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iGallop: Great Abs While Sitting Down?

Innovative exercise routines are great - but I'm not so sure about the iGallop. The OSIM iGallop "is the revolutionary exerciser that can help you shape and tone your tummy, hips, seat and thighs."

First released in Singapore and Hong Kong, the iGallop allows you to emulate the movements of horse-riding. If you feel like cringing check out the original sleazy Asian iGallop TV ad (note: unsurprisingly this ad was canned in favor of a more wholesome version).

The iGallop is available in the US from Brookstone for $599.

Of course you could always buy a swiss ball for $20.

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38 Comments

Dietography.com

Seems fun but I cant help thinking that its just another fad. Nothing beats crunches IMO ;-)

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iFitandHealthy

I welcome what seems to be an innovative marketing approach, but it is hard to beat 6-minutes abs roller :-)

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melbedggood

yet another gimmick to get more money out of the obese...

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Spectra

It looks like it'd do similar things as a stability ball. It's not magic or anything, won't really make you lose weight, but it will probably tone up your core. The guys' a marketing genius though...$599 is STEEP but people will pay anything for health gadgets it seems.

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angel Sanabria

i bought the igallop brand new at brookstone for $150+25 for the 2 year extended warranty, they have a new model for 499 which is a much smother, much more comfortable seat maybe when the new model after that one comes out I'll see if I can grab the same deal... ;-)... its awesome... I use it for strengthening my 4 year old sons' core muscles (he has Cerebral Palsy) and it requires balance and stabilizing/strength of the abdominal, hip, and leg muscles. It also helps with inner thigh strengthening and toning all of which he needs. He thinks its his very own riding toy but he's loving it and either way I think it helps tone those muscles and its a favorite "toy" in my house everyone wants to try it and see who can stay on longer.

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JoAnna

How long ago did you buy the Igallop?
I looked on the store website and it was not there.

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Mark

National Panasonic has a whole line of these out in Japan. They're actually kind of fun -- I've tried them in the shops. At the fast setting they're like kiddy versions of those rodeo bull things in bars!

They're aimed mostly at older people who can't handle a tough workout and need to maintain their sense of balance, which degrades with age.

Here's one: http://ctlg.national.jp/product/info.do?pg=04&hb=EU6442

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Robyn

I don't know for that much money I would rather just take riding lessons. Being on a real horse would be way more exciting. And hey just to let you know ladies the more you actually do ride a horse the less you have to do kegels. That is one area of the body and really benefits from that sort of activity. I can't really see how it work your abs though. I agree with buying a excersize ball that really forces you to maintain your balance. Still though I could see that alot of these would sell not for the excersize but for the fact that I think that alot of people would find these entertaining.

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Weight Loss

It does seem like fun but I too believe that it is pointless get this exercise machine instead of just an exercise ball. I don't know why people keep coming up with these abs solutions.

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Ryan

I don't get people's obsession with abs. Many people who buy ab products don't even have the body fat levels necessary to see their abs. For anyone that doesn't know, here are a few things you should know about your abs:
* You can't get a six-pack by doing crunches all day. You can't burn fat off an area by working the muscle underneath it. All fat goes to the liver to be burned, and the body has its own ideas about where to burn from.
* No matter how much you work your abs, you won't see them unless your body fat is low, like 8% body fat for men. Some people who never, ever train their abs have six-packs if they're lean.
* Your abs are the rectus abdominus muscle. It's a flat slab of muscle. What creates the six-pack shape are the tendons stretched over the rectus abdominus. You cannot change the shape of those tendons; they're genetic. This means that some people simply can't get a six-pack.
* While I'm not completely sure if this is true, some bodybuilding experts believe that exercises like sit-ups and leg raises will actually make your waist bigger. However, the vacuum exercise, which works the transversus abdominus inside your body, will shrink it.

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Desi

Just out of curiosity, what's the vacuum exercise?

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Paul Strachan

It seems a good product, however, the retail price seems too expensive for the average person to work their abs. I'm sure they would have something else in mind to spend 600 dollars. Its much more effective to go get a swiss ball.

It has been shown that one could get a six- pack from abs
exercises, its all about sticking to the exercise routine, whilst maintaining that healthy diet.

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Horse Gal

I am a regular dressage and trail rider and own five horses. I tried it at Brookstone. I had to admit it was a little embarrasing as I had several strange men encouraging me to try it but it was fun once I got over my stage fright.

The main thing that was great was that it really helps with balance if you try some of their suggested exercises such as putting your legs out in front. I also have started vaulting (gymnastics on the horse) and thought this would be a fun way again to work on balance.....kneeling and standing on the iGallop as I would a vaulting horse.

And yes, I know riding a real horse properly does give you abs of steel mainly because you are controling the horse's speed through your stomach muscles. I really didn't feel my stomach getting much of a workout. But I did like it for a suppliment to riding and I might buy one.

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Michelle

Actually - you don't 'control the horses' speed with your stomach muscles'. Leg aides, light rein pressure and body positioning control the horses' speed.

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AMH

Ummm, I galloped racehorses my entire life and trust me, you are using your abs to hold horses and get them to rate. Maybe the average pleasure rider doesn't use their abs, but the professionals do because "light rein pressure" isn't going to stop a fit horse

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lizzy

All I know is that i tried the iGallop at Brookstore for 5 min and my abs hurt for 2 day!

BTW, "alot" is TWO words!!!! "a lot"

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KT

I tried it at Brookstone yesterday and had a ton of fun! Today my a thighs, butt, and abs are really sore. My abs might be sore from all the laughing I did while "galloping"!

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Sarah

i'm sure that the iGallop probably works in the long run... but $599 is a lot of money! I tried it a few days ago at Brookstone, and I'm so sore, it really was a ton of fun though! but after awhile of using it, i'd probably get bored. (because Lord knows I need to lose a lot of weight, and it's going to take a couple hundred times on this thing...)

I dont think i'd recommend it. no matter how much fun galloping is =)

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MC

I love the igallop. I got it for my birthday so I didn't have to cough up the whopping price tag. It is sorta like riding a mechanical bull, not much like riding a horse. Plus my fiancee and I end up laughing our asses off every time I use it. So if you have the money, its a nice investment. Just in case you get scared by the pricetag regular horseback riding lessons end up costing way more. Which is also totally worth it.

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Bea

Brookstone has the iGallop on sale for $399. I bought one last week, and find it tough and challenging if the accompanying DVD is followed. This invention is no joke if you are serious about toning the butt and thighs. I feel the soreness, and already see some good results. Impressive invention -- thumbs up!

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Created / Updated: November 9, 2011

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