or sit perfectly in the palm of your hand.


If I’m being picky, the only slight downside I can think of with the screen is that it’s not backlit. However, this isn’t a big deal to me. I’m not planning on using it in pitch black – and so far, I haven’t been in a situation where I’ve needed it to be lit.

After using the device a few times I made some notes about what I like most.

Here’s what I have to report:

  • Auto shut off timer to save battery – after the program had finished I stayed in the same place to finish watching a show. I didn’t press anything on the controller and noticed it switched itself off to save battery – smart
  • I much prefer it with the sound off – this is personal preference but if you leave the sound on it will bleep every single time you press a button
  • Keylock function is useful – means you won’t accidentally knock the intensity controls or one of the other buttons in the middle of a training session!
  • Neat little pouch on the belt to keep the controller safe – this will be of most use to people who use it stood up
  • Best of all – it’s so quick, easy and convenient that there’s absolutely no excuse to not use it!

You know that feeling, you arrive home after a long hard day at work? You want to go workout – but the thought of having to travel to the gym. Imagine if you had something at home you could pick up and be using, within a couple of minutes…

It wasn’t until the second time I used the product that I really came to appreciate the convenience.

The first time you use it you have to set it up, and while this is a quick process, it takes a few minutes to read through the instructions, then put the pieces together.

When I got the belt out for my second session, I literally peeled the plastic covers off the gel pads and wrapped it round my waist. I was using it within two minutes of picking it up.

High quality materials and finishing

In terms of the belt itself, this has been well considered and nicely designed.


Materials and finishing: I was impressed with the quality of materials – and as you’d expect from a top-of-the-line product, the stitching and finishing is excellent – all very neat.

It’s Velcro fit so when you wrap it round your waist, the idea is to get it nice and snug. This is the key to it functioning properly – it ensures the gel pads have good contact with the skin. If you don’t get this part right you’re not going to be getting optimal performance.

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Battery

Unlike many of the cheaper electronic belts, this one has a rechargeable battery. The connector on the controller unit plugs into the mains charger.

Flex Belt charger connection
Flex Belt controller unit and charger

How frequently you need to charge the battery is going to depend on a few usage-based factors:

  • How many times you use it
  • The intensity level(s) you select
  • And which programs you run*

*Programs vary in duration and some involve longer contractions than others.


The manufacturer suggests the battery be charged after every three uses, I’m guessing a full battery will have enough charge to run even the longest program (P8 endurance) three times.

When I first received my Flex Belt I plugged it into the mains charger and left it for a few hours, to give it a full charge.

I used it four times (two on P1 and two on P2) – and after the fourth session, the battery level indicator was down to one bar. That was when I charged it again.

It says in the manual it may take 2-3 hours to charge the battery, I’m pretty sure it was quicker than that, although I didn’t actually time it.

Since I’ve been progressing (using P3, P4 and P5) I’ve been charging it after every three sessions, it seems to be down to about one bar by then.

Unlike a number of cheaper belts, this one has a rechargeable battery

It may be that I could get another use out of it but the last thing I want is for the battery to run out of juice – midway through a session! That’s the type of problem you’re likely to encounter with a device that’s not rechargeable, a problem that’s easily avoidable with this.

At this stage, I can’t comment on long-term battery life as I haven’t owned or used the product for a long enough period.

The best way to ensure you don’t run of battery would be to charge it immediately after you’ve finished your session, if it’s running low. That way you’ll find it fully charged and ready to get to work straight away, the next time.

One final point here:


Is that a rechargeable battery takes away the hassle and ongoing expense of having to replace batteries.

If you don’t have a rechargeable unit and intend to use your ab belt regularly (like the manufacturer advises to get the best results) you’re going to end up spending a fair bit of money on replacement batteries, plus you’ll keep having to swap the old ones for new ones.

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Size

To be clear, the belt is designed to fit waist sizes from 24 inches up to 52 inches.

The Flex Belt fits waist sizes from 24 to 52 inches

The main controller unit is light, compact and ergonomically designed. It fits perfectly in the palm of the hand and is comfortable to hold.

The controller fits perfectly in the palm of the hand

They ship a carrying pouch with the product, which provides a place to keep everything together. You need never miss a session because you can pop it in your bag or case, if you’re going away.

Carrying pouch dimensions - this won't  take up much space or weigh luggage down

The pouch measures 13 inch (L) by 7 ½ inch (W). I placed it on the kitchen scale with the belt, controller and charger inside – it weighed a paltry 12.6 oz.

Essentially, it’s not going to take up space or weigh your luggage down.

It goes without saying that you couldn’t pack a metal frame (for doing ab crunches) in your case!


Sometimes when you fall out of a routine it’s hard to get back into it, being able to take this on your travels means there’s no excuses.

Flex Belt X-70 controller weight and dimensions

Because of its compact size, lightness and portability the Flex Belt enables you to keep up with your training program, no matter where in the world you happen to be.

Included accessories

The box contents include: the belt, extender, controller, mains charger, set of medical-grade gel pads, carrying case, instruction manual and quick start guide. That’s everything you need to get up and running straight away.

Flex Belt included accessories

I like the quick start guide – it’s clear and concise, just like the instruction manual. It demonstrates the basic setup of the device and accessories.

While the quick start guide does a great job in familiarizing you with the parts and how they fit together / work, it is important to read the instructions and check out the guidelines, before using it for the first time.

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Gel pads

Your first set of pads is included. A set comprises three pads in total: the large one that goes in the middle of the belt and then the two side ones. The manufacturer recommends you replace your pads every 30 sessions for optimal results.

I’ve used my initial set almost 20 times so far and haven’t noticed any deterioration in performance.

The only thing I have observed is that they’re not quite as sticky as they were when they were new. That’s the beauty of this product though, the Velcro fit on the belt means you can always get them tight enough against your skin.

Flex Belt replacement pads

When you need to replace the pads, the MSRP is $14.99 for a set.

  • Last updated
  • Other recent updates
November 3, 2015: 84 sessions in and the original pads that shipped with mine are still going strong. They are performing just as well as they did the first time I used the belt. The message here: the more care you take with your pads, the longer they’ll last.
11 June, 2015: I’ve completed 53 sessions with the original pads and they’re still working as well as they did brand new.

Reviewing the number of Flex Belt sessions completed


Pressing the Information button twice allows you to review the total number of sessions you’ve completed. I’ve found this a good way to monitor how much use I’m getting out of the pads.

Warranty

The product is backed by a 2 year warranty that covers: “defects in manufacture that arise from correct use of the product in accordance with the product manual and instructions.”

That means if there’s any issue within that period they will either replace or repair the belt for you.

The Flex Belt comes with a two year warranty

A lot of EMS devices come with a standard one year warranty so this gives you extra peace of mind and provides additional cover (in the unlikely event there is a problem).

And let’s not forget, there’s the 60-day money back guarantee, which I discussed earlier in the review.

Consumer reviews

On the whole, consumer ratings are strong. At the time of updating this piece (23 November, 2015), the product’s listing on Amazon had over 500 customer reviews, which suggests this is a popular product.

READ FLEX BELT REVIEWS ON AMAZON

I did read some reviewers complaining and saying the product doesn’t work properly. I can tell you for a fact, the one I have here works just fine.


When I read reviews where people say things like, “the pads didn’t stick to my skin”, I know this user hasn’t either set the product up correctly or prepared their skin before a session.

One of the most important things with any type of electrodes (gel pads) for EMS is to make sure the skin is completely clean and free of any grease or oil.

The best way to do this is to take a shower before using it (obviously, dry yourself completely, before using the belt!) If that’s not convenient or you don’t have time, you could use some sort of cleaning wipes (like baby wipes).

Don’t forget, the whole idea of the belt is so you can get the gel pads nice and snug against your skin (as this ensures the best stimulation).

If the belt isn’t wrapped properly around the waist, it may not work as well as it should. I, myself, would take reports of the gel pads not working – or lasting long – with a grain of salt.

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Pros and cons

My experience of using the product so far is a very positive one. I’ve compiled a list of pros and cons, based on the things I’ve learned and what I believe to be most useful.

Pros

While the product provides much-discussed benefits, there are some interesting lesser-known ones as well:

  • Workout with it in the comfort and privacy of your own home
  • Multi-task and do other things while you use the belt, like reading, watching TV, cooking, chores, etc.
  • Designed for muscle confusion training – offers lots of variety, through: program duration, length of contractions and rest periods, intensity adjustments
  • Saves time by working center and sides of midsection simultaneously
  • Feel the abs getting stronger and tighter after just a few sessions
  • Offers people who struggle with conventional exercise a way to work their abs and obliques – for example, those with joint problems, lower back pain, individuals who are rehabilitating, people with limited mobility, etc.
  • Powerful – with 150 levels of intensity
  • Easy to use with an excellent set of instructions and introductory videos
  • Highly portable solution for keeping up with ab training
  • Leaves you with no excuse for not working your abs!

Cons

After using it a number of times and analyzing it, I don’t have any major complaints or gripes to report. If I was being really picky, I could point out:

  • Display not backlit
  • No USB charging
  • It’s recommended that pads be replaced after about every 30 sessions*
  • Initial investment higher than lower spec alternative products

* Although, I have a feeling I’m going to be able to make mine last longer

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Price

The Flex Belt costs $199.99 (that’s the MSRP), making it one of the higher priced ab belts. That’s to be expected though, it’s top-of-the-line and has the best feature-set out of all the belts on the market.

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Naturally: with best in class, the initial investment is going to be higher.

Flex Belt packaging and pieces

FIND IT ON AMAZON

In terms of running costs, it’s only the gel pads you really need to think about (remember, the controller is rechargeable).

We can do some quick calculations to estimate how much this cost might be:

In the section about pads, I said the manufacturer advises that they be replaced every 30 uses for optimal results.

They suggest you use the belt daily (taking a couple of rest days each week) and you should see results in 4-8 weeks. After this period they recommend you use it 2-3 times a week to maintain the result.

So let’s crunch (mind the pun) a few basic numbers:

We’re going to take averages for the purpose of this calculation. We’ll forget about the initial period of 4-8 weeks because the first (included) set should get you through this.

Remember, a set of pads should last you approximately 30 uses. Let’s assume you’re going to have 10 sessions a month, which is 2-3 a week.

  • One set would last three months
  • If your order one set it costs $14.99 (MSRP) – works out at $0.50 per session
  • Four sets would last approximately one year

When you consider the battery is rechargeable (no recurring cost) and the price of a year’s supply of pads, you’re looking at as little as $47.99 to run this product, annually.

Add to that, the convenience of not having to leave your own home to use it – and it’s not hard to see why people are so attracted to the Flex Belt.


If you look at some of the cheaper belts on the market they don’t have rechargeable controllers – because this does – it will cost less to run.

I believe, as a consumer – when looking at the price of a product like this – you should be thinking of it as an investment.

Once you’ve made the initial purchase you have minimal running costs and the continued benefits it provides.

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Summary

I’ve really enjoyed using the Flex Belt so far and can certainly feel a big difference. I could tell after just a few sessions the muscles were getting stronger. It seems to give them a great workout, every time.

If you work your way up the intensity levels you can get that feeling in your muscles, like you’ve done a load of crunches really slowly!


The one thing that pleasantly surprised me though was the relief it has given my lower back. I get quite a bit of back pain (unfortunately), especially in the lumbar region so this added relief was a most welcome by-product.

My plan going forward is to further strengthen my core and this type of work with an ab belt can play a big part. When I’ve taken the belt off after a session it seems to have loosened my spine, particularly at the bottom.

It’s well-known that EMS can be used as a technique to help strengthen muscles, which in turn can reduce and eradicate pain. However, even I was surprised at its pain relieving prowess.

Regular readers will know I’m a great advocate of integrating it as part of an overall training program. While my main priority for using the belt is to help strengthen muscles, I’m fully aware that it’s part of an overall strategy.

Fortunately, I exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet. It should really go without saying that you have to put a lot of work in and stay disciplined, (especially if you’re looking for abs like the guys in the promo videos!)


Somebody looking for toned and defined abs but not prepared to do conventional exercise, eat good food and live a healthy lifestyle, can’t expect miracles.

For sure, you can still benefit from using it, however, you can’t expect to eat cake and chips every day, then whack the belt on in the evening and have miracle results! Likelihood is, you’ll need to lose weight and reduce your level of body fat.

If on the other hand you intend to use the Flex Belt in combination with a healthy diet and regular exercise you’re going to give yourself the best chance.

Overall, I know it works – but it works best when you align it with the rest, the full package: conventional exercise, diet and discipline.

But before I wrap up this review, let’s not forget, it’s all relative – and for many, the objective will be different.

For cases where people are unable to do conventional exercise, muscle definition isn’t going to be top priority. It’s important to remember that results can be measured in different ways, not just visually.

Ratings

Features – 9

Ease of use – 9

Value for money – 7

8.3

Turn your couch into a gym with the Flex Belt: pick the belt up, peel the covers off the pads, then wrap it round your waist… it really is as simple as that. Within two minutes you can be working your abs, in the comfort of your own home. And what’s more, you can do all this while reading a book, watching your favorite show or even while doing the chores! With the Flex Belt, there’s absolutely no reason or excuse to miss a training session again.

References

  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2015) Electronic Muscle Stimulators. [Online] Available from: http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/HomeHealthandConsumer/ConsumerProducts/ucm142478.htm [Accessed 22 March 2016].
  2. MedicineNet, Inc. (2002) Muscle Stimulators, Do They Work?. [Online] Available from: https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=20437 [Accessed 10 August 2018].
  3. flexbeltabbelt (2012) Dr. Porcari Explains Why The Flex Belt is The Best Ab Belt Available. [Online] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=050q7a7ZCtk [Accessed 21 March 2016].
  4. flexbeltabbelt (see footnote 3)
  5. School of Public Health and Health Sciences (2011) Alumni News. [Online] Available from: http://www.umass.edu/sphhs/Spring2011_Newsletter/Spring2011_AlumniNews.html [Accessed 21 March 2016].
  6. University of Wisconsin–La Crosse (2014) UW-L researcher featured in Time magazine. [Online] Available from: http://news.uwlax.edu/uw-l-researcher-featured-in-time-magazine/ [Accessed 22 March 2016].
  7. flexbeltabbelt (see footnote 3)
  8. Bio-Medical Research Ltd. (2012) The Flex Belt Instruction Manual.
  9. Johannes, L. (2009) Cinching Your Belt Without a Crunch. [Online] Available from: http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704779704574553790579199098 [Accessed 23 March 2016].
  10. Arangio, J. (2016) The Truth About Muscle Confusion. [Online] Available from: http://www.mensfitness.com/training/build-muscle/truth-about-muscle-confusion [Accessed 26 March 2016].