Healthy Living London was invited to the launch of SIXPAD’S first flagship European store at Westfield in London. The event consisted of a two hour session, where we were taken through a workout, designed exclusively for SIXPAD by Cristiano Ronaldo, followed by a trial of the Japanese fit-tech brand’s core technology Abs Belt – a revolution in EMS (electro muscle stimulation) and one of a range of wearable tech products designed to complement your workout and speed up recovery between sessions.
What is SIXPAD?
SIXPAD’s product concept is essentially wearable training technology, that is based around ‘electrical muscle stimulation.’ EMS technology was initially developed to help rehabilitate muscles following traumas such as strokes. Essentially electrical current is pushed through the muscle, making it contract, and work at a higher intensity. It is the muscle contraction, or time under tension, that causes the muscle to breakdown and corresponding repair that leads to growth.
SIXPAD’s unique CMM Pulse is a revolution in EMS – set at 20 Hz frequency, which has been proven by Professor Toshio Moritani, who is the brains behind the brand, to maximise this time under tension and be the most effective frequency for muscle training. Toshio is a driver in the field of sports science who has been doing research on the training effects of EMS for over 40 years.
The Abs Belt
The Abs Belt combines the Abs Fit and the Body Fit, allowing you to exercise the abdominal area in one go. Fitted with a belt that won’t slip out of place or come off. It is slim, light and cordless, designed to fit in with everyday life and in theory can be worn under clothing without people noticing, but I chose to wear it in the evenings at home. It can be worn comfortably anywhere, anytime and has a long battery life. One five hour charge will last up to 30 uses.
Muscle training requires a commitment to continue exercising every day and SIXPAD’s product range is designed to be used in conjunction with your regular workouts. Using highly pliable silicone, it is comfortable to where and follows the curves of the body. It also features integrated Bluetooth technology, which means you can synchronise your SIXPAD products with the smartphone app. This is a fun tool that helps you visualise your training session, and record your data which is great for supporting daily training and enhancing motivation.
How does it work?
The Abs Belt is designed to match the shape of your abdominals, with the intensity control unit at the centre of the device. The belt is made of flexible silicone that contours to the shape of your body and features specifically designed high-conductivity gel sheets that help to carry the electrical current into your body’s muscles evenly and with accuracy.
With the Abs Belt securely fastened using the velcro strap, you turn the SIXPAD on by holding the “+” button on the central control unit. There are 20 levels of intensity to select from. I felt level 8 was challenging enough, but the range caters for all levels of athletes. SIXPAD advises that you start on a low level and then gradually increase the intensity each time you use the device, or as your muscles adapt to the training stimulus. A single session runs a distinct pattern, of various intensities, durations and pulsations, designed to keep your muscles guessing! The programme is set at 23 minutes but you can opt to turn it off earlier by holding the “-“ button.
Tried and Tested
Having tested the SIXPAD Abs Belt for two months, I can testify that it has definitely helped me to recover from workouts, and also I have seen significant strength gains in my training programme. The primary reason for this, is that regular use of the belt which features the EMS technology, really does speed up recovery, meaning that you can get back into the gym sooner and push harder at your next workout. There are 20 levels of intensity to select from. I felt level 8 was challenging enough, but the range caters for all levels of athletes. The conductive gels that attach the belt to your body need to be replaced after around 30 uses, so this is an ongoing cost to factor in, when considering your purchase.
Wearing the belt feels very much like the sensation you experience when completing a set of crunches. The intensity setting should be at a level whereby you can still largely go about your day with it on, watch TV or multi-task without an issue. It should not be so intense that you are straining against the machine and your whole torso convulses. I did try the upper levels to see what it would feel like and quickly reduced it back down again, as it was too intense!
Muscle training requires a commitment to continue exercising every day. The SIXPAD Abs Belt is a great supplementary tool to your workout regime. It is not a quick fix to six-pack abs, but it will help your muscles recover and grow and help you increase your strength because of this.
Further details
WHERE: Sixpad Store, Westfield White City, Ariel Way, London, W12 7GF
HOW MUCH: £350.00 Abs Belt // Conductive Gels £15.00
WEBSITE: For more information about the SIXPAD product range, visit www.sixpad.uk
Leave a Reply