The Shake Weight Gets a “Do Not Buy” Recommendation
June 6, 2010 by Sal Marinello
Filed under The Healthy Skeptic
Some really ridiculous fitness products have been brought to market, but the Shake Weight just might represent the cream of the crop when it comes to nonsensical exercise equipment. Based on the oxymoronic “principle” of “dynamic inertia,” the Shake Weight is alleged to give users, “lean, sculpted arms and shoulders.”
Despite the fact that the muscles of the arms, chest, shoulders and back are not moving through a range of motion the makers of the Shake Weight claim to be able to deliver muscle and strength building results. This flies in the face of just about every bit of existing legitimate scientific data on the subject of muscle and strength building.
Furthermore, the muscles of the biceps and triceps are among the smallest muscles of the body, and “exercising” them provides very little stimulus – metabolic or strength/muscle building. There is a lot to learn from the advertisement’s claim that users will, “feel it instantly.”
Just because you may “feel” something doesn’t mean that this something is beneficial or will result in a beneficial outcome, strength/muscle building or otherwise. For example, bend your index finger back as far as possible towards the back of your hand and hold it there. You feel that, don’t you? Does that “feeling” mean that you will derive a benefit from the action? Nope.
The users of the Shake Weight do not provide any of the so-called independent scientific research that is responsible for the creation of this gimmicky gadget. If this research is such a home run and illustrates that the Shake Weight is better than using dumbbells, the makers of this product should be featuring this information on their web site. I did not find any research on dynamic inertia in the vast, online databases of the National Strength and Conditioning Association or American College of Sports Medicine.
Dynamic inertia is a great example of what I call, “Vapor Research;” research touted as proof of effectiveness by an equipment huckster that isn’t provided and cannot be found.
Keeping the upper body in an isometric contraction for any length of time, while holding any implement, is going to induce fatigue. Squeeze the steering wheel of your car while you sit in traffic and your entire body will feel the effects before too long. And this is NOT a good thing.
The submaximal isometric contraction needed to hold the Shake Weight has no dynamic or functional strength building benefits. Furthermore, isometric contraction training only provides benefits to the muscle at the specific angle in which the contraction is held.
So an isometric contraction where the arms are held at a 90 degree angle will only offer strength benefits at this specific angle. Certainly, taking a muscle group/joint through a complete range of motion using dumbbells is much more efficient and effective method of training.
Save your time, money and effort. The Shake Weight gets a, “Do Not Buy,” recommendation.
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As someone who knows quite a bit about fitness (from both a personal and professional stand point) I can tell you that on the surface this product looks like it will do what it says it will do. First of all, the reviewer is right about isometric exercise (it will only build strength at the specific angle of the arm). However, to my knowledge this product doesn’t advertise that it will make you stronger, it advertises that it will tone your arms. In fact, isometrics will tone your entire arm a lot faster and with far less effort than doing reps with dumbbells. When lifting weights your muscles will only use the number of fibers necessary to lift the load. The reason you do reps is to fatigue those fibers so the muscle will employ more fibers to compensate. In fact, 98% of the benefit of lifting weights is in the final rep. Isometrics triggers every muscle fiber at once, so in essence, isometrics lets you do the final rep and get the 98% gain without spending time on prior reps. This makes the workout easier, faster, and gives you more incentive to keep exercising because you will see almost immediate results by investing as little as fifteen minutes every other day. I’m also tired of traditionalist putting down isometrics. I’ve stayed fit my entire life by employing a regime of isometrics and dynamic tension (which is using the isometric force throughout your full range of motion). While these methods may have their limits (reach a peak where strength gain continues but visual muscle growth does not) so more bulk can be achieved by dedicating yourself to a time consuming isotonic workout plan; I stay fit because I only need do 15 minutes of exercise every other day (in addition to my aerobics) and have fun arm wrestling those that waste hours lifting weights thinking it’s the only way to build strength. In fact, Charles Atlas (voted the most fit man of his time) developed dynamic tension by watching lions in the zoo and realizing that they have a huge amount of muscle mass and strength without having ever lifted a weight.
The bottom line, this product will tone your arms. If the exercises are to keep your arms on only one position, then it’s isometric (you’ll still tone the entire arm but only build strength in one position). If the exercises have you move your arms throughout their range of motion then it’s dynamic tension (you’ll tone your arms and gain strength throughout your range of motion). If it is isometric and you want to build strength then simply repeat the exercise with your arm in numerous positions (keep in mind, however, that this will increase the time of your workout).
Might or might not be a “perfect” solution, but I have purchased one and put it to use today, watching the video (ok, so she smiles too much) and trying it myself. As a woman with fibromyalgia, I can’t do heavier weights. I found that this single-bar weight is easier to find a place to put it, easy to pick up and do while sitting when my lower body is refusing to cooperate, and is much more likely to be done than anything else I have found so far–and I have a few pieces of equipment here, including regular women’s coated dumbbells. I think that any exercise is going to better than none and this did not stress my arms or shoulders until the last exercise (specifically for shoulders) that I had to skip. I know my limits with fibromyalgia. I also know I need to exercise. This is a great way to encourage that. As I said, it’s not without benefits and it is better than nothing at all. Increasing compliance is the first step and this might just do it!
Actually there are many things that are better than doing nothing and better than buying/using the Shake Weight.
Thanks for a real review. Took me almost 30 minutes to find one that was anything other small minded morons commenting on appearance rather than function.
I bought it and I am using it for about a month. Seeing a big dif. I used weights all last summer and saw very little dif. so I have to say I like it…I am no expert but my arms are looking more toned. I do it 6 mintes a day once or twice a day 5 x a week. I am no expert but my daughter said that my arms look firmer the other day….:)
Ann, Ann, Ann…you used weights for a whole summer and didn’t see any results? What did you use them for, doorstops, paperweights? Very sad…
I am a firm believer that we should do all we can to stay fit and healthy. And getting in even 5 minutes of a workout for so many of us, is better than nothing!!
That said, I have found another unique upper body toning product that fits in my purse and I take it everywhere, called SpinGym. I love it. http://www.MySpinGym.com —
My arms look good and its about time, because I could never really do push-ups and pull-ups — love that we have alternatives!!
I did try this but I do not think it will give you the same benefits of lifting actual weights. I did get fatigued but that was because you will get fatigued from anything you hold in a certain position that has sopme weight to it. But 9n 6 minutes, though I get fatigued, I felt i was missing something, when I do my regular strength training workout with 8, 10 and 12 lb dumbbells I feel that i got a true workout and have seen results. It was a joke to me when you take the shake weight and do a hammer curl, it was like lifting nothing, way to light, no muscles will grow with that type of thing. I am sticking with my dumbbells, they haven’t failed me yet. To the person that saw no results using dumbbells, maybe you were not doing the correct number of sets/reps or enough weight. Believe me if you increase your weight size as you move on, you WILL see results. Also people with alot of fat, will also have to do some cardio to lose the fat as the muscle is covered up by fat, but it is there and once you lose the fat it will start to show. While 6 minutes a day sounds nice, it is NOT going to turn you into what the commercial shows you—the woman in CD, she has muscle, she did not get it from the shake weight!
Agreed! Don’t waste your money! You are not going to get an effective, fat burning workout with the Shake Weight. I wrote more of my thoughts here: http://foxfitness.com/does-the-shake-weight-really-work/
yes, people: the product is garbage…bogus. read this article from healthandfitnessadvice.com: http://www.healthandfitnessadvice.com/the-healthy-skeptic/the-shake-weight-gets-a-do-not-buy-recommendation.html
oops!! please delete my last comment!! i meant to post that response on THIS page, but got confused after jumping from one article to the other: http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/does-the-shake-weight-really-work/#respond
I have a response. If someone cannot spell or hit the keys correctly, they should not comment. It makes them look stupid. Public school, huh?
I have to say I disagree. It’s possible there are better things out there, but I’ve been using for a few weeks and my arms feel more muscular. I’m posting my photos in an ongoing review at :
butdoesitreallywork.com
so you can decide for yourself.
wuz haddn
you guys need to stop hating. this product does what it said it does tone your arms along with it being a weight its a weight and only cost 20 bucks chill out my wife has been using it and in a month ive seen a difference.
i even started using it and i see a difference so stop hating
Sal Marinello,..why you haven’t reply to Mike’s comments???… it has been more than a year now.
Thank you Mike, I have been incorporating isometrics in my workout, great results in less time.
I am going to purchase the shake weight on the 30 day trail. I need to try it for myself and see if it work for me. I don’t beleive any excrise equipment work sitting in the basement as a show piece. You must use the equipment for at least 14 days.
Just another product for couch potatoes too physically and/or mentally lazy to grind out an hour’s worth of sweat doing real excercise. Want to get in shape? Try an hour of something like P90X and let the sweat and tears show you what it REALLY takes to get REAL fitness results. No wonder America is so fat! Shakeweighters probably do this crap while watching Oprah or Glee. Results take sweat, hard work, and patience. Anything else is just you fooling yourself.
My wife talked me into buying the mans version because I’m a truck driver and can’t hit the weights like I used to. I’ve been using it a week and I can tell you it works. May be muscle memory, and perhaps if you never lifted in the past you won’t get the same result, but I can see the difference. I had stretch marks on my shoulder area when I used to lift and they are back. I’m thinking about buying a couple of backups in case they stop making the shake weight due to bad reviews. Seems that most bad reviews are by eggheads and super jocks who never tried it. I recommend it.
People who buy (and defend) products like these are the same people who buy things from SPAM email.
im disappointed in the shake weights 4 women….2 bulky,too long an seems 2 b doin no good!!!!!
Sal,
I don’t understand your philosophy here. You give the shake weight no credit at all and just continually bash on it and bash on it. Have you ever used a shake weight before? I would bet not and if so I guarantee that it wasn’t for a very extensive amount of time because if you had you would realize that it actually DOES work. I know I own one! The analogy you used in your review article, if you even want to call that load of crap an article, was a terrible comparison and made no sense at all. Shake weight uses a many contraction in a short period of time method that does work, but it takes some time and initiative to stick with it and do it once, twice, even three times a day before you will begin to see results. But how does that differ from any other kind of exercise? You want an analogy that fits? If you were to make up your mind that you wanted to lose 20 pounds by getting up every morning and going for a 5 mile jog, but then only did it one time before deciding to give up would you lose any weight? That’s the same concept with the shake weight. There is no miracle workout, weight machine, or pill to take to get you in shape. Its about dedication and commitment to something that works and shows results. Muscle confusion is also huge. Once you plateau in an area, change up what your doing and confuse the muscles by tearing them up in a different fashion, so that they can rebuild in ways they never have before.
P.s- If your boss wants a real writer, give them my email address
I saw it for the first time today on canadian TV.. man it’s so funny to see what people will invent in 2010 and there will be idiots that will buy that garbage..
c’mon people, go to gym and enjoy your workouts.. no pain no gain!! always remember that!!
I am very disappointed with the company’s response of not crediting my cc after returning the SW to them, as I was not a satisfied customer. It was over the 30 day limit so that’s it, they have the SW back and my $. Poor business PR on their part, not a happy customer on my part…not a way for them to promote their business.
To all of you out there that are thinking of trying this product, and if you are not happy with it…send it back before your 30 days are up!
$19.95 plus S&H $7.95 total $27.90
Plus I had to pay an additional $7.95 to send it back!
So BEWARE!!!
When the ad for the Shake Weight is advertised, the only thing that comes to mind is an “exercise tool” that is actually a hand job workout. As the model is doing the same motion that is commonly used in satisfying men, it became a ridiculous and absolutely transparent and disgustingly obvious ploy to sell a “workout weight system”. Truthfully, at first I thought the ad was a joke! And no one gains muscle tone from a machine that does all the work for you, for goodness sake. I’d NEVER purchase this piece of metal as I’d be embarassed to possess it or give it to someone as a gift, except maybe a gag gift at a bridal shower.
The video is embarassing as the model is doing with a weight what she would be doing to a man’s private bone. It’s disgusting!
I must say, Sal, that you, along with a few others that commented on your so called article sound like a group of guys that think they are real Macho Men! Get over yourselves! The Shake Weight is not meant to replace a total body workout, which you “men” seem to think. This is to help people from having arms that wave back at them!!!
Follow the link below and read the article in the LA Times.
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/may/10/health/la-he-skeptic-20100510
Well, I’m out of here, I’m off to purchase my Shake Weight.
Products like this are for those who want to feel like they are doing something to stay fit. Eat right and hit the gym! 6 min. a day of this and another 8 or so hours of nullifying those 6 min.. I got a magic bean that’ll supplement those 6 min of SW exercise! C’mon people, we find time to do anything that we really want to do. Workout and improve your way of life not some get fit quick without doing anything gimmick…
Half of you people are pathetic. You say this product doesn’t work but yet you turn around and say you have never used it nor would you ever try it, why is that? you sit there and dis an excersise product that you’ve never even tried because you’re so egotistical that you can’t stop being a macho idiot and actually try the product. Maybe it looks too girly for you, maybe you’re just afraid you may be wrong, or maybe you just don’t know what you’re talking about. This makers of this product never once says it will build muscle, they clearly state it will TONE your arm muscles. As for using P90X, i seriously doubt the person who posted about that has ever tried it. Many Americans don’t even know about those workout videos considering they are expensive and only advertised on paid programming sites on the television. Besides that most people now days do not have anywhere near the amount of time it would take to get the results from P90X nor do they have time to go to the gym everyday. Younger people are so busy going to work and school they don’t even have enough time to cook a healthy meal. Instead they eat out. Older people have families and jobs along with many adults going back to school now days. Where’s the time? there is none. Oh and personally i think that P90X is a joke for people who are to embarrased to go to the gym. It’s a very expensive and hectic work out. It would be really nice if you small closed minded people would stop being cruel to the people who have actually taken the chance and have this product. Many people have actually gotten great results while others haven’t been so successful with the product. Every product works differently for every person, no person is the same so of course there will be people who are not satisfied with this product just as with any other product out there.
Also in addition to my previous comment yes I am a younger person in my early twenties. No I have not tried this product and I hope I will never have to try this product due to the fact that I chose to stay in shape by wrestling. So Neobot I know about hard work and sweat and tears streaming down the face in order to stay inshape but with all that I can honestly say that if for any reason I need I wouldn’t put it pass me to buy the Shake Weight. Wrestling is one of the hardest sports out there. In high school, football players would come in during wrestling season to train with us so they would be prepared for football. All of those football players said wrestling is 100 times more effective and strenuous than football practice or any workout they’ve ever had at any gym. So I say screw P90X, why waste all your money on that when you can get the same results, quicker and more effective, with wrestling. Neobot seriously you need to shut up about P90X and try wrestling. Some wrestlers have to loose ten pounds in two days in order to make weight. P90X isn’t going to do that for you but trust me vigorus wrestling will. So with that said Noebot you may be all for P90X and everything but in wrestling that’s for wimps. You keep to your workout videos and I’ll stick with wrestling which by the way I’m a girl and despite the fact that you may be inshape I can guarantee I can take you down, anywhere and anytime
oh and MrsB, seriously you would know that motion very well wouldn’t you. You probably have a Shake Weight and use it as practice for if you ever get a guy. You people are pathetic.
I believe that it can actually be used in other ways other than advertised. I think I can make it work for me. Any thing helps if done properly and with out of the box thinking.
I use isometrics only and am pretty ripped. 5% body fat and I used to have a big tummy. Alkaline foods will bring you to success!
Glory,
You are gonna complain about $27. Please, if $27 is alot , to you, then you should not have bought it, let alone buy anything, you should not be thinking about fitness products. Some of you people are acting like this product is hundreds of dollars. It is $27 including shipping.
“Hitting the gym” is pretty expensive to some people. Don’t underestimate silly looking products like the Shake Weight, its $20..relax. If you haven’t tried it then you can’t give an opinion about it. Now all you idiotic meatheads go to the gym and stare at yourself in the mirror for an hour or two and stop worrying about products you are too afraid to try.
I bought the shake weight a few weeks ago. I use it with my standard workout. 100 jumping jacks, 100 sit upts and the shake weight.
I went to the gym, hit the tread mill, the crunch machine and a weight machine. I can honestly say that it works. I lifted 12lb dumbbells, 50-100 times and in 30 seconds I feel more of a work out then I do with the dumbbells. How is that not a good thing? I sweat more, and feel more of a work out. You make that sound like a bad thing, why?
$30 a month for the gym and I work out a much better sweat at home with a $30 product. It works. Does it build muscle? Yes but more importantly it tones your arms. If I was going for raw bulk then yes lifting dumbbells is obviously better, but to tone your body, this is by far an easier, quicker way. 90% of people can’t or won’t dedicate themselves to going to the gym, going for jogs or 1-2 hours of exercise. Shake weight makes you work up a sweat fast and you feel it fast.
If you don’t think thats a good thing then you’re a fool and no one should listen to you. Gimic or not, it works.
Alaska and Hawaii
Do not buy as shake weight rips you off on postage.They ship it by postoffice the cheapest way which cost the same inc,.all states but they are charging 15.00,$ extra A real dishonest rip off. I checked with postoffice and they quoted me 10 $ for postage so surcharge is exess. Its a pure ripoff Do NOT BUY
How do you give a “review” of a product when you have never touched it? That just doesn’t fly in my book. Just because you can’t find empirical clinical evidence that it works does not mean that it doesn’t. If that were the case then we can just go ahead and dismiss all religions while you’re at it. To be a REAL reviewer, you have to at least attempt to use a product, rather than trying to base it on your inability to find empirical data or your “scientific” knowledge…which begs the question of whether you have a degree in aerodynamics or physical anatomy as well. Get the product, use it for awhile (regardless of what it is) and THEN make an intelligent and rational user based opinion rather than rating anything a “Do Not Buy” when you haven’t even bought it. (For the record, no I don’t own one but I swim 3 miles a day so I really don’t need upper body strength as the water takes care of it)
It works!!! Sorry but I don’t have time to do P90X and I’m also not obsessed with being RIPPED. I simply do an elliptical for my cardio to maintain health and weight and the Shake Weight so I can wear sleeveless dresses and tops. I’ve never looked better. Plus I don’t have to go to the gym for the dumbbells and it only TAKES 5 WHOLE MINUTES! People who knock this product aren’t giving it a fair try or are just mad As Seen on TV finally delivered a good one. BUY IT, ladies.
I think some are missing the point – yes, working out a solid amount each week is the best option. However, the shake weight is supposed to be a supplement to that sort of exercise – it is not a full body workout, nor is it advertised as such. I go to the gym often, but it’s nice to have something I can easily do outside of the gym, perhaps even in front of my TV if that’s what I want to do. It’s the same reason I enjoy having a stability ball, jump rope, etc in my living room – I can still get some benefits at home (for relatively cheap) when I can’t make it to the gym.
I can understand the skepticism, but it would appear the author of this article has not actually used the shake weight. You do need to actually use the product (or monitor someone using it for an appropriate period) to give a legitimate review. There are some good points made in the article (is the shake weight using sketchy advertising methods? perhaps) but why not give it a go, skepticism aside, and then write a review?
Argument A: it does what it says, it will tone your arms. – Sounds like it does. But still misleading by saying “6 minutes a day” when it’s really 6 minutes, two or three times a day.
Argument B: go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbsSeVr5NSI, watch from 38 seconds to 48 seconds. – Now tell me it will “do what it says”.
Why is everyone so obsessed with the girl’s video? The guy’s video has serious obvious fallacies. And unless these are two different products advertised to work the exact same way, they’re lying to everyone about what it can do. Maybe if you get it for the reason of toning arms, it’ll work. But in no way, shape, form, or dimension that might exist, could it be considered exercise.
I bought it from target , which means i have 90 days to return it. so we’ll see.
i just bought the shake weight 2 days ago and already i feel a difference. i was alittle skeptic at first but i figured i would give it a try. my whole family uses it. in matters of seconds u can feel your muscles working. i love it and i use it everyday. i already see a difference.
i just bought the shake weight 2 days ago and already i feel a difference. i was alittle skeptic at first but i figured i would give it a try. my whole family uses it. in matters of seconds u can feel your muscles working. i love it and i use it everyday
Hey there guys! Thanks for your awesome review.
As always appreciate your honesty in helping people to cut through the bull that is so thick when it comes to weight loss.
$29? Buy youself a skipping rope and a set of dumbells
Dr G
Mike,
You gave a great explanation not just on this product but your knowledge of strength and muscle training/building and I want to say thank you!
I bought my shake weight for $20 dollars at Walgreens. I’ve lost 60 pounds since March with cardio, strength training, and proper diet. I am not big on lifting weights yet…I usually stick with some 3 pound hand weights but I was very interested in the shake weight from the moment I saw it on tv. I found out they had them at my local Walgreens and bought one right away. I had used it here and there for a few minutes just shaking it in different positions the when I bought it last week, but I have done the dvd twice daily for the past 4 days and I don’t see any results yet, but I feel them tremendously! I am going to continue to do it once or twice daily because I am trying to get myself in better shape for an upcoming wedding. I haven’t been using it very long, but I do feel that if I (or anyone else trying to lose weight/tone up) continue to do cardio, weight training, proper diet and use the shake weight, you will get maximum results!!
to all of you jocks and other people that slam this product and other light work out equipment did you ever think about people that have been in a bad wreck or some thing like that when they can no longer go to a gym or lift alot of weight but want to get in better shape or just get moving a little bit at a time the shake weight is great for that kind of thing I mean use your brain no one really thinks their going to get huge with the shake weight just toned up a little and not every one wants to be a big muscle head I had my arm,hand and fingers ripped off in a motorcycle wreck and very lucky to have had it all put back on and have about 90% of use the shake weight and some rubber work out balls got my arm and hand back in working condition and because of all the screws and rods holding me back together I can no longer lift very heavy things so this worked for me hope this helps some one out there and good luck to any one trying to get in better shape
O lord….I’m so confused and torn on whether I should buy this product or not..I have nice looking arms but I just want them toned out…you know what after reading all this reviews, I’m going to take a shot at the ShakeWeight.
Jeff,
Out of these reviews, you pick mine to comment about…why thank you.
Jeff, it’s the principal of the whole issue with the company. Just poor business PR on their part. By the way the total was $35.85. The company advertises free? shipping and handling…but then they charge postage and handing. What’s free about that?
There are a few problems here: the girl’s version is supposed to give you long and feminine muscles, the guys version is supposed to get you bulky and muscular. Which is it?
However, I did find some positive testimonials on it as well. This review http://www.worldofdiets.com/shake-weight/ , which seems to be balanced, has over 100 comments at the end by people who used the Shake Weight. It shows how some love it and some hate it. I can’t quite figure out why or how