While some individuals genuinely enjoy exercising for the sake of fitness, most workout routines are driven by more primal instincts. Typically, it’s about enhancing one’s attractiveness and maintaining health to ward off aging and illness. Given these understandable motivations, it’s no surprise that marketing companies have capitalized on these desires, leading to the emergence of some bizarre exercise trends.
We all recognize the importance of staying in shape, but there are sensible ways to achieve this that don’t involve complete nonsense.
Here’s a look at some of the most ridiculous exercise trends from the past. They may seem like jokes, but these were actual fitness fads.
15. Dumbbell Utensil
It’s perplexing how this became a popular exercise method, as it makes no logical sense. The idea was to combine eating with working out, creating a sort of dual-purpose activity. These utensils featured weights, supposedly allowing you to exercise your wrist and forearm while eating. While it might give your arms a slight workout, it didn’t achieve anything a regular dumbbell couldn’t do better.
14. Weight Loss Shorts
You might think this is a joke, but these shorts were real, and people believed they could help them lose weight. The concept was that these shorts functioned like compression garments, supposedly squeezing the legs to burn fat. In reality, this idea is pure nonsense, as squeezing skin just alters blood flow temporarily. Once the shorts are removed, everything returns to normal.
13. Tae Bo
Tae Bo workouts gained massive popularity in the ’90s and early 2000s. The concept was to follow along with video workouts led by Billy Blanks, who combined elements of martial arts and athletic training. Although Tae Bo was a decent exercise routine, it was flawed because true athletes and martial artists do much more than just fight training to stay in shape.
12. Thighmaster
The Thighmaster, prominently advertised by actress Suzanne Somers, promised to help women tone their legs and buttocks without the need for more strenuous workouts. Despite being invented by Joshua Reynolds, known for creating mood rings, the Thighmaster is still sold today, now with added features like vibration. However, its effectiveness is questionable.
11. Power Balance
Power Balance bracelets claimed to improve balance, strength, and flexibility through special hologram frequencies. Despite becoming a popular fitness accessory, these bracelets had no actual effect beyond the placebo effect, making them one of the dumbest exercise trends ever.
10. 8-Minute Abs
Many remember the late-night infomercials promising great abs with just eight minutes of exercise a day. While the idea of a quick and simple workout was appealing, it was ultimately a gimmick that didn’t provide substantial results.
9. Sweatin’ to the Oldies with Richard Simmons
Richard Simmons became a household name with his energetic and entertaining exercise videos set to oldies music. Despite their popularity, the effectiveness of these routines was debatable. Simmons’ charismatic personality, however, made him a beloved figure in the fitness world.
8. Sauna Suits
Similar to weight loss shorts, sauna suits were designed to make you sweat excessively, supposedly helping you shed weight. These suits, resembling trash bags, trapped body heat to induce sweating. However, any weight lost through sweat was quickly regained through normal hydration and eating, making this method ineffective for long-term weight loss.
7. The Free Flexor
The Free Flexor, which used circular motion technology to work out the arms, was an odd yet somewhat plausible exercise device. While it might provide some benefits if used regularly, it was more of a novelty than a serious fitness tool.
6. Weight Loss Sunglasses
Believe it or not, weight loss sunglasses claimed that their blue lenses could curb food cravings based on a flawed color theory. The idea that wearing blue-tinted glasses could help with weight loss is as ridiculous as it sounds.
5. Horse Riding Fitness Ace Power
This South Korean invention was a bizarre piece of equipment designed to mimic horse riding. Featuring a bicycle seat on splaying legs, it promised to provide a workout through pelvic movement. The infomercials’ close-ups of gyrating bodies made it more of a joke than a legitimate exercise trend.
4. Shake Weight
The Shake Weight became infamous not for its fitness benefits but for its suggestive motion, as showcased in its sales videos. The device’s viral infomercial and subsequent parody on Saturday Night Live cemented its status as one of the most ridiculous exercise trends of the 2000s.
3. Face Trainer
This bizarre headgear promised to tone facial muscles through resistance training. By wearing it for 10 minutes a day and performing facial exercises, users were told they could achieve a more youthful appearance. While some claimed results, the concept was more humorous than effective.
2. Electric Ab Belt
An ideal gadget for the lazy, the electric ab belt used electrical stimulation to contract abdominal muscles. While this technology is used in physical therapy, for the average person, traditional exercises like crunches and planks are far more effective and reliable for achieving strong abs.
1. Hawaii Chair
The Hawaii Chair, inspired by hula dancing, was a swivel chair designed to exercise your abs while you sat and worked. Intended for office use, it was more likely to cause motion sickness than provide a serious workout. Despite its absurdity, it somehow became a popular exercise trend.
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