Six of the most bizarre weight loss gadgets
When it comes to losing weight, most of us know there's no magic formula.
It's all about eating less and exercising more, right?
See also: Five common myths about losing weight
But that doesn't stop manufacturers coming up with new-fangled gadgets promising to help us shed those unwanted pounds. And some of them are truly bizarre, as you'll see with our roundup of the weirdest weight loss gadgets of all, below...
1. For fork's sake
Ever heard of a fork that tells you when you're eating too much? Well, you have now. The Hapifork is an electronic fork that lights up and vibrates when you are eating too fast. The whole idea is about being more mindful when you are eating. It says: "As it takes 15 to 20 minutes to feel satisfied, by simply slowing down your pace while eating, you will consume fewer calories."
HAPIfork Bluetooth-Enabled Smart Fork, £137.52, Amazon
See also: Four ways to lose weight while you sleep
2. Tweet me!
Described as "the original Internet-connected bathroom scale", the Withings WS-30 Wireless Bathroom Scale uses a Wi-Fi connection to sync your weight, BMI, and body fat readings with your personal health dashboard, so you can visualise your weight trends, track your progress, and motivate yourself to maintain a healthy weight. The scary bit? You can "choose to publish easily to Facebook and Twitter to keep yourself motivated and receive support from friends". ARGH. However, it adds, there is the option to "keep it private if you'd rather keep your progress to yourself". PHEW.
Withings WS-30 Wireless Bathroom Scale, Black, £79.99, John Lewis.
3. Skip the rope bit
Did you know there are now 'skipping ropes' available without the, er, rope? The Pixnor® HJ002 Cordless Digital Jump Rope description says: "Yes that's right, the old fashioned skipping rope has been upgraded to the 21st century so you can now skip and jump without stopping or tripping over the foot-tangling rope". But wasn't that the fun of it? The aim here, however, is burning calories indoors without smashing your house up with a haywire rope. The cord is replaced with weighted balls on both handles, and: "Skipping just 10 minutes burns the same amount of calories as a 30-minute run, which means you can potentially burn three times the amount of calories." What's more, the display count both your jumps and your calories burned.
Pixnor® HJ002 Cordless Digital Jump Rope Skipping Rope Calorie Counter (White Blue), £40.17, Amazon.
4. Abs-olutely fab?
Breaking news: You can work your stomach muscles without doing a single stomach crunch. Apparently. If you strap on the Slendertone Unisex Flex Max Abs5 Ab Toning Belt, "an abdominal toning belt that delivers strong and toned abs", five times a week for six weeks you'll reportedly see a change in your tum. It uses EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) to target the muscles, and, according to the promotional bit, "just 20 minutes toning can be like doing 120 sit-ups but the contractions recruit the entire abdominal structure so your abs can look good all year round". Bonus.
Slendertone Unisex Flex Max Abs5 Ab Toning Belt, £53.32,Amazon.
5. Taken for a ride
Now you can pretend that you're riding a horse while watch TV and toning your muscles at the same time (didn't you always dream of doing that?). The OSIM iGallop Core and Abs Exerciser targets bums, tums and thighs with its "zero-impact, tri-axial riding action". The balancing also engages certain muscle groups and may help improve coordination and posture, apparently. Yeehaw!
The OSIM product appears to be American, but the iJoy Twist Ride Home Muscle Toner Exerciser by Human Touch by Human Touch, £765.94,Amazon, is similar.
6. Sofa, so good
Don't want to get off the sofa? Don't worry, you don't have to with the Good Ideas Pedal Armchair Exerciser. You can improve circulation and fitness in the legs while reading or watching Countdown. We're sold.
Good Ideas Pedal Armchair Exerciser, £14.49, Amazon.
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