If anyone is interested, I thought I would share some practical results from shocking yourself with electricity for years. Typing this now w/ a 3-electrode ab-belt on my stomach, and 8 electrodes on my arms, while eating oatmeal. I had this up on reddit in /fitness. got me banned because it's not about the latest cabbage diet. you can get fit while you sit in a chair, just put up with pain and discomfort.
SUMMARY
Can EMS completely replace working out, and make me fit w/ bulging muscles: yes.
Is it bad for you: there is literally nothing you can do to hurt yourself unless you get a plug-in medical device that costs over $1k. The little pocket battery units don't have enough power to reach your heart or organs, even on max power. Even if you put electrodes to go through your body, it'll still traverse through the outside tissue (uncomfortable but safe - tested many times). In fact, since I replaced lifting with EMS for half my workouts, my joints stopped hurting.
How does it compare to lifting: Not as much visible muscle volume increase (but some), but more actual strength, like when you punch.
Do those electric body vests at the gym do anything: No. Waste of sweat/time/money.
Are $1k+ medical plug-in units better: No. You need the help of a professional to use them, as they have the power to kill you. They can crank it much higher, and with a lot of pain (bite down on something) cut your 5-hour pocket EMS workout to 30min.
If I bench 300lb 20 times, stop lifting and just do EMS for a year, can I still bench 300? Yep, and now you'll push it up it 25 times. But you won't be able to do 350lb 20 times. You'll have more muscle, but it'll look the same volume-wise.
Is it expensive: No. About $200 initial investment for everything I use, about $10/year for replacement stuff.
Does it hurt or itch: Yes, a lot. If you power through a few months of being uncomfortable 1/4 of your day, you no longer notice it.
Can I work out w/ EMS under my clothes while in a meeting at work, at dinner, or dancing at a club: absolutely.
If I'm a fatass, can EMS alone, w/o going to the gym, with no effort, get me in shape so I look toned and built: Yes. You have to do it several times a week for 5-10 hours at a time. The more fat you have the less electricity reaches your muscle, so you have to turn it up more till you lose the fat.
Has anyone famous gone hardcore on EMS for an extended time: Bruce Lee.
ME
40/male. 5'11, 170lb, ~6% bodyfat, fit all my life. I don't pay attention to my diet and often eat before bed. I pop a lot of dried berry type supplements and a centrum per day, but don't do anything else like protein powder or creatine. I'm in STEM, and know quite a bit about biology and organic chemistry. I have worked at a hospital assisting nurses and am fairly well-versed in medicine.
I will link to some stuff I use. I am in no way affiliated with anything or make money from it - it is simply what I've come to find as an optimal complete solution in my 20 years of experience. What I have done is a ridiculous amount of research over the years, and tried many different pads, belts, EMS units, leads/wires, and even tshirts.
I did a lot of track, and after 18 started lifting, which progressed to some ridiculously heavy weights - and that caused some joint problems later in life. About 20 years ago I injured my shoulder. I picked up a soccer mom ab belt as seen on TV, strapped it to my shoulder and did that for about 6 months till I could lift again. It used a watch battery and made the aux muscles in the shoulder stronger around the scar tissue. Once that passed, I tossed it and got one with larger batteries for my abs. I've been doing that instead of sit-ups since then - for 20 years.
ABS
I wake up, put on an ab belt, and do my morning wash/brush/dress stuff, including eating breakfast, with it on. I start at 50% and after an hour go to 100%. 2 hours a day, pretty much every day. The morning belt only does the front, and does not use gel pads. It has these carbon-rubber nipples - you just touch them with a wet hand for conductivity and put on the belt. They don't itch at all, but leave little red marks that go away fully an hour after you take it off. I place it low (touching top of pubes) one day, and high (touching bottom of ribs) the next day. This works the middle muscle twice as much as the upper and lower, which keeps all 6 the same size, as the middle ones are slowest to grow.
I use programs 1-3. Start at level 12, then crank it to 20(max). It takes 3 AAA, and I just put in 3 NiMH rechargeables which last 2 months before needing a recharge. Make sure to get a charger that charges individual slots, not pairs. The 3 batteries last 5-10 years.
A couple of times per week I wear a different belt to the office. This does obliques. I use program 8. On level 30-40 there is no visible twitching and you can be in public. At home I use level 100-150(max). It has a big pad in the middle, and a pad on each side. 3 gel pads total, and I stick the outer ones as far out as they go. If you take care of the pads, they last over a year, and then you shell out $5 for a new set. These don't need gel - they are made of a conductive gel. Any gel pads itch, and the higher the electricity the more they itch. The unit I am linking has a non-removable battery and needs to be charged weekly. The battery has been the same for a year, so I'll estimate it lasts 3-5 years. After that you need to toss the belt and get a new one, because batteries are non-removable, or pull the charger apart and do some tinkering. This belt is very thin and invisible under a shirt, and the control/battery just goes in your pocket.
You cannot get these on amazon, as they are "almost/kinda" medical grade. The ones on amazon have much less power than these. Thankfully if you go to many of the sites specializing in these, they resell the units. If you go to the manufacturer, Rosco Medical, they'll want a prescription.
You need large pads. What comes with all the units goes in the trash. 3x5" pads are perfect, because if they fold a little or crease you don't care as the remaining contact area is enough. If you can't fit 4 of these on your tiny girl-chest, I recommend a 3x5 for the negative (black) going to a 2x4 positive (red). Keep in mind that the black wire is going to hit your muscle harder than the red. The right side of your body also conducts worse, so if you just do 2 pads across the chest, black on the right and red on the left, unless you want one of your tits to look bigger.
When you take them off, put the plastic cover back on. Once every couple of weeks, get your hand wet and wash the conductive side. I also spray that side with 91% alcohol weekly. This will keep them working for about 6 months.
Putting some electrical tape on the wire joints also keeps the wires from folding too much and breaking in your pocket. With that, the wires are also good for about 6 months.
Pads no longer stick after about 10 uses. This is fine, as even when they are fresh, it's helpful to wear a compression shirt to keep them in place. I just bought 10 shirts and I wear them under everything when I have the pads on. You want it way tighter than a regular shirt, so if you sweat a little pads don't spil - they press on parts where muscles curve, such as the inner part of the chest. When I do arms, I put socks on the upper arm over the pads. Just take thin tight dress socks and make them into a tube by cutting off the toe.
If you have the pads on the same spot for 5-10 hours at a time, you'll get little skin bumps in those spots after you shower. Don't scratch that area, don't use a hard sponge in the shower. The bumps go away when your skin dries. If you scratch the area and rip off a little skin, you're not in for a good time when you put the electrodes back on. You can put pads on top of lotion after it dries - I do. You do not need to clean the skin area before putting on pads.
Chest / Arms / Upper Back
Simplest thing is take one wire, stick the black far on your right tit, stick the red far on your left, and turn everything all the way up. Go to work in the morning and take it off when you come back. Turn it down to 20-50Hz while you eat lunch. That's about 2 hours of hardcore bench press, and you'll see it volume-wise and feel quite sore the next morning.
I use 2 EMS units for this - one for each side of the body. I also work out opposing muscles in groups. Doing this lets you not lock up and have the EMS going while you go on about your day. Chest+back and bis+tris. For example, per arm, I put a negative (black) from the wire on the bottom of the bicep, and it's positive (red) on the top or the front of the shoulder. The second wire's negative goes on the bottom of the tricep under your armpit, or the back of the shoulder.
For chest, you can have positives on the outer chest and negatives in the middle. I do back at the same time, so I'll have positives on the back below the armpits, and negatives at the base of the neck. You can also just use 2 3x5" pads on one wire to go across the chest. I do this when I'm going to be out while having the EMS on - less wires, less distraction - like when you're at work or at dinner.
When you turn it up high, you'll be twitching a bit and it'll hurt. The pain goes away after 10-30min. I recommend cranking it to max pulse width and max power on the knobs, at 150Hz for 10min. You get used to it, then turn it down to 120Hz and cut the pulse width by 1/3 (to 200). After being on max, this will feel like nothing, and you can go to work. You twitch a little bit, so if you're out in public, find the frequency range and power that makes you twitch less. Careful carrying that hot cup of coffee if you have it on max.
Lower back and Legs
I do this a couple of times per week when I sleep, as the wife is not happy with me sleeping with a compression shirt on. Use the lowest pulse width so it doesn't itch, and use 10-20Hz. I put the red terminals from each of the 2 wires on the lower back just above the ass, and the black terminals about half way in the middle of the back shoulder blades. With a compression shirt on, you sleep fine and they don't slip. It took about a week to get used to sleeping w/ the EMS on, now it's almost like falling asleep to a massage.
Same goes for your legs, just borrow your wife's pantyhose to keep the electrodes on at night (if you're into that). I walk around a crazy amount and take the stairs when I can, so I don't put electrodes on my legs at all, but you're free to try it if you're comfortable in your masculinity. I'm kidding - just get some biking pants.
I know a girl who just puts one pad on the left of her stomach and the other on the right, and on 10Hz sleeps while working out her abs. If you do this, keep in mind to put the black electrode on the right side of your stomach and red on the left - the black hits more, and the right side of the body conducts less, so it balances out. This itches, so I can't do it while sleeping. The belts all have timers, so you can't leave those on all night. If you are able to find an electric ab belt w/o a timer, dear god please post a link here.
Extended Use
I've been doing abs like this for about 20 years, no sit-ups at all. It's perfect, and I'd say even better. Other muscle groups, I've been using EMS for about 5 years. I cut lifting time about in half - I just do an hour of weights on the bowflex in the morning 3-4 times per week. You can also have electrodes on while you lift if you want, although I don't.
For over a year, I couldn't work out due to injury. In that year, I only used the electrodes - 5-10 hours per day, 4-5 times a week. Bodyfat did not increase at all, and muscle volume stayed the same. When I resumed lifting, I was not able to do more weight, but was able to do more reps w/ the same weight. This tells me you can actually replace working out w/ just EMS and you'll maintain your fitness level and muscle mass - you just won't get bigger. But you do have to crank it all the way up, and work out both type 2A muscle (20-80Hz) and 2B type muscle (80-150Hz).
You can place the electrodes anywhere, just make sure they don't go through your body - the amps still go around, not through, but it feels weird. Don't stick a positive terminal on your chest and the negative from that wire on your back. It won't kill you if you do, and it's not a big deal or really dangerous. It's just really, really uncomfortable. You can however put one pair of terminals from a wire on the chest, and another pair of terminals (from another wire) on your back. You can go across your chest, but don't go across your back so you don't hit your spine. On the back, you can either do black on the outer and red on the inner (by your spine), or go up and down your back. Even a red electrode above the left ass cheek, and the black on your left trap/shoulder by your neck.
Anywise, as I have gotten older and the joints can't take as much weight, as there is less time in my schedule, cutting down lifting to about 3-4 hours per week and using EMS to supplement it has been perfect. After 5 years, I am at least as fit as I was, probably a little better. You'll see stuff out there online that says don't put them across the chest - complete BS, it's fine. People will also write to take breaks. For example, the EMS has 2 other modes, where it's on a minute, then off a minute. Completely useless - just put it on always-on (Constant) and forget about it.
I also have some friends and family that do the same thing as I do w/ EMS. Same results, same lack of issues. If you want to be a little lazy and a lot fit, maybe give it a try.
Working Out for the Lazy
takyon writes:
I'll put this here so it can appear on the front page, since it would not with this user's low karma. Use this advice at your own risk.
fakefuck39 writes:
If anyone is interested, I thought I would share some practical results from shocking yourself with electricity for years. Typing this now w/ a 3-electrode ab-belt on my stomach, and 8 electrodes on my arms, while eating oatmeal. I had this up on reddit in /fitness. got me banned because it's not about the latest cabbage diet. you can get fit while you sit in a chair, just put up with pain and discomfort.
SUMMARY
Can EMS completely replace working out, and make me fit w/ bulging muscles: yes.
Is it bad for you: there is literally nothing you can do to hurt yourself unless you get a plug-in medical device that costs over $1k. The little pocket battery units don't have enough power to reach your heart or organs, even on max power. Even if you put electrodes to go through your body, it'll still traverse through the outside tissue (uncomfortable but safe - tested many times). In fact, since I replaced lifting with EMS for half my workouts, my joints stopped hurting.
How does it compare to lifting: Not as much visible muscle volume increase (but some), but more actual strength, like when you punch.
Do those electric body vests at the gym do anything: No. Waste of sweat/time/money.
Are $1k+ medical plug-in units better: No. You need the help of a professional to use them, as they have the power to kill you. They can crank it much higher, and with a lot of pain (bite down on something) cut your 5-hour pocket EMS workout to 30min.
If I bench 300lb 20 times, stop lifting and just do EMS for a year, can I still bench 300? Yep, and now you'll push it up it 25 times. But you won't be able to do 350lb 20 times. You'll have more muscle, but it'll look the same volume-wise.
Is it expensive: No. About $200 initial investment for everything I use, about $10/year for replacement stuff.
Does it hurt or itch: Yes, a lot. If you power through a few months of being uncomfortable 1/4 of your day, you no longer notice it.
Can I work out w/ EMS under my clothes while in a meeting at work, at dinner, or dancing at a club: absolutely.
If I'm a fatass, can EMS alone, w/o going to the gym, with no effort, get me in shape so I look toned and built: Yes. You have to do it several times a week for 5-10 hours at a time. The more fat you have the less electricity reaches your muscle, so you have to turn it up more till you lose the fat.
Has anyone famous gone hardcore on EMS for an extended time: Bruce Lee.
ME
40/male. 5'11, 170lb, ~6% bodyfat, fit all my life. I don't pay attention to my diet and often eat before bed. I pop a lot of dried berry type supplements and a centrum per day, but don't do anything else like protein powder or creatine. I'm in STEM, and know quite a bit about biology and organic chemistry. I have worked at a hospital assisting nurses and am fairly well-versed in medicine.
I will link to some stuff I use. I am in no way affiliated with anything or make money from it - it is simply what I've come to find as an optimal complete solution in my 20 years of experience. What I have done is a ridiculous amount of research over the years, and tried many different pads, belts, EMS units, leads/wires, and even tshirts.
I did a lot of track, and after 18 started lifting, which progressed to some ridiculously heavy weights - and that caused some joint problems later in life. About 20 years ago I injured my shoulder. I picked up a soccer mom ab belt as seen on TV, strapped it to my shoulder and did that for about 6 months till I could lift again. It used a watch battery and made the aux muscles in the shoulder stronger around the scar tissue. Once that passed, I tossed it and got one with larger batteries for my abs. I've been doing that instead of sit-ups since then - for 20 years.
ABS
I wake up, put on an ab belt, and do my morning wash/brush/dress stuff, including eating breakfast, with it on. I start at 50% and after an hour go to 100%. 2 hours a day, pretty much every day. The morning belt only does the front, and does not use gel pads. It has these carbon-rubber nipples - you just touch them with a wet hand for conductivity and put on the belt. They don't itch at all, but leave little red marks that go away fully an hour after you take it off. I place it low (touching top of pubes) one day, and high (touching bottom of ribs) the next day. This works the middle muscle twice as much as the upper and lower, which keeps all 6 the same size, as the middle ones are slowest to grow.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N7RAQ6F
I use programs 1-3. Start at level 12, then crank it to 20(max). It takes 3 AAA, and I just put in 3 NiMH rechargeables which last 2 months before needing a recharge. Make sure to get a charger that charges individual slots, not pairs. The 3 batteries last 5-10 years.
https://www.amazon.com/EBL-Battery-AAA-Rechargeable-Batteries/dp/B071X6KHCW
A couple of times per week I wear a different belt to the office. This does obliques. I use program 8. On level 30-40 there is no visible twitching and you can be in public. At home I use level 100-150(max). It has a big pad in the middle, and a pad on each side. 3 gel pads total, and I stick the outer ones as far out as they go. If you take care of the pads, they last over a year, and then you shell out $5 for a new set. These don't need gel - they are made of a conductive gel. Any gel pads itch, and the higher the electricity the more they itch. The unit I am linking has a non-removable battery and needs to be charged weekly. The battery has been the same for a year, so I'll estimate it lasts 3-5 years. After that you need to toss the belt and get a new one, because batteries are non-removable, or pull the charger apart and do some tinkering. This belt is very thin and invisible under a shirt, and the control/battery just goes in your pocket.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G748N5R
EMS
I have two EMS7500 units. https://www.tensunits.com/product/DE7502.html
You cannot get these on amazon, as they are "almost/kinda" medical grade. The ones on amazon have much less power than these. Thankfully if you go to many of the sites specializing in these, they resell the units. If you go to the manufacturer, Rosco Medical, they'll want a prescription.
This has 3 modes - I only use the Constant mode (C). Frequencies of https://www.amazon.com/OKcell-Rechargeable-Battery-Helicopter-Microphone/dp/B01LZIQ7EA
fan: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XN24GY
PADS
You need large pads. What comes with all the units goes in the trash. 3x5" pads are perfect, because if they fold a little or crease you don't care as the remaining contact area is enough. If you can't fit 4 of these on your tiny girl-chest, I recommend a 3x5 for the negative (black) going to a 2x4 positive (red). Keep in mind that the black wire is going to hit your muscle harder than the red. The right side of your body also conducts worse, so if you just do 2 pads across the chest, black on the right and red on the left, unless you want one of your tits to look bigger.
When you take them off, put the plastic cover back on. Once every couple of weeks, get your hand wet and wash the conductive side. I also spray that side with 91% alcohol weekly. This will keep them working for about 6 months.
Putting some electrical tape on the wire joints also keeps the wires from folding too much and breaking in your pocket. With that, the wires are also good for about 6 months.
3x5 pads https://www.otcwholesale.com/axelgaard-cf7515-3-5-rectangle-cloth-electrode.html
2x4 pads https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HX1NO8I
wires https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HX1NO8I
Pads no longer stick after about 10 uses. This is fine, as even when they are fresh, it's helpful to wear a compression shirt to keep them in place. I just bought 10 shirts and I wear them under everything when I have the pads on. You want it way tighter than a regular shirt, so if you sweat a little pads don't spil - they press on parts where muscles curve, such as the inner part of the chest. When I do arms, I put socks on the upper arm over the pads. Just take thin tight dress socks and make them into a tube by cutting off the toe.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01G7CM82M
If you have the pads on the same spot for 5-10 hours at a time, you'll get little skin bumps in those spots after you shower. Don't scratch that area, don't use a hard sponge in the shower. The bumps go away when your skin dries. If you scratch the area and rip off a little skin, you're not in for a good time when you put the electrodes back on. You can put pads on top of lotion after it dries - I do. You do not need to clean the skin area before putting on pads.
Chest / Arms / Upper Back
Simplest thing is take one wire, stick the black far on your right tit, stick the red far on your left, and turn everything all the way up. Go to work in the morning and take it off when you come back. Turn it down to 20-50Hz while you eat lunch. That's about 2 hours of hardcore bench press, and you'll see it volume-wise and feel quite sore the next morning.
I use 2 EMS units for this - one for each side of the body. I also work out opposing muscles in groups. Doing this lets you not lock up and have the EMS going while you go on about your day. Chest+back and bis+tris. For example, per arm, I put a negative (black) from the wire on the bottom of the bicep, and it's positive (red) on the top or the front of the shoulder. The second wire's negative goes on the bottom of the tricep under your armpit, or the back of the shoulder.
For chest, you can have positives on the outer chest and negatives in the middle. I do back at the same time, so I'll have positives on the back below the armpits, and negatives at the base of the neck. You can also just use 2 3x5" pads on one wire to go across the chest. I do this when I'm going to be out while having the EMS on - less wires, less distraction - like when you're at work or at dinner.
When you turn it up high, you'll be twitching a bit and it'll hurt. The pain goes away after 10-30min. I recommend cranking it to max pulse width and max power on the knobs, at 150Hz for 10min. You get used to it, then turn it down to 120Hz and cut the pulse width by 1/3 (to 200). After being on max, this will feel like nothing, and you can go to work. You twitch a little bit, so if you're out in public, find the frequency range and power that makes you twitch less. Careful carrying that hot cup of coffee if you have it on max.
Lower back and Legs
I do this a couple of times per week when I sleep, as the wife is not happy with me sleeping with a compression shirt on. Use the lowest pulse width so it doesn't itch, and use 10-20Hz. I put the red terminals from each of the 2 wires on the lower back just above the ass, and the black terminals about half way in the middle of the back shoulder blades. With a compression shirt on, you sleep fine and they don't slip. It took about a week to get used to sleeping w/ the EMS on, now it's almost like falling asleep to a massage.
Same goes for your legs, just borrow your wife's pantyhose to keep the electrodes on at night (if you're into that). I walk around a crazy amount and take the stairs when I can, so I don't put electrodes on my legs at all, but you're free to try it if you're comfortable in your masculinity. I'm kidding - just get some biking pants.
I know a girl who just puts one pad on the left of her stomach and the other on the right, and on 10Hz sleeps while working out her abs. If you do this, keep in mind to put the black electrode on the right side of your stomach and red on the left - the black hits more, and the right side of the body conducts less, so it balances out. This itches, so I can't do it while sleeping. The belts all have timers, so you can't leave those on all night. If you are able to find an electric ab belt w/o a timer, dear god please post a link here.
Extended Use
I've been doing abs like this for about 20 years, no sit-ups at all. It's perfect, and I'd say even better. Other muscle groups, I've been using EMS for about 5 years. I cut lifting time about in half - I just do an hour of weights on the bowflex in the morning 3-4 times per week. You can also have electrodes on while you lift if you want, although I don't.
For over a year, I couldn't work out due to injury. In that year, I only used the electrodes - 5-10 hours per day, 4-5 times a week. Bodyfat did not increase at all, and muscle volume stayed the same. When I resumed lifting, I was not able to do more weight, but was able to do more reps w/ the same weight. This tells me you can actually replace working out w/ just EMS and you'll maintain your fitness level and muscle mass - you just won't get bigger. But you do have to crank it all the way up, and work out both type 2A muscle (20-80Hz) and 2B type muscle (80-150Hz).
You can place the electrodes anywhere, just make sure they don't go through your body - the amps still go around, not through, but it feels weird. Don't stick a positive terminal on your chest and the negative from that wire on your back. It won't kill you if you do, and it's not a big deal or really dangerous. It's just really, really uncomfortable. You can however put one pair of terminals from a wire on the chest, and another pair of terminals (from another wire) on your back. You can go across your chest, but don't go across your back so you don't hit your spine. On the back, you can either do black on the outer and red on the inner (by your spine), or go up and down your back. Even a red electrode above the left ass cheek, and the black on your left trap/shoulder by your neck.
Anywise, as I have gotten older and the joints can't take as much weight, as there is less time in my schedule, cutting down lifting to about 3-4 hours per week and using EMS to supplement it has been perfect. After 5 years, I am at least as fit as I was, probably a little better. You'll see stuff out there online that says don't put them across the chest - complete BS, it's fine. People will also write to take breaks. For example, the EMS has 2 other modes, where it's on a minute, then off a minute. Completely useless - just put it on always-on (Constant) and forget about it.
I also have some friends and family that do the same thing as I do w/ EMS. Same results, same lack of issues. If you want to be a little lazy and a lot fit, maybe give it a try.
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