I saw this advertised on a shopping channel, and liked the idea of it, as I hate doing sit ups, and always strain my neck when I try to do them. I have had two children, and, although I have managed to lose alot of the weight I put on, I am left with a big stomach, and so need to exercise my abs. I bought this machine, and have to say, I am a little bit disappointed in the safety aspects of it. Two things in particular:
1. Immediately upon using it, the pin which holds the knee bowls in place kept coming out. However, my Husband sorted this with two elastic bands, one over each end of the pin, which prevents it from coming out.
2. My knees (my right knee in particular) has slipped out of the knee bowls on more than one occasion, and have hurt myself once in particular. To be honest, I think this is a design fault, as I have tried to exercise with and without something over my knees, and no matter what I do, my right knee has a tendency to slip out of the knee bowl. I have perservered with it, and this week have tried to exercise with the machine set to the higher setting (where you increase the angle of the machine to give more resistance). My knee slipped out again and I hurt myself. Therefore I have to say that, had I known about this design fault, then I would not have bought it in the first place.
However, with the machine set to the lower setting, I am used to it now, and I HAVE noticed a difference in how I look when I stand sideways on in the mirror. Please just beware if you are buying this product, that I feel there are some safety issues with it!