“The Lighter Side” of Health Care

To Mask or Not to Mask – That is the Question

Jul./Aug. 2020

There was a time when the only people you might run across wearing masks were kids holding their bags out for candy on Halloween and revelers celebrating Mardi Gras – if you happened to live in New Orleans. Even bank robbers had given up on masks in favor of waving weapons and just demanding cash.

Then the coronavirus rolled into town and suddenly masks became a hot topic again. First the experts made light of wearing masks, telling us they simply weren’t needed.
Not much later, they changed that tune. Now masks are the most effective way to stop the pandemic that is cruising around the globe.

Except when they aren’t.

We are told by the people who should know that the mask you might have around from that failed woodworking project isn’t good enough. Those were designed to keep stuff like sawdust from clogging up your trachea. They are useless as barriers against the microscopic specks of novel virus determined to target your respiratory system.

What we needed were N-95 respirator masks. That would do the trick for Mom, Dad, Buddy and Sis and even the family pup. Problem was, there weren’t very many N-95 masks available – even on Amazon. And those that were available had already been earmarked for the first responders – the men and women on the front lines fighting the 21st century plague.

So masks became off limits for discussion for a while. Instead, we all talked about something called “social distancing” a fancy way of saying – particularly in New York City – “Gedoudaheah.” Six feet of separation, we were informed, would keep the dreaded virus from spreading through the unappealing inhalation of other folks’ exhaled spit particles.

Social distancing and just staying at home seemed like pretty good measures to take until new researchers claimed that 6 feet of separation wasn’t enough. These experts assured us that particles from normal activities such as breathing or having a little cough were enough to propel the particles and the virus as far as 28 feet!
All of a sudden, to be safe, we’d have to stand around 30 feet away from that sketchy neighbor who always seemed to be clearing his throat. Or find some other way to block the virus’ transmission.

Enter masks – round two. This time, the very same experts who a few short weeks before had told us we didn’t need masks sang a different song. Now we were told to wear masks – any kind of masks – lest we be struck down, hospitalized, medicated, ventilated and generally on the way out of the land of the living.

“Wrap an old Prada scarf around your head,” we were told. “Crochet your own do-it-yourself mask. Hustle over to your pharmacy and beg to buy a few cheap ones if you can.”

“Anything’s better than nothing!!!”

Net result: a new score for America’s entrepreneurs. Want a mask that displays your allegiance to the Panthers, Hornets or Braves? No problem. Proud of your allegiance to Clemson or the Gamecocks or – perish the thought – Alabama? You’re covered.
Wish you could jazz up your mask with a floral or psychedelic design? Easy peasy.

The best masks in the world aren’t going to protect you unless they’re strapped onto your face. And my recent “mother-in-law” survey of food shoppers revealed that only about half the folks scavenging for paper products and pasta bothered. And none of them stood 30 feet apart. So half the people you encountered were still breathing and potentially propelling virus spores unimpeded.

Makes you wonder whether masks really make any sense except at Halloween and Mardi Gras. At least then when those masks are de rigueur, the kids get lots of candy and the adults might snag a string of beads or two.

By Dr. Duke

Krysta Chapman is a freelance copywriter in Charleston, SC with a passion for food photography and writing compelling copy + content for small businesses around the country. In addition to her work as a copywriter, Krysta is the proud author of a children’s book, The Unexpected Adventures of Zoe Martinez: The Long, Unwanted Walk to School. When she’s not hammering away on the laptop you can find her at the beach with her two water-loving kids, binge-watching HGTV while daydreaming of flipping a house or indulging in delicious food and cocktails with her husband. She believes in three truths: Traveling is the best form of education, sarcasm is a necessary evil and there’s always room for tacos.

Nipping, Slicing, and Tucking Our Way Through Unusual Cosmetic Surgery Choices

Jul./Aug. 2019

Can we talk cosmetic surgery for a moment?

The answer is yes; yes we can.

In recent years, cosmetic procedures have become less taboo to talk about. You’d have to be hiding under a rock to not know that pop/rap star Cardi B recently canceled concerts to allow for healing following a round of cosmetic surgery — and she doesn’t care who knows.

For the first time in decades, women — and yes, men — are getting work done without hiding in the shadows or traveling to foreign countries until the bruising and swelling has subsided. It’s an era of cosmetic treatment transparency.

And I dig it. You want your belly tucked or nose shaved? You want your breasts enlarged or minimized? Neck tightened?

There are some “interesting” choices: treatments I never knew existed and body parts I never thought to nip, tuck, inject or enlarge. It’s a wild, wild world out there, so let’s blow open Pandora’s box and talk about “those.”

Palm Line Alterations

I’ll admit, everything I’ve read points to this being a mostly Japanese practice, but it’s too interesting not to mention. For those who believe – possibly a bit too much – in the tradition of palm reading, they have new lines surgically made to help alter their destiny.

Palm line alterations are the first of our cosmetic procedures that that make me go hmmm… They are certainly not the last.

Dimple Creation

To create a dimple — something I’m pretty sure no plastic surgeons in medical school ever imagined they’d be doing one day — a tiny incision is made on the inside of the mouth and a small stitch is put between the buccinator muscle and the skin of the cheek. Are they adorable? Yes. But something about physically creating them instead of winning the lottery of cuteness at birth makes them less so.

Elfing

All cards on the table? I’ve never seen Lord of the Rings. I know, I know, but before you get your panties in a bunch, it’s just not my thing. Maybe that’s why I don’t understand this trend.

Elfing is a surgery to cut the earlobes into the shape of, yep, you guessed it, elves’ ears. Pointy little things they are, this is a permanent procedure, so, unless you’re vying for a spot in Santa’s workshop next year — and every year after — maybe you should just buy fake ears and call it a day.

Six Pack Creation

Do I want abs? Yes. Do I want to do the work to get them? Not so much. Would I get surgery to create the perfect six-pack. Negative, Ghost Rider.

To me, a six-pack is just one of those things you have to earn. It takes an insane amount of dedication in the gym and even more self-control in the kitchen. Frankly, at this point in my life, I have neither, but I certainly aspire.

To achieve the Baywatch-esque washboard abs of steel, surgeons use a combination of liposuction, fat freezing and skin shrinking. Easier than endless crunches? Yes. Less boring than tasteless boiled chicken three times a day? Yep. But also more painful, expensive and again, zero bragging rights.

Back to the burpees, my friend.

Calf Implants

Do you even lift, Brah?

Listen, I’m as bird bird as they get, with thin legs and a wider upper body. I know what it’s like to have skinny twigs for legs, but I guess somewhere along the way people — and it seems mostly men opt for this particular enhancement — decided that the lower back portion of the leg had to be as big and bulging as their arms or quads.

How does it work? It’s essentially the same process as breast implants for your legs. Slice, make a pocket, add in the silicone implant and suture away.

An Ode to Primary Care Physicians

May/Jun. 2019

Drip, Drop and Tiny Spaces? Two Phobias-turned-wellness Must-try Treatments

Mar./Apr. 2019

This time last year I was writing about the latest fads to rise to fandom — and all cards on the table, I was quickly losing faith in humanity. We’re talking animal yoga and the notion that holding a vibrating weight could actually build muscle.

Thankfully, it’s adios 2018 and hello to a more sensible, fact-based 2019 – I hope. Anyway, it’s still early.

Here’s the kicker: These two “crazes” are right out of “Phobias For Dummies 101.” For some, it will likely prove impossible to push past the fear creeping up inside them; for the fearless, you lucky devils, these might be your next favorite wellness treatments to try.

IV Drips

Let me preface this by saying that just because it works doesn’t mean I’ll be doing it anytime soon. Though I don’t suffer from aichmophobia – the fear of sharp objects – or trypanophobia – the fear of needles specifically – I simply don’t like them. Plus, after spending most of 2018 pregnant with my son, I’ve had my fill of being poked and prodded for a while. That said, if you are OK with needles – and, let’s be honest, some people are oddly into them – IV drip treatments are becoming the next day go-to for party animals everywhere.

Through a simple IV line, trained technicians intravenously infuse your body with good-for-you vitamins, fluids and minerals, all while you enjoy the comfort of a recliner. An hour late, you’re back to your old self and ready for your next shot of tequila.

And the best part? It’s not just for hangovers. While it gained its viral popularity thanks to social media and celebs who use to schedule a post-rager drip, IV therapy has actually been a practice of functional medicine for more than 20 years. From the common cold to muscle recovery to boosting your energy and giving your skin a healthy glow, the proof is in the pudding. Let’s just say a friend of mine swears by it following his bachelor party he barely survived a year ago.

Side note: While not the same thing – and certainly not new – I should add that acupuncture is also a wildly effective needle treatment that those who oppose pointy objects are missing out on. Just saying.

Float Rooms

WARNING: Claustrophobes need not apply. Then again, if you can get past your fear of confined spaces, float rooms or tanks are like drifting through heaven, my friends.

In this weightless room or pod void of sound and light, people are floating toward health like never before. First used by athletes to heal faster, float therapy is now available across the country for the average Joe who wants to rest, relax and rejuvenate. Ready to get your meditation on? One trip to the float tank will get the job done. Sore muscles? Stress? Back pain? Difficulty sleeping? Check. Check. Check. Check.

First needles, then small, dark float pods. It seems like the newest “it” things are really just a roundabout way to cure people of their phobias, eh? Call BS all you want, but I suspect that one session is all you need to be officially hooked – quite literally if you choose to try IV therapy. Get it? Too soon?

The Scariest Game In the Whole Wide World: Elementary Germ Roulette

Jan./Feb. 2019

Germy, germy, germs, germs.

The infection-causing, body-invading on freaking everything microorganisms.

Germs: Even the name sounds creepy crawly, doesn’t it?

As a mother to a 6-year-old and 3-month-old, I’m intimately aware of the battle of the bugs and my daily effort to keep my home as sick-free as possible for my brand new babe – a tough feat for anyone with a child in elementary school, no doubt.

It’s not that I don’t expect our daughter – the elder one rubbing elbows in the germy hamster ball that is school on a daily basis – to get sick from time to time. I get it. It happens, and, to an extent it’s necessary.

Stockpiling those antibodies helps to eventually – hopefully – build a solid defense against the common cold, among other things. Studies have shown that kids who grow up in germaphobic households actually end up more sick in the long run. It’s important to build an immunity; it’s important to not live in a sterile environment 24/7.

So, yeah, in a way, I welcome the germs.

But it’s more about the way they get so freely shared that gets me going.

A cough directly in the face of another … slimy snot sneezed all over the hands that touch EVERYTHING … and handwashing? Um, good luck with that.

It seems to be the mission in life of all 3-to-10-year-old kids around the world to infect and spread those gnarly “seeds of disease” to everyone and anyone in their path.

Well, consider it mission completed.

I suppose it’s just the nature of the beast when kids huddle in groups together. In fact, any parent of a day-care kid could already tell you this was going to be the case. Little Tommy never had a cold a day in his life until Mom and Dad popped him into day care at 3 years old. From then on? A bright red, snot-dripping nose literally every single time you saw him.

Gross.

But here’s the real kicker: It’s not really even their fault, is it?

Sure, it’s on every surface imaginable: the tables, toys and door handles. And, of course, they hug and tumble and play together as only kids can so innocently do. But they can’t see the germs, same as they could see mud on their hands, prompting a tiny lightbulb “ah ha” to go wash their hands. After all, they’re kids.

But you? The parent, caretaker, adult in their life – this is on you my friend. Teach them to “dab” when they sneeze, cough into their shoulder and, for the love of everything holy, make them wash their hands. With soap.

No, I don’t expect you to chase after them with antibacterial spray or nestle them inside a germ-free bubble until college. Just stick to the basics, and we’ll all be a little less snotty for it.

Oh, and because life is what happens when you’re busy making plans – I’m currently sporting a 100-degree fever.

The germs have invaded, and I have lost. Ironic, isn’t it?

Nuttier Than a Fruitcake: The Holiday Gift No One Wants

Nov./Dec. 2018

Sure, grab a bottle of bubbly or show up with a Poinsettia in hand, but do us all a favor: Put down the fruitcake and back away slowly.

Listen folks, the holidays are right around the corner – and with it parties, celebrations and invites to share in the yuletide joy. Showing up empty-handed? Not in a million years. But let’s get one thing straight: No one wants the damn fruitcake. Not now, not ever. In fact, folklore says it was originally a gift left for the dead in ancient Egypt, and I’m willing to bet not a single mummy ever came back from the grave to sneak a piece then either.

It doesn’t matter which way you slice it, a fruitcake is easily one of the most hated gifts in the United States, and yet, year after year, holiday guests show up bearing this fruity, nutty token of appreciation nevertheless.

The fruitcake originally gained popularity during the Roman times with pomegranate seeds, pine nuts and barley mash – you know, after the mummies stopped waking from the dead to eat it and all. Over the years, the ingredients evolved or changed. Some added marzipan or royal icing and others played with the ratio of flour and eggs. What emerged for Americans is what is known today for being dense, sweet and packed with dried fruit, nuts and spices.

It’s also known for having one heck of a shelf life, too – one that comedians can’t seem to help poking fun at. In fact, to prove his point that fruitcakes last forever, in 2003 “The Tonight Show” host Jay Leno sampled a fruitcake baked all the way back in 1878. Even Leno’s predecessor on “The Tonight Show,” Johnny Carson, deemed the fruitcake a holiday abomination:
“The worst gift is fruitcake. There is only one fruitcake in the entire world, and people keep sending it to each other.”
But maybe we’re just doing it wrong.

In other countries, the cake is welcomed, sometimes throughout the entire year and certainly at celebrations of birthdays, weddings and the holidays. I’m beginning to think that perhaps their fruitcake doesn’t taste like a spiced brick, however. In the United Kingdom, traditional fruitcakes are rich and moist, adorned with icing, powdered sugar or fresh berries. In the Bahamas, the entire cake, including the candied fruit and raisins inside, soak in dark rum while fresh out of the oven.

So maybe it’s not the fruitcake itself that’s the problem but our reject variation that has families hesitant to invite Great Aunt Hilda – and her bag full of sugary paperweights – to the annual family get-together.

Want my advice? Skip the fruitcake this season and opt for a nice bottle of vino or a cheese plate. Chances are, we all still have one propping open a door somewhere anyway.

How Oral Hygiene Has (Thankfully) Evolved Over the Years

Sep./Oct. 2018

I know that we all like to think that humans are the most evolved species in the world, and, in most cases, I would agree. Yet, if you stop to look back on some of the bright ideas from the past, especially in regards to medicine and hygiene, we might just have to hand back our title.

Let’s take oral hygiene for instance. Sure, today we seem to have it down to a science: Brush twice a day and don’t forget to floss – but what about the methods used thousands of years ago? Do you know how they kept their smiles shining bright? Let me fill you in: chalk, burned eggshells, crushed oyster shells, yes, the ashes of ox hooves.

The ashes of ox hooves??? No thank you – not in a million years. But hey, at least they were trying, I guess.

Adding insult to injury, most people didn’t even brush their teeth on a consistent basis until after World War II. Apparently, soldiers away at war realized we were a disgusting bunch and brought the practice of brushing regularly home when the hostilities ended.

So there’s that.

What about the toothbrush, you ask? Good question. Much like animals gnaw on sticks for their teeth cleaning routines, some of the first “toothbrushes” were actually thin twigs used as “chew sticks.” They probably didn’t do a whole lot of actual cleaning.

Sometime around the 1500s, toothbrushes were made from animal bones along with quills, boar bristles and feathers. In the late 1700s, William Addis – a prisoner in London – decided that enough was enough and sweet-talked a guard into slipping him some pig bristles to accompany the bones he had managed to salvage from dinner. Interestingly, when Addis was released, he went on to form a company that has gone well beyond oral hygiene and still operates today. Good on him.

In 1857, H.N. Wadsworth became the first American to patent a toothbrush, though mass production of those valuable pearlywhite polishers didn’t start until almost 30 years later. Delaying the defunking of our mouths even more, it wasn’t until the 1930s – and the invention of nylon – that the toothbrushes we know, love and cherish today were introduced.

With all this in mind, you have to be pretty amazed at how far we’ve come from the foul-smelling mouths and wooden teeth that preceded the current-day state of oral hygiene. These days, there’s dozens of ways to treat our mouths, and it’s definitely not just about the choppers, either. Gums, tongues and the entire mouth are expected to be freshly cleaned, polished and hinting of mint. Now, exactly 58 years after the first electric toothbrush dazzled the American market, we are inundated with endless ways to maintain our oral health.

And while it’s not the same as chalk, bones or shells, we are still endlessly seeking products that will make our teeth shine. From white strips to baking soda to activated charcoal, who knows what people will think of our methods another 2,000 years from now.

I’d like to think they’d say we were onto something. At the very least, our teeth aren’t wooden. So again, there’s that.

Menopause Monologues: Two Thoughts to Every Story

Jul./Aug. 2018

Full disclosure: I was already out of my parents’ house by the time my own mother started menopause, but that didn’t stop me from hearing horror stories of hot flashes, weight gain, difficulty sleeping and, oh yes, mood swings. These stories were usually recounted over phone calls with Mom since Dad wouldn’t dare speak ill of his wife “going through the change” – though I do remember a story of my dad waking in the middle of the night with snow piling up against their open bedroom window. Turns out Mom had a midnight hot flash, and despite the blizzard outside needed “air.” In reality, most men are smart enough – or likely scared enough – to keep their opinions over raging hormones and fluctuating body temps to themselves. Smart move, gentlemen.

But what about those thoughts? Perspectives? Experiences watching this battle of the female body rage inside their brides? After speaking to several couples, here’s my truth-betold take on the conversations going on inside the male and female brains when faced with some of the more common symptoms of menopause.

HOT FLASHES/CHILLS

For the average person who’s never dealt with the rapid changes of body temperatures inside their body, it may seem improbable that it can even be so swift and unrelentless. And yet it is.

WOMAN (FANNING HERSELF): “Oh, God. Here it comes; where’s the fan? I need ice. I need an ice bath. It’s like a volcano inside my body! This is the one that’ll do me in.”

Five minutes later: “Where’s my sweater? Did he turn up the air? It’s freezing in here!”

MAN: “Why is she flapping her hands so much? What’s happening? Is she cold? Hot? Do I ask? Oh, she’s sweating. Oh, God, here it comes. I should get her a fan – and a sweater. Mental note: DO NOT touch the thermostat.”

WEIGHT GAIN

It’s not pleasant and certainly no one wants to talk about it. One day you’re eating big bowls of pasta and meatballs, and the next day, you ARE the meatball. Hormonal changes slow down the metabolism and, in turn, make maintaining a healthy weight harder than ever before. Awesome, right?

WOMAN (WATCHING HUSBAND EATING DOUGHNUTS): “Oh, I remember those days. I could eat anything I wanted – ANYTHING! Those were the days. Stupid menopause. Stupid hormones. Stupid metabolism. Stupid still-slim husband.”

MAN: “She’s staring at me. Should I offer her a bite? Nope. No way I’m getting caught in that trap. Mental note: Buy flowers and tell her she’s beautiful.”

LOSS OF FOCUS

Lost keys? Forgetfulness? Easily distracted? Go ahead and blame it on the menopause because, once again, low levels of estrogen – and likely higher stress levels – are the culprit during this transitional time period. AKA, you are NOT going crazy.

WOMAN: “Where did I leave my glasses? I just had them.”

MAN: “I wonder if she knows they’re on her head? I bet that’s what she’s looking for.”

MOOD SWINGS

Just like hot flashes, a mood swing can roll in like a tornado without warning. Coupled with the hormone fluctuations, additional menopause factors, such as fatigue, lack of sleep and even anxiety, can send women on a roller coaster of emotions. Word of advice – from both men and women – DO NOT POKE THE BEAR!

WOMAN: “Birds singing. Sun shining. What a beautiful day.”

One tiny bump in the road later…

“God save the next person who speaks to me!”

MAN: “Mental note: Buy more flowers.”

An Open Letter To a New Generation of Fellow Oculi

May/Jun. 2018

Things just aren’t like they used to be, kids.

Sure, back then we didn’t have any of these fancy-schmancy lasers, but we made due. We needed less help back then, too, if you ask me – less small-print reading, more in-life experiences. Not every event we saw or feeling that was felt was broadcast for the world to know. It was a simpler time I suppose.

These days, I’m straining and struggling to keep up with everything I see. White lights, bright screens and a feed of endlessly flowing text smaller than anyone should have to wince at.

Frankly, I’m tired. Overworked. Out of focus. And underappreciated.

Look at all we do. We paint the picture of life.

It’s through our lenses’ that our friend, the brain, computes our data, connects the dots and understands what is literally right before us. From the moment we open to the second we close, we’re documenting the images that make up the beloved memories that are so important – at least as I understand them to be. Without us, everyone in the High Five Sensory Band is playing overtime, and, trust me, there’s no time-and-a-half for their efforts.

Not to mention that we really hit the mark with a perfectly executed roll, when appropriate, for sarcastic emphasis.

Lastly, let me ask you this: Have you ever been yelled at by “HR” – the Headache Responsibility team? Here they come, asking questions and pointing fingers, wanting to know who’s in charge of the between-the-eye cluster headaches and soul-sucking migraines. It’s not me I tell you. It’s the electronics: cellphones, laptops, large screen TVs – enough is enough.

Bloodshot, blurry and dry as the desert: I’m not trying to make a spectacle of myself, but, I’m telling you, it doesn’t have to be like this.

Sure, we can’t all be perfect 20/20s — and yes, some of us need a little lens loving to get through the day — but the way I see it, there’s more glass covering you young kids than ever before.

I’m calling for an intervention — a “Retina Revolution” if you will! It’s time to put down the iPads, turn off the boob tube and lift our fellow eyeballs to the excitement all around us.

Let’s get out and see what the world has in store for us. Look high; look low; take it all in. I know it’s hard to believe, but there’s this whole beautiful thing called “life” that goes well past the dimensions of an electronic screen. This is what life should look like, my young pupils.

So there it is; I’ve said my piece. You can choose to remain wide open, but, if you ask me, I’m done with the excessive winking, blinking and wincing.

Sincerely,

An Old-Timer Eyeball With a Vision For the Future

PS: Oh, and please stop staring directly at the sun. It’s the fastest way to burn out my friends.

Fitness Fads to Make Your Head Spin

Mar./Apr. 2018

Back in January, I was tasked with finding new and exciting ways to break a sweat throughout our beloved Charleston area. I may or may not have pitched the concept for my own selfish benefit of snapping my workout rut – but, alas, I was assigned the piece, so I laced up my sneaks and set out to find five different studios and gyms to kick my butt.

WHAT DID I FIND?

Well among other things, I found I was incredibly out of shape and not even worthy of sitting on the slowest spin bike known to man. These sweat-inducing workouts – which consisted of barre workouts, spinning, rowing, HIIT and hot yoga – did their job, and frankly none of them were too “out of the box” or crazy to commit to long-term. Difficult? Yes. Exhausting. You bet. But just another outlandish fad? No way.

It did get me thinking, however, about what other things are out there that some would consider “ridiculous trends” or too far out in left field. While I’m not here to judge, I am here to do my homework – it comes with the job description, folks. I’ve selected a few of the more interesting crazes to hit the fitness circuit – and you might be surprised at how some people spend their time trying to get that perfect, sculpted bod.

ANIMAL YOGA

Don’t get me wrong, I love both yoga and animals – but together? I think I’ll pass. There’s no shortage of oddness here – from people holding bunnies on their bellies to goats perched upon the backs of yogis positioned in Downward Dog. Still the quirkiest version of animal yoga has the brave (take that with a grain of salt) souls who attempt yoga on the backs of horses.

Just Google it.

I have so many questions about this. For starters: why? What’s so bad about a good old-fashioned yoga mat? What about the poor horse’s back? And who was the first to say, “Yep, this feels right!” It’s a rare sight and thankfully not anything I’ve caught wind of in the Holy City, but still you have to wonder. Now beer yoga is popping up at breweries across town and you can always count me in for that.

Just leave the fur-balls at home.

WAIST TRAINERS

I know: If Kim Kardashian did it, then it MUST be emulated. Well, she’s done a lot of… interesting … things in her life, but it doesn’t mean it’s worthwhile. These steel-boned corsets – reminiscent of the torture dress apparel worn by women in the late 16th century – aim to provide the allusive hourglass shape.

Still, it has nothing to do with actual weight loss or fat reduction – and it definitely doesn’t build muscle. If you feel like putting your torso through the squeeze for 10 hours a day, seven days a week for up to eight weeks, to obtain only temporary results, then by all means, go for it! Even Kardashian follows a strict fitness and nutrition regimen, so don’t get fooled into thinking there’s a magic wrap to make all your curvy dreams come true.

SHAKE WEIGHT

Can we all just … not? This is one infomercial that didn’t have me reaching for my wallet at 2 a.m. I’m not sure what turns me off more – the ridiculous movement or the assumption that holding a shaking weight will make muscles. And that’s if I don’t even start with the alarming nature of the whole thing.

Still, after it debuted in 2009, it only took one calendar year to reach over $40 million in revenue. So while I may not be a big fan of the “As Seen On TV” product, there were more than enough people who jumped right on board that bandwagon.

VIBRATING WAISTBANDS

I’ll admit right off the bat that my husband and I tried this back in 2010. Were we hoping it would sculpt our abs as we binge-watched our favorite series? Of course not – well OK, maybe. Really we gave it a go because it was free – and free is always worth trying.

The results were (not surprisingly) less than impressive. It did not in fact give us washboard abs or trim our love handles, but it was fun. The controllable settings varied from unnoticeable – like a cellphone alert – to strong surges of zaps that aimed to make your abdominal muscles contract – aka “workout.”

The real fun came competing with my husband for who could withstand the more intense vibrations for longer periods of time. While we certainly passed more than a few hours giving it a go, I can firmly conclude that only laughs, not muscles, were achieved throughout our 30-day free trial.

Back to the company it went.

THE CONCLUSION?

Some of you may be wondering: “What about crazy boot camps like P90X, workouts such as CrossFit or classes that make you dance around like a chicken without a head – ala Zumba? Shouldn’t those be included?” In a word: no.

Sure, they gather one heck of a following, and some of the moves or workouts would put me flat on my back, but that in and of itself doesn’t make it crazy. In the end, they work! They achieve their main objective to get your heart rate up, your body moving and the sweat pouring – and I think they’ve proven that they have staying power for the long run.

As for me? My sneakers are laced and I’m donning my favorite pair of yoga pants, but just writing this brought back memories of sore muscles and pathetic, breathless panting.

THERE’S ALWAYS TOMORROW, RIGHT?