Because I’m stunned that this thing actually works!
It’s a whole body vibration machine. I know, I know, you’re seeing visions of housewives in the 30s with those belts strapped around their hips.
Well, we all know those didn’t work. And honestly, that’s what I thought when an old friend of mine suggested I come by her clinic to try her new Proellixe machines. That was over a year ago. But then another good friend of mine started using them daily, and has noticed major results in just a few weeks. I decided I would give it a go, and dropped by this morning for my first session.
And if first impressions are anything to go by (well, I also did a fair bit of online research, reading positive reviews in well-respected places like Reuters, The Times Online, Bandolier and the British Journal of Sports Medicine) then I am sold.
It’s a strangely intense sensation, with this plate vibrating madly under your feet (or your hands…I was in a plank position with my hands on the plate for two incredibly long and difficult minutes). You really do feel your whole body vibrating as the muscles are forced to contract at a much higher rate than normal. In fact, when you stand on a vibrating Proellixe (or similar machine), your muscles are working at 95% efficiency. Stack that up against the standard 40% efficiency you get in a traditional resistance training workout and I begin to wonder why I don’t just buy one for my TV room!
And that’s just part of the magic of whole-body vibration. You stand on the machine (striking various poses from squats to pushups to lunges and more) for no more than 10 minutes at a time (finally a workout I can fit into my busy day!), and you get the equivalent of 100 crunches, or an hour-long weight training workout. Oh, and did I mention there’s no sweating involved (except I did get a bit dewy during the 2-minute upper-body workout).
Some of the other seemingly magical effects are the boost to the lymphatic system (also known as the body’s second circulatory system, the lymphatic system has no heart to pump it, but relies on our body’s own motion to move lymph through the body), reduction in cortisol (stress hormones) and increased production of endorphins (feel-good hormones). I tell ya, I was on a good-mood high for a good three hours after my first session.
Now, one thing you need to be aware of before you begin thinking this is some kind of magic bullet: whole body vibration makes no claims to be a replacement for cardio-vascular exercise (darn it, that’s my least favourite kind!), so you’ll still have to get out there and sweat to the oldies at least three times a week. Old school. Rats!
But anyway, sweating aside (I’m still going to strap on the iPod and bounce on our trampoline after dark…evidently that’s good for my lymphatic system too) I’m signed up for three months of Proellixe sessions, and I’m going to track my progress throughout, to see if this helps me on my journey to (FINALLY) my Weight Watchers goal. I got my measurements taken today, and I’ll let you know the +/- after the end of the three months.
Hmmm…I have had constant lower back pain for years. I see Randy’s comment below and have to wonder. Looking forward to hearing how it goes for you, Kath.
I too started out with the Proellixe in our little city here in Washington State. In the first 30 days I used the machine 3 times a week for 10 minutes, and I lost 5 Lbs and 5 inches around my hips and waist! It was really hard to believe that the vibrations actually had this benefit in so short of a time. The other unforseen benifit was that my almost contant lower back pain completely vanished as well. Now when I feel any back tension coming on, I just hop on my machine.
Okay, I am so intrigued. I can remember trying grandma’s belt machine only to see all that jiggled. I look forward to hearing about your next 3 months.