Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

So I've been holding off on reviewing this belt because while I was optimistic, I wasn't certain how well this device was going to work. I hope this review gives you enough information to make an informed decision. First of all, realize that this belt is essentially electroshock therapy. You're delivering tiny, rapid jolts of electricity from two AAA batteries to your gut. There is no such thing as "targeting fat" as any fitness guide will tell you; what you're really doing is tightening muscle. If you have belly fat, this will not make it go away. What it will do is (hopefully) stimulate your abdominal muscles enough that they will show through when you lose fat in that area. I work out five times a week with a combination of strength training, kickboxing, jump rope, and sit-ups. I wear the belt while doing that training and, when office work overlaps my workout session, I keep it on during calls. This belt's icons imply that this is in fact a massage belt, not as a muscle stimulant. All the icons that show which type of stimulation you're going to torture yourself with range from hands to massage rocks to finger poking. I just used the one that looked like dumbbells. The belt defaults to 30 minutes, although I've easily done two hours with multiple applications. There are two sides of your torso where it delivers a shock, and you can control them independently. Did I mention this is electroshock therapy? For it to work right, you need to attach gel pads. These gel pads are very sticky. You are not going to want to share these pads with other people, because they get pretty gross after awhile. Also, they are COLD when you put them on, and it's probably the single-most unpleasant sensation after cranking the device too high (more about that in a minute). One of the major flaws in this device is that it shows bars for each side to represent shock intensity ... but each bar actually represents TWO notches up or down. This means it's very easy to lose track of how intense you're using the belt. But don't worry, the belt will let you know what your limits are--and you WILL discover that limit the hard way. After weeks of using this belt, I can't make it past the third bar. Given that I was at the upper end of the second bar (remember, it's two clicks per bar), it seems I've been developing muscle enough to reach that third bar and hopefully will improve as time goes on. Once, I cranked it to the fourth bar. ONCE. It caused an instant, uncomfortable cramp that had me tearing the belt off. It's hard to describe; it's a bit like being punched in the gut at high speed without any actual impact. You could walk around with this thing on all day, but after awhile you will develop a cramp, probably in your weakest side. It's fun to imagine just wearing this belt while doing office worker stuff. In reality, it's a low-level annoyance that makes it a bit difficult to concentrate (you wouldn't want this on while doing a presentation, for example). Also, it gets sweaty and itchy after a few sessions. I've found that the belt is best as an optimizer that works out your gut while you're doing something else. It could be dangerous while lifting weights, so I keep it at a lower level, but when kickboxing I crank it up higher and it actually feels good to do exercises with it on. Having your muscles move independent of you isn't a fun feeling; this belt works best when you actively exercise with it. Does it work? Yes, I absolutely have noticed a difference in my upper abs. They're more visible than before, because they just stronger. You can feel the difference when you flex your core. But they are not a panacea to your stomach woes. You still have to lose weight if you want anyone to see the muscles you've been building under that belly fat. If you exercise regularly, this belt will definitely up your game. Just take it slow and whatever you do, don't crank it higher than two bars at first!