The Ab Circle Pro became the best selling fitness product in 2009, being massively promoted online and on TV and featuring Jennifer Nicole Lee as it’s presenter.
The effective infomercial (which was aired over 10,000 times) promised that with just a 3 minutes workout a day, you could melt off belly fat and tone your midsection. The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) found this claim to be misleading and took action against the makers of the product.
“The FTC reminds marketers that they should think twice before promising a silver-bullet solution to a health problem — whether it involves losing weight or curing cancer,” said David Vladeck, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Weight loss is hard work, and telling consumers otherwise is deceptive.”
The Ab Circle Pro was widely successful in 2009-2010. It is said to have sold over a million items worldwide for up to $250 each. The FTC has forced the makers of the Ab Circle Pro to repay some of that money back.
According to a report by the LA Times, the makers of the Ab Circle Pro will pay up to $25 million in refunds to customers. This is the largest FTC settlement relating to an exercise product. Is it enough? I’m not sure, but at least it’s something.
If you purchased this product and wish to get a refund use this form.
A Proud Moment, Much Later Than It Should Have Been
As the popularity of the Ab Circle Pro surged in 2009-2010, there were plenty of glowing reports about it online. Plenty of blogs were quick to give praise to this machine. It also did quite well on various shopping channels who seemed to have not done their homework or have no idea on how they human body really burns fat or don’t really care as long as it sells.
Back in 2009, I wrote a review of the Ab Circle Pro in which I said that I didn’t believe this was as effective a product as the infomercial made it out to be. I wrote that it didn’t make sense and that this couldn’t be the way for people to lose belly fat. I’m proud that what I wrote helped some people avoid falling for these dubious claims.
The only sad thing is that it took the FTC so long to take action. With so many people who bought this product, I just don’t see how they will all get their money back. Add to that the time and effort they invested into working with the Ab Circle Pro and the disappointment they must have experienced when they failed to get the results they were hoping for and which the infomercial promised.
A Story Which Proves A Point
The case of the Ab Circle Pro is just one story of many, but it serves to prove a point I made in the original review I wrote: you need to make real effort to lose fat. It can’t be done in minutes and it requires you to change the way you live, train and eat. Any product which claims otherwise should be avoided.
Here are a few resources which will help you get a flatter belly much better than any abdominal exercise machine:
Remember, losing fat takes time and effort. The case of the Ab Circle Pro proves that if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.
