Overview
Hip Hop Abs uses a variety of different exercises all geared towards strengthening your abdominal muscles, and all set to the beat of hip hop music. For several years it was one of the best-selling fitness programs on the market, but does this mean it works?
The Claim
“Get flat, sexy abs without doing a single crunch or sit-up!” It doesn’t get much clearer than this in the world of claims made by fitness program marketers.
Shaun Thompson, better known as Shaun T, goes on to claim that it was this program that got him his washboard abs, and not the Insanity program that he also hosts. A bit of fact-checking reveals that this indeed was the first video he made for the Beachbody company, and that Insanity followed afterward.
This is not to say that he got his abs from using Hip Hop Abs. For these celebrity fitness trainers it’s their way of life. It’s how they make their money. They have to be magazine cover fit at all times so they closely watch what they eat, and exercise every day usually for several hours.
The Hype
Some of the more sensational claims are that you’ll be able to completely transform your body in 30 days by following the program as instructed.
Another upsetting thing is the obviously paid fitness models claiming that the results she has obtained most likely from a life devoted to fitness are from Hip Hop Abs.
The next glaringly obvious bit of hype is the “undeniable proof” in the form of before and after pictures of alleged users after using the program.
The Cost
Hip Hop Abs costs $73 including shipping. They break it up into three payments of $19.95 and tack on the $12.95 shipping to your first bill.
The Commitment
As with any fitness program you have to actually get up and do the exercises if you expect to see any results. Even though Hip Hop Abs promises that you won’t have to do any crunches or sit-up, and you won’t have to use any machines, what they have in store for you might be even worse.
The program really gets you moving and doing exercises that will definitely target your abs and give you a good workout. The only problem is that most people will not have what it takes to get started on this program and keep with it long enough to see the promised results.
Evaluation
The product itself is not the culprit of those unsuccessful people that tried it and didn’t get results. The video workouts will work up a sweat, and the exercises geared towards targeting the abs are effective. They may not be effective enough to produce rock-hard six pack abs, but they will strengthen your core, and make your abdominals stronger.
To get a six pack you need to have a body fat percentage of about 8% or below. This takes lots of intense training and a strict diet. That’s why so few people have them, and fewer keep them for long periods of time. This is also why abs programs are one of the most notorious products that get the most negative feedback, because it is so unlikely that someone would try the program and get a six pack as a result.
You’ll have to follow a good eating regimen, and stick to the workout programs featured in the package, and even then you may not get the total body transformation that is purported on the website.
Our Recommendation
Spot treating your body for problem areas is rarely effective. You should take a total-body approach. Focus on eating better foods, in better portions, and getting moderate amounts of daily exercise. There’s no rush to transform your body in 30 days, and trying to do this and then failing will only make your problem worse and made you feel bad about yourself. Slow, gradual weight loss is the best long-term approach. Pass on Hip Hop Abs and take a more rational, relaxed approach to fitness.
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View Comments
I lost an inch on my waist after doing it for one week and watching my eating. I will try to lose at least another inch plus whatever weight I can by next week. I think it will work if I stay with it. I am excited about the inch. That gives me the incentive to continue.
Today is my third week and I did not feel any difference. my weight is the same and my size is also same. I don't feel I work real hard to loose weight.
It works but it doesn't do what it promises.
I use to weigh close to 300lbs. And Hip Hop Abs helped me start moving. It's motivating enough to get someone who isn't use to exercise to start.
I lost about 20lbs in the first two weeks of the program. But I was also watching my calorie intake and nutrition with myfitnespal.
I never finished Hip Hop Abs because I got busy. But of course even if I did, I would have never gotten 6 pack abs. Even if I was skinny, I don't believe the the routines are strong enough to form six pack abs.
About a month after I quit, I started turbo fire. I finished one month of turbo fire and lost a massive amount of weight. I got down to about 175. My mother became motivated so she wanted to join me. However, she couldn't keep up with Turbo fire. So I put on hip hop abs forthe both of us, but I couldn't feel a thing. I wasn't out of breath, my body didn't feel any sort of burn, and I was bored.
Which is why I believe that If I was skinny and did hip hop abs, I wouldn't feel it enough to burn down to 8% body fat for my abs to show. Maybe if I did the program for a year and watched my eating to a T.
In conclusion, If your not use to exercising, this is a great start. I recommend it for someone older or obese. Beach body should have marketed this as that. But instead, they want to tell the lie that you'll get a six pack. And that's the only reason why I am rating this 3.5/5. I don't like false advertisement.
I'm with you it does work , I feel a difference in my clothes and abs.
The answer to does it really work. Yes it does but with anything you have to start slow and then really go for it. Shaun really makes you feel like he is in the room with you pushing you to give it your all and have fun. I am 34 and i have put on a lot of weight in the last 3 years so i started with my wii active program and added HipHop Abs a couple of days to get use to it. With that and watching what i eat i lost 10 lbs in 2.5 weeks. My abs and core already are feeling stronger even though their wasn't much needed to get a bit better. I am excited that today i started the program and i will only be doing Shaun T for the next 70 days. I am looking forward to the results.
I have been doing Hip Hop Abs for two weeks and I can definitely see and feel the difference. Anything that has you moving like that and sweating is doing something. And the fact that I like dancing and that type of music, makes it more enjoyable. And if I feel later on that i need more, I can stop and drop and do about 30-50 sit ups which I have done in the past and didn't feel nearly the same nor was it as much fun. I am a 52 year old woman who's had three kids and numerous abdominal surgeries. I would never expect to look like I am 20, but as long as my dress size goes down and my pants are loose AND I am getting good cardio, I can live with that.
Great site. Lots of helpful info here. I am sending it to several buddies ans also sharing in delicious.
And naturally, thanks to your sweat!
This is a programme by that guy Shaun T who's now selling another fat loss programme on TV at the moment called, "Insane" or something equally grandiose.
The attachment of exercise to some kind of non exercise related activity ( in this instance Hip-Hop) is not new and is a particularly effective way of enticing the non-exercise inclined individual, to even think about getting into some lycra. Especially women. I know lots of women who do "Zumba" or "Boxercise". It seems as though being able to pretend that they are not in fact doing exercise whilst doing it, is the key. This Shaun T is the real deal. He is absolutely ripped.