Tristar Lateral Thigh Trainer > Reviews > Get fitter with no excuses

Author's product rating:   

Durability	Good
Comfort	Excellent
Value for money	Excellent

Advantages:	Easy to use, dont need much space, can work out while watching telly : )
Disadvantages:	Bit bulky to move and store

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Having found myself drifting away from going regularly to the gym and always using the excuse of having no time to go, I was always looking for ways to get fit at home. I'd gone through dozens of fitness videos which was fine when the kids were small and went to bed early but now I'd got to the point that I just wasn't up to starting a workout later on in the evening. And to be honest I got bored and frustrated watching some very slim fit lycra glad goddess telling me she was just a normal woman who understood what it was like to feel pressured and struggle to find time to workout. No you dont!!!

I needed something that I didnt feel encroached on my limited free time. It needed to be something I could do wherever my kids were and whether or not they'd taken over control of the TV. It needed to be something that could be fun. And it needed to be something where I could see and feel some results!

I'd seen the LTT advertised in magazines and found myself sucked into it's programme on the shopping channel. Undeterred by, if too cynical to actually be inspired by, the slim orange lycra clad goddesses with ironing board stomachs I thought that this did seem to be something I could fit into my own lifestyle. The price at a little under £90 was the main problem but I headed for ebay and picked a new one up for around £50.

At first it didnt seem to be working but a bit of a heftier push on the pedal from my boyfriend got it going. I did read the book and watch the DVD once but it really is such a simple thing to use I don't think I've actually used them since. Once you've got the hang of the initial balance it's no problem at all.

Probably the hardest thing is to remember to exercise a degree of moderation at first. I tried to go for the hard toning workout by adjusting the speed/tension setting - I felt like my legs had just seized up altogether and rapidly went back to a more sensible level until I'd got more used to it.

At the higher tension levels you can really feel it working your leg muscles. Personally though I prefer using the faster lower tension setting and going for the cardiovascular workout. You can really work up a sweat on this thing and having the mini computer is great incentive as you can just aim for a number of steps or calories, or workout for a set time. Even on the lower tension settings though the workout really does get your thigh and butt muscles toned up. Within just a couple of weeks of regular use I was feeling more toned..and my boyfriend said it defintiely was working wonders!

It comes with cords for upper arm workout though I found those a bit awkward to use. Also if I dropped them for a bit and wanted to then use them again I had to have somebody around to pick them up for me or stop the machine and then get off and on again. Instead I use hand weights while I'm working on the LTT and get the same benefits

I love the fact I only need a fairly small space to use it. I just bring it out in front of the telly, and just get going. It's so easy to do that you don't need to even really be concentrating on it. Use it with MTV going and you find yourself working out to the music. Otherwise I just watch my telly as normal and before I know it I've done 20 minutes workout, burnt over 100 calories and Corrie hasn't even finished!

On the downside....the telly advertising really does make it seem like you can achieve miracles which I must admit to being a bit scpetical about, though there's no denying it certainly has improved my flabby bits a lot. But to get the sort of weight loss and inch loss results they talk about I reckon you must have to spend much longer using it and diet like hell. I had the Powerhouse diet book that came with it and decided that was way too strict to even think about. I'm just cutting out my between meals junk food, going for healthier options, drinking more water and along with the LTT there are definite results. i don't believe any one exercise machine will ever compensate for a lousy choc-filled diet...but if anybody can prove me wrong there I'd lobe to hear it!

The machine isnt quite as lightweight and easy to store as they may suggest. Its quite heavy to move (especially when you stagger off it!) and doesnt store that easily but thats a very small criticism. I make sure to keep an old gym mat under it as I did find the odd oil spot coming out of it. I've read several complaints about the noise but although mine did squeak a bit at first it wasnt that bad and seems fine now

Also remember it is giving a pretty good muscle workout so warm up well. I got complacent, used it a couple of times going in cold and ended up with a sore hamstring that forced me to stop altogether for several weeks. And like any exercise routine be careful if you have any existing injuries. That said I've suffered from back pain since a gym accident as a teenager and can use this without aggravating it at all

Overall I'd recommend this for anyone who genuinely cant seem to find time to do a regular class or gym visit. Knowing you can get a good workout and not miss your favourite soap, spaorts match, drama is great - it really does fit into a normal person's lifestyle. And it gives results. Only downside is I now need to buy smaller jeans!!