Trendy fitness company gives members electric shocks for weight loss

Friday, August 26, 2016 by: Isabelle Z.
Tags: exercise, electrical stimulation, fitness training

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(NaturalNews) As waistlines get larger around the world, people are increasingly looking for a quick fix to their weight woes. Those who lack the patience for the tried-and-true "eat less, exercise more" approach, are often willing to shell out for the latest trend promising fast results, and a London gym is meeting this demand with an unusual approach: electrical impulses.

This type of training, which is known as electric muscle stimulation (EMS) training, entails wearing a bodysuit made of cotton that emits electrical impulses to every part of your body, to exercise each of your muscle groups, while you perform a series of simple exercises including squats and lunges. Its founders claim you can burn as much as 3,000 calories in just a 48-hour period.

According to the company's website, EMS is typically used to strengthen and repair joints and muscles. Some people use it for brittle bones, while others turn to it while recovering from injury. It does not place pressure on delicate tendons or joints, because it targets each muscle group independently. The impulses are sent directly to the targeted muscles, which means the joints are completely bypassed.

Ten percent drop in body fat ratio after 12 weeks

At Exerceo, a 25-minute EMS workout session costs £50, which is currently around $66. The gym claims that one 25-minute session is equal to spending 90 minutes in a traditional gym, and they say that after six weeks of two 25-minute sessions per week, a person's average body fat will drop by 4 percent. They also claim that women can expect to note a 1.5 to 2 cm reduction in their waist and hips after ten weeks, while men can expect to see reductions of between 2 and 2.5 cm. After 12 weeks, they say that people can expect their body fat ratio to drop by as much as 10 percent, and to lose as much as 8 pounds.

The Daily Mail sent London fitness fanatic Emily Furlow to the gym to try out the unusual training. She said the idea of having electric shocks activating her muscles was a bit terrifying at first, but she was willing to put her reservations aside to experience the process firsthand and test its effectiveness.

Electricity turned up as high as you can tolerate

Before getting started, she was told to put on a skintight cotton undergarment and a bulky suit equipped with the electrical technology. While plugged into a machine, she was guided through the workout. The trainer told her that the electricity would be gradually increased to the highest level she could tolerate, and that it might hurt "a little bit."

She said: "At first it just felt like pins and needles in my muscles, but the more electricity you can handle, the more they turn it up and your muscles get really powered up.

"It was a weird sensation and like nothing I've felt before; in a way it was quite scary as you can't control how much electricity is reaching your muscles."

She said she kept going until she was physically unable to continue because she had too much electricity running through her body. Afterward, she said her muscles felt completely depleted of energy, and her abs were extremely sore. She could barely move the next day, which she took as a sign that her workout had been particularly vigorous. After four sessions she said her body started to get used to it, and her abs and glutes felt tighter.

The company recommends that people do not do EMS training more than three times per week.

Whether you choose to buy into the hype or prefer to work out in a more traditional way, the importance of a proper diet in weight loss efforts and overall health improvements should not be overlooked, with an emphasis on eating organic vegetables and fruits, and plenty of superfoods.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

ExerceoTraining.co.uk