The PRO-FORM Abs machine promises to give you sexier, flatter abs, while defining your oblique muscles and giving you a more flexible back. Along with your machine, you’ll receive a special workout DVD that will show you how to get the most from your workout session, even if you only have a few minutes a day. To really facilitate weight loss, you can also purchase the ProForm Abs diet, which includes 60 nutritious recipes, an 8 week meal plan and grocery lists. The manufacturer claims that their “spine design puts you in the perfect position — up off the floor — to isolate your abdominal muscles” and that the upright, sitting position allows “for a more comfortable workout.” Best of all, when you’re finished, you can easily fold it up and store it away.

There aren’t many reviews for this abdominal muscle exercise bench, but there are a few positive remarks to be found. Renee from Tennessee suggests one of the benefits of the PRO-FORM Abs machine is that “it’s much more comfortable than doing crunches on the floor.” As a college student, she says it’s also easy to fold up and store in her apartment, although her roommates often find it and use it too. Judy from New Mexico agrees that she likes the lightweight portability of her bench, although she says the Tony Little Ab Lounge is still her favorite workout bench. Users ranked the construction as “sturdy and durable” as well.

It seems there are more cons to PRO-FORM Abs than pros. Users have commented that it’s “uncomfortable,” “hard to set up” and “not effective.” Reviewer C. Devin from Washington said, “I hoped the abs bench would be a good starting point to build some inner core strength and improve my posture. Unfortunately… you’d have to be a sumo wrestler to bend this thing forward. For a beginner, this product is not recommended.” Gary Rice from Michigan said that he noticed results using this bench 2-3 times a week, although as his abs improved, he found the bench to be inflexible. “I needed the machine to lay flatter to provide a more difficult exercise,” he commented. Will from Michigan said that after a week of use his stomach muscles felt the burn, but so did his back and triceps. “It is painful while I am exercising,” he writes.

In addition to the PRO-FORM Abs machine, Pro-Form also sells a series of treadmills, elliptical machines, exercise bikes and strength training machines. Consumers can purchase the machine directly from the www.proformabs.com website for $150, receiving free shipping when they pay in full. Other buyers like to use the “Bill Me Later” option and pay upon delivery instead. You can also purchase this machine from www.amazon.com sellers for as low as $79 (plus $14.99 for shipping) or the Home Shopping Network for just $59.99 (plus $15 for shipping).

Beth Kaminski is the co-author of Curing Your Anxiety And Panic Attacks which detailed cure panic attack cures as well as tips on the various panic disorder medications available at anxietydisordercure.com.