There are so many fitness products on the market, it is nearly impossible to know which are effective, useful and worth the price. Some fitness equipment may work well for some and not for others. Choosing the right product for your gender, height, weight, fitness level and fitness goals can be a complicated decision.

There are endless ads for products that promise to get rid of belly fat, to give you abs of steel, to help you reach a flat stomach, and on and on. How to distinguish the real from the fake? First, remember that fitness cannot be achieved by swallowing a pill. Proper nutrition and exercise are the only safe route to a fit, healthy body. Next, you must consider your current level of fitness. A piece of equipment designed for someone who already has an established work out routine and who is simply trying to maintain their current body weight and fitness level will not work very well for someone who is just beginning to establish a fitness routine, who may need to lose weight or who has other health issues.

Reading reviews from a wide variety of people who have tried a product is one way to begin researching a piece of equipment you are considering purchasing. This is a review for the Ab Rock Abdominal Trainer. This machine is supposed to help you reach the goal of fabulously defined ads through very short - five minute - daily workouts. There are supposed to be three levels of resistance. The Ab Rocket looks like a chair with rollers for a back.

To correctly use the machine, you sit on the chair, extend your legs and lean back and forward. The different levels of resistance are supposed to provide more resistance as your fitness level increases.

In all of the advertisements, the people using the Ab Rocket have not only perfect abs, but perfect bodies. Bulging muscles, perfect teeth and smiling faces all make you want one so you can look like that too. One criticism of the Ab Rocket is that it is not good for people who have achieved a high level of fitness. Even the highest level of resistance is not enough for people who are in great shape.

However, if you are just getting started the levels of resistance may be just right for you. If you enjoy watching TV and would like a piece of equipment you can use while you watch the Ab Rocket could be the answer.  

The movement is very much like a crunch or sit up and works the same group of muscles those exercises do. So, why not do crunches or sit ups for free? There are a few reasons. One is that sometimes spending money on a  piece of equipment encourages the purchaser to use it. If knowing that you spent your hard earned cash will motivate you to use the Ab Rocket, then you have a good reason to make the purchase.  

Another frequently mentioned reason to purchase an Ab Rocket instead of just doing crunches is the support provided by the rollers on the back. However, another criticism is that the rollers are not adjustable. The design seems to be targeted to someone of "average" height. Many people enjoy the feel of the rollers but others say they cause lower back pain.  Shorter people in particular seem to have the back pain complaint. The best way to find out if the Ab Rocket will hurt your back is to try it out for a few days.  

The Ab Rocket is also compact and lightweight which can be a benefit when considering purchasing home workout equipment. Many people have space limitations and the fact that the Ab Rocket folds up for easy storage can be a huge bonus. Because it only weights ten pounds it is also easy to move around, which is another good thing for people who have space limitations.

The final benefit of the Ab Rocket is the price. Rather than the hundreds or thousands of dollars required to purchase some home fitness equipment, the Ab Rocket is reasonably priced at around $100. That is less than a couple of months' membership at a gym. People who prefer to workout at home and have limited budgets will appreciate the price of the Ab Rocket.

• The price
• It's great for beginners
• Provides motivation to work out
• The rollers are helpful for some
• It's lightweight and folds away
  

• Not suitable for those already in great shape
• The rollers cause back pain for some
• Most of the benefits can be gained by doing traditional crunches