Fitness Review #1 - ISOGYM Ab Roller Pro

This first ‘fitness review’ spotlights a piece of fitness equipment which is new to me. It’s such a simple design and concept, it’s pretty old-school, no bells and whistles; just all that you need for a pretty hardcore core workout.

Main features are -
• Super wide base gives great stability for basic forward and back motion but the curved outer edges also allow for a twisting motion to really engage the entire abdominal core – not just the front section that crunches involve.
• 19cm wheel height and 14 cm width for super stability.
• High quality construction with non-slip rubber wheel for use on any surface, steel shaft and performance grade outer plastics.
• Easy assembly – simply screw the rubber handles into the wheel.
• Striking black and red design to get you motivated!

Amazon never ceases to amaze me. I guess I should be used to it by now but I still find it incredible that you can order something one evening and it arrives the next afternoon. Anyway, enough of tech billionaires, or I might start on Elon Musk and then I’d never stop ranting.
As you can see from the picture below, the roller arrived safe and sound in an only slightly battered box. The roller comes in three parts, the ‘wheel’ and the two handles. Assembly instructions are on the side of the box but it couldn’t be easier.
10 seconds later you are ready to roll – see what I did there? 😊

Background - Doing rollouts with an ab roller or exercise wheel is much more difficult than doing traditional crunches but they have the great advantage that they work more of your abs, more intensively, but it also strengthens your back, something that traditional crunches don’t do, so it really does benefit your entire core and not just that small section at the front. One of the real positives of this particular design is the super wide wheel gives amazing stability. This makes it safer and reduces the strain on the wrists as you’re not having to constantly make minor adjustments to keep it upright. And the fact that the wheel curves off to the side really gives you that chance to lean it over as much or as little as you want to really engage your side core muscles too. Due to the inherent stability of the wheel you do have to actively lean it over, which is a good feature, it doesn’t just flop from side to side.

Usage – As you will be on your knees for most of the movements, you should place a foam exercise mat or a cushion under your knees to protect them. Note that the movement should be slow and controlled throughout, not rushed.

• Start with the roller resting on the floor in a direct line under your shoulders as in the first image above.
• Hold your legs together with the toes touching the floor. Slowly and carefully, roll forward, concentrating on your core muscles, until just before you feel as though you have reached the point of no return. (At first you may mis-judge this but you’ll soon get the hang of it after a few undignified collapses)
• Concentrate on keeping your abs taught and your back, arms and wrists straight.
• Pause for a few seconds at this point, holding the outstretched position, then slowly pull backwards to return to the starting position. The longer you can pause and hold the outstretched position the better but it will take time to develop the ability to hold it for more than a second or two.
• As you pull backwards, concentrate on your abs doing the work, not your hips, shoulders or arms.

Start with just 1 set of about 8 reps about 2 or 3 times per week. If you have been doing sit-ups or crunches previously then these should help tremendously and you will be able to increase sets and reps fairly quickly. If you are new to abdominal exercises then your stomach is in for a shock (a good one) and you’ll really feel the effects in the following days ! Simply take it easy and you’ll get past that stage in a couple of weeks.

Gradually increase to doing maybe 2 sets of 10 reps, it’s really not necessary to do more. If you feel it is getting easy then simply hold the extended position for longer and stretch out further, rather than doing more reps. It is after all fundamentally a strength exercise, not an aerobic challenge.

Once you have mastered the straight forwards and backwards motion, try mixing it up a bit by leaning alternately left and right as you roll to engage the side of your torso more and sharpen up those muscles.
When I get the chance I’ll add photos of myself using the roller, although my outfit may be rather more dramatic than those staid images above.
Happy rolling!
Alessia xxx

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