Road test: Hypoxi L250
Aim: To reduce cellulite and fat around the hips, buttocks and thighs. Studies claim its use can achieve up to three times greater circumference loss around the stomach area than achieved with conventional exercise.
What happens? After being slipped into a wetsuit-like skirt, you hop onto a machine with peddles (a bit like an exercise bike that you'd use if you were lying on your back). A hood then comes down over the bottom half of your body, which attaches to the skirt, creating a chamber. Once a vacuum is turned on, you peddle for 30 to 45 minutes, while keeping an eye on your heart rate, RPM and body temperature (all of which are monitored by sensors strapped to your chest and thighs). The idea is that while cycling, the low atmospheric pressurised chamber stimulates blood supply to the fat tissue around the target areas. According to the makers, the programmed vacuumed interval then accelerates the transport of blood to the muscles being exercised.
Cost: $60 per session or 12 sessions for $600.
The bottom line: "What I loved about Hypoxi was that I felt committed to exercising three times a week. While I only noticed a small improvement in my cellulite (although I know people who claim it got rid of theirs!), I lost 10cm off my tummy, bottom, hips, thighs and knees." — Bree Your Beauty Spot beauty ed
For more info: www.hypoxi.com.au.
