Hi.
First post here. Wish me luck :)

So my mom is all hyped up with this machine called "Vibration Plattform" after seeing a programm called "You are what you eat" they hade a fat famous person on the show and he said it was a wonderfull machine. He also demonstrated it and now my mom is about to spend alot of money to get one.

Facts: 55year old smoking female. Only excersice is golf 1-2times each week during summer sesong. Slightly overweight (nothing serious thou)

She will never go to a gym or start lifting weights in any form. Even normal cardio is out of the question. She want this to be the magic machine everyone wants so she can train infront of the tv.

I know this is not a magical machine in any way. But is it a good machine for a noob that just want some easy excersice?
Or is she better off throwing the money in the see or atleast buying me a wii (gaming console)?

*Edit*
I have been searchin on the forum but havent found if its a good or bad machine. To serious people its bad. that i know. But for normal lazy people maybe?

But is it a good machine for a noob that just want some easy excersice?
Or is she better off throwing the money in the see or atleast buying me a wii (gaming console)?

I wouldn't condemn it - but a quick google search turns up numerous studies that all come back inconclusive as to its benefits. Which usually means it's a gimmick. Probably very relaxing - but what could she possibly hope to gain from that thing but a good foot massage?

If she wants to do something in front of the tv - talk her into getting herself a stationary bike for the same money. Even low intensity cardio is great for people's health and she can watch TV while doing it.

Here's a quote taken from http://www.wtop.com/?nid=106&sid=1017192

"Experiencing vibrations during a workout isn't the be-all and end-all, but rather a great complement to what you're already doing," says Jasper Sidhu, president of The WAVE (Whole Body Advanced Vibration Exercise), whose $5,000 in-home version of a commercial platform arrives in January.

Simply standing on one isn't going to turn you into the Incredible Hulk. But if you're willing to stretch, lift weights or otherwise strain yourself on the platform, your muscles will get an added workout.

...

"If you can lift 100 pounds easily, doing so while standing on this machine will soon get you to lift 110."

I find that last quote the most revealing. Oddly enough - if I lift 100 lbs easily on my carpet at home (enough times) - soon I will lift 110. It's called progressive weightlifting. :confused: