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Does the Shake Weight Work?

January 31 2011

Shake Weight is the new fitness product which is the talking point these days. Of course, the guy and the girl who uses it is ripped. So it should work. Or does shake weight work? Here is my shake weight reviews.

What are the Shake Weight claims?

shake weight does it work


1. Get toned & firm arms in 6 minutes a day - for women.
2. Build definition, strength & size in 6 minutes a day - for Men.

So does the Shake Weight  work?

Since there is no shake weight study out there, all we need to see is if shake weight goes against the fundamental science of muscle growth and fat loss.

  • Body fat: You cannot burn body fat from specific areas of your body by exercising those specific areas. This is called the myth of spot reduction. It is the same reason why millions of Americans who does thousands of crunches at the gym still have no abs. So shake weight fails big time for fat loss.
  • What about the calories burned? You might burn 30-50 calories with a 6 minute workout since it only uses small muscles groups, with a small range of motion, and for very short time. To burn a pound of fat, you need to burn 3500 calories!
  • Muscle Gain: There might be some increase in muscle in your upper body for a beginner for the first few workouts, but then your muscles adapt.  Since there is no progression in weights with a shake weight, which is the cardinal rule of muscle gain, no shaking will ever get your more muscular.
  • Tone: You look toned when you lose fat and gain some muscle. Since shake weight fails to do both, guess how can it make you toned?
  • Pump: Most of the shake weight ads show people using it and feeling the burn in your arms and upper body and they think “wow it works”. You can get a regular dumbell and shake it too and you will feel the same. Or get a bottle, fill it half way, and shake it .

Are there any risks with Shake Weight?

  • Harm:  It is now well established that vibration exposure can cause harmful effects. According to OSHA (Occupational & Safety Hazard Association), long term exposure to vibration can also cause nausea, impaired vision, hyperventilation, and disorders such as White Finger Disease (Raynaud’s Syndrome), Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome, & Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Practical Applications

  • Shake Weight do not work to get toned, gain strength, muscle or burn calories.
  • Regular use of shake weight may cause some vibration exposure problems.
  • If shake weight helps anything, it teaches you how to market the wrong product the right way.

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Erik Petersen | Wed December 21, 2011  

I can’t believe that I am reading about people actually using this thing for anything other than a gag gift! Sheeple everywhere!

Anoop | Wed December 21, 2011  

Hi Erik,

I don’t how to reply to some of these comments. I think even the shake weight people are amazed at how some people can be this gullible!

dude | Fri February 17, 2012  

im trying to stop my girl friend from useing the guys weight because she dose have wrist problems but she dont beleave me when i say its not good for her wrists right?

Shawn Valentine | Fri February 17, 2012  

If I was a greedy person wanting to make millions I could easily create one of these products…I love the comments that come from those that have no formal training in exercise science, exercise physiology, personal training, physical therapy, biomechanics, etc…The public is so easily fooled by a well produced infomercial, and I feel that is another reason why our professions are so important so products like these cannot succeed.

AJ | Fri December 28, 2012  

Ok can i use the shake weight everyday for 6minutes then go work out at the gym?

Erik | Sat December 29, 2012  

C’mon people, this was the result of brilliant marketing! It was never intended to actually produce results, except for facial muscles being worked while laughing! What a great gag/white elephant gift!

Anoop | Thu January 03, 2013  

Hi AJ,

You can, but not needed at all.

Erik you post sums it up nicely.

Yeshua | Mon January 28, 2013  

I think you hit the nail on the head, regarding this product. I purchased one, maybe a year ago, after hearing so much hype about it from my gf at the time. All I remember is, I used it maybe one or two days - mainly because it made my elbows lock up (never had a joint lock up ever while working out) and it made my neck feel horrible… it didn’t feel like DOMS. I normally do drop sets or pyramids, with partial reps thrown in after failure sometimes, and fascia stretching. But I fail to see how this product could have any beneficial effect for anyone, it literally felt like I was borderline injured, and not in my muscles. The first thing that came to mind after using it was tendonitis. I suppose it was a great marketing scheme, but great results tend to only come from hard work, in my opinion. I get the feeling that if someone were to use only this product for exercise, they may develop really poor posture and who knows what else.

What do you think?

Smileys

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