Question

I recently saw the Bean Exerciser advertised on late night TV and was wondering what you think about it. Have you reviewed the Bean yet? I couldn't find any Bean reviews online or on your site and don't want to make a mistake? Just let me know…

Answer

Ah, the Bean. Clever name isn't it? Sounds all cozy and non-threatening, like a new high tech phone or MP3 player from the good folks at Apple. I haven't posted my review of the Bean on my site yet, but now is as good a time as any (I didn't know the Bean exerciser would catch on so fast, my fault on that one).

Bean First Impression

Back in June of this year (2007) I saw the Bean Exerciser at a local sporting goods store (Dicks Sporting Goods) and since it was out on the display floor, I decided to give it a try and see how it compared to an exercise ball for ab and core workouts.

My fist impression of the Bean is that it looks like a gimmick (I'm jaded I know) for people that are too clumsy to use a stability ball. The Bean is also very small and didn't support my back and neck much better than a ball.  So what's all the hype about this ab trainer I thought? Especially with a price of almost $100 bucks?

A few months have passed since my first run-in with the Bean (which left me less than impressed) but with their new advertising campaign in full swing, the recent design changes to the device and the flurry of requests I've had to review the Bean (along with lack of  credible Bean reviews) I'm diving head long into a detailed review of my own.

The Bean Review

My review of the Bean Exerciser is based on my first hand experience as mentioned above, along with my analysis of the Bean website and TV infommercial claims.

The manufacturers of the Bean have chosen to enter the highly competitive ab machine market with a newly redesigned device that, from what I've seen, is a step in the right direction over the original Bean that was too small to be of much practical use.

Before I give you my verdict on the Bean Exerciser, let me help you see the forest through the trees with regards to the Bean website claims and promises.

The Bean Exerciser Claims from Bean.com

"Have you ever dreamed about having beaufiful abs? Would you finally like to fit into your pants?" 

"In just minutes a day the body of your dreams can be yours"

"Rock off the fat quickly and easily…"

"3 times faster than other exercises…"

Screen Capture on Bean.com of "University Study" Claim

Bean Exerciser Claims Deconstructed

If you've seen the Bean infommercial or visited their website, you get the impression that you've just found sexy abs nirvana. They say in just minutes a day you can have the body of your dreams and it's 3 times more effective than other exercises (although they don't say which ones oddly enough). And if you also buy the Flex 10 System to go with your Bean for muscle toning and body sculpting - bringing the price up to around $150 bucks - you have a total body workout system (for $150 bucks you can get a killer stability ball and pro grade exercise bands like the Bodylastics Gym that are built better and provide better range of motion and more versatility).

The Bean comes with a workout DVD with 5 programs and the Bean weight loss guide (the workout options are fine and all, but no single piece of exercise equipment can replicate or replace exercises for Pilates, Strength Training, and Back Exercises without compromising along the way  - and if the Bean can help you "Rock off the Fat Quickly and Easily" there would be no need for an eating guide, other than the fact that you'll never even see your abs unless you drop your body fat level to under 15% at a minimum).

And don't forget about the "university study" that implies the Bean recruits 55-72% greater musle activity than a crunch, which may be true, but they don't back up that claim by providing any hard data or reference the actual study anywhere on the website (if I had a legitimate university study that proved my claims about exercise equipment, I'd make darn sure put that information front and center on the website and in the TV commercial).

The icing on the cake is the celebrity endorsement page where the likes of Roger Craig, Kristi Yamaguchi, Dennis Eckersley and Brandi Chastain. With people like this endorsing the Bean, how can you go wrong? (Celebrities get paid to promote products like the Bean, and while I don't think the Bean is worthless, I wouldn't be led to believe it's the end all exercise gizmo either because someone that got paid to endorse it told me so).

 The Bean - The Good, The Bad and the BS

The Good - The Bean does provide a solid ab workout and can also be used for oblique training, limited leg exercises, back strengthening and limited muscle toning exercises like push ups.

The Bad - Not an end all solution to a great body, questionable durability, Flex 10 System is worthless and not ergonomic. Too stable for stability work which negates the real reason you train your core for balance and strength.

The BS - "In just minutes a day the body of your dreams can be yours." ||| "Rock off the fat quickly and easily." ||| "3 times faster than other exercises." These are the kind of claims that should set off you BS detector and make you put your wallet back in your pocket.

If you really want great abs here's what to do:

1. first get your diet under control or your sunk (here's an excellent guide on the subject)
2. do some effective cardio to burn excess fat (see my recommendations for the best treadmills, ellipticals, and exercise bikes)
3. train your abs to build some muscle tone (get a free ab workout here)
4. and get your body fat low enough so you can actually see your ab muscles

Getting good abs isn't a black magic art that can only be gained with a miracle machine like the Bean. The quicker you come to that conclusion, the faster you'll get good abs and the fatter your wallet will be from saving money on pipe dreams and easy fixes.