jo.com's Full Review: Tristar Lateral Thigh Trainer
I want to thank the reader who requested that I review The Lateral Thigh Trainer. I want to thank her for having confidence in me.
She wrote "I've enjoyed reading many of your reviews, but have not found one regarding the lateral thigh trainer....Would you send me a link to your opinion/review, or give me your input..."
She then went on to giving me her stats – height, weight, and goals.
I must apologize that I could not produce this as quickly as I would have liked but here it is!
What is the Lateral Thigh Trainer:
I remember years and years ago a gadget similar to this. It was long before the step machine came into existence. The Lateral Thigh Trainer is so similar to this simple stepper I remember as being ridiculous and dangerous that I can’t believe it is on the market. More about my thoughts to come.
I borrowed the Thigh Trainer from a friend who had it in her basement. I was to learn why. She didn’t care if she never saw it again though I have given it back to her. Perhaps she wants to sell it on eBay.
This is a little gizmo, 24 inches long x 18 inches wide x 11 inches high. It weighs about 30 pounds. I consider this portable.
It is a bit different that the small step machines of old. The pedals in those just went up and down like a traditional stepper without the handles and console. The Lateral Thigh Trainer moves in what they call an in and out movement. This is supposed to be better because it trains many muscles at different angles. That is a correct statement. All our muscles can be trained differently to hit different areas so it isn’t without reason that the Lateral Thigh Trainer could do the same.
We are also told that it is a no impact workout which is also true. Unlike the pounding your feet get on a treadmill, this machine doesn’t cause the same impact. However if you are comparing the movement to that of an elliptical machine or stationary bike, there is more impact in a stepper like the Thigh Trainer. It is like walking up steps while roller blading without having to lift your feet up to the next step.
What you get:
You get the Thigh Trainer. My friend has one with what they call the Powerhouse Training Computer. This cost her about $99. The computer shows the calories I’ve burned, how many steps I’ve taken and how long I’ve walked. For less money I’d skip the computer since I can wear a watch and even the best machines’ computers aren’t accurate so this one I doubt even comes close to accurate.
In addition the computer is not on a console so you have to look down. Remember you aren’t holding onto anything though I would recommend that if you do buy this you put it next to a wall so you can have the security of a wall just in case. Looking down at the computer while moving on this thing was not fun for me. Besides I could hardly read it because I don’t wear glasses or contacts when I work out and unless you are very short, which I am not it was a bit of a distance below me. The computer sits on one of the pedals of the machine.
You'll also receive trainer Brenda Dygraf's Power House Training Manual. My friend found this for me in her junk draw. If you buy this I always recommend reading anything that comes with the machine. She shows you various moves I really didn’t care to try. You will also get her workout video which I did not see but I will say ditto. My friend found the video useful even if she didn’t like the Thigh Trainer. It is a 25-minute video. She told me that she watched it while using the Lateral Thigh Trainer for all of the 2 weeks (ok maybe she actually used it for 2 months) she got on the Thigh Trainer.
It also comes with a nutrition guide with some healthy eating plans and a 2 week diet. My friend is overweight. We didn’t get into whether she was following the diet since obviously she isn’t. Along with the owner's manual there is a nutrition guide with a few healthy eating plans and a 14 day diet. I am not criticizing the fact that Brenda Dygraf included a diet. It does make me chuckle however because it is the diet more than the Thigh Trainer that will take off inches and get weight off of you. I tell clients all the time that they can spend an hour with me, 2 more hours at the gym, go to classes, run, whatever they choose but if they then leave and have a cheeseburger, fries and a shake with a donut chaser I can’t undo that damage. Neither can this or any machine.
Let’s use it:
The Lateral Thigh Trainer is meant for those who weigh less than 250 pounds. I carefully stepped on one of the pedals. The pedals are decent. They have good treads on them so I didn’t feel my feet slipping. My feet sort of sat inside the pedal so they felt secure. Truly I jumped off more than once and finally moved it next to a chair until I got used to the movement.
This gizmo is downright dangerous. Sure once you get the movement down pat you’ll be fine but getting there you may not be. So please be careful. If you are prone to falling or if your balance is really bad don’t even think of buying the Thigh Trainer.
It sits on metal poles with rubber caps at the end. I used it on my hardwood floor and it didn’t slip from under me.
The way the speed works is via a knob at the front (the area closest to my body) of the machine. The knob slides easily from more resistance or harder to less resistance thus easier. There are seven level of resistance.
I know many people work out at the same resistance level for 30 minutes. Interval training (switching resistances) is much more effective. I had to get off this machine to slide the knob thus not being able to interval train. Even total novices can interval train. It does not require any special skills or athletic ability to do so.
My friend not only didn’t like this gizmo but one of the pedals cracked and then the computer wasn’t working at all. The caps came off and though one was not in great shape she was able to get them back on. She felt it was really cheaply made as do I so she stopped using it. Plus like her I found it incredibly boring.
Ok back to getting on. I’m finally on and stable and now have to get used to this lateral movement. I don’t care all that much for steppers in the first place so adding that movement didn't feel good to my lower body. The best way I can describe the movement is to say it feels like the Twist. Depending on your age you may not even know what this dance was like or who Chubby Checker was. In effect you twist your torso one way while your legs go the other way. This may be good for your thighs but if you have knee problems I would be very careful. In fact I would stay far away from The Lateral Thigh Trainer.
Jo’s Final Thoughts:
I can’t recommend the Lateral Thigh Trainer. Although it does work your glutes (butt), quadriceps and hamstrings (front and back of the thigh) I can give you exercises that will do the same thing and you’ll only have to spend a few dollars. In addition there is just too much of a risk of injury on this machine. It is also, in my opinion, poorly made and bound to break. Finally I ask that all exercise equipment be kept away from children but since this is small children might think it is a toy. If you buy this, be especially careful.
There is a 90-day warranty on The Lateral Thigh Trainer.
Please feel free to ask me any questions and to the reader above I hope this has helped you make a decision. Most of my exercise equipment are listed on my profile page if there is something you are looking for. Thanks for reading. jo
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