Fitness Quest Leg Magic...Is it really Magic or a Hoax?

In response to a request I checked out Leg Magic by Fitness Quest. Many times I am surprised by these simple devices and this was one of those times.

At first glance it is one of the simplest machines I've seen. I use the term machine loosely. I usually call this type of exercise equipment a gadget or gizmo!

This is a light machine that is very easy to carry and move around. It folds easily as well and can be put into a closet.

It comes in at 27 pounds and measures 25 inches tall by 20 inches across and 9 inches deep.

The first thing I did was look at its design. The pedals sit on a slightly curved track and move side to side. One would probably only notice the curving of the frame if

1. You were reviewing it or
2. After you used it and wondered how it was working.

I noticed that the base has rubber on the areas that would scratch your floor and the small handle bar has rubber on it as well.

I cautiously got on the Leg Magic. I say cautiously because it seemed as if the pedals would slip and slide as I was getting on but they didn't.

The pedals are large with horizontal treads and lips at the top which prevented my feet from moving forward. The pedals or steps (since they don't pedal) are very large measuring about 14 inches.

There is a small monitor that shows calories burned and the time. This monitor has a mode button on it. It also says total rep, rep and scan which you can get to by pressing the mode button. So you can keep it at scan and it will continue to show you the options I mentioned.

The machine is slightly adjustable. There are two holes in the steel tube on which the handle sits. It is very easy to adjust this tube. At the highest the handle came up to my waist and I'm 5 feet 4 inches tall so if you are very tall this may not be a comfortable machine for you.

It comes with a DVD. Some come with a nutrition guide. From what I saw online I would not buy this from the company. It can be bought at any sporting goods store, many department stores that sell fitness equipment and even Walgreen's. It sells for as much as $159.00.

The purpose of Leg Magic is to tone your inner (adductor) and outer (abductor) thigh muscles, your butt and abdominal areas.

Using it:

The company claims that you can use this for 60 seconds a few times a day and see results within a week. I wouldn't go so far as to say that 3 minutes a day without any cardio vascular exercise or watching what you are eating will perform this miracle. I will say that I was surprised. It makes common sense that if you lie on your side and lift and lower your leg really using your own resistance you will see some results. Leg Magic uses this same principle. There is no resistance other than your own so when I was using it and felt it this was because of my own resistance and (Though the company doesn't seem to talk about this) the curvature of the tracks.

I actually felt some cardio vascular work i.e. my heart rate was elevated and because of the nature of the design holding in my abs seemed to make sense which is where the "works your abs" statement comes from.

My final thoughts:

Would I pay $150 for this? No I wouldn't because I know I wouldn't use it. I would get a resistance band or an ankle weight for far less money. Would I pay half of that price? Yes I would though I have to say for me boredom sets in easily. However is you keep this in front of your television and just hop on it and eat well, get your heart rate up for more than 3 minutes a day you just might see some toning up of the areas many of us want to see jiggling less.