September 2008

Monthly Archive

A Guide to Income Draw down – Independent Financial Advise

Posted by admin on 28 Sep 2008 | Tagged as: Finance Web

When you get your final working years of your career you don’t have to pull out your pension at that point in time. As a choice, you can make a decision to postpone obtaining an annuity until the prime old age of seventy-five and if you do so you may perhaps find you get a more lucrative package. It’s referred to as income draw down.

When you are aged between 50 and seventy five you are automatically permitted to delay the attainment of your retirement allowance from your insurance corporation. Instead, you can draw up to 120% of the pension that could have been originally acquired using Government Actuary rates, leaving the remaining resources secure for when you call for it. On your part, all you ought to do is to make sure that you buy an annuity by the point you get to 75. For more information to do with Income Drawdown, visit the First Place Financial website today!

Crucially, what would result if you decided to take the income drawdown choice, and then departed this life? If this did occur then your surviving other half or those legally responsible would then get three options: either take a lump sum, minus tax at thirty five percent, or then again keep on going with financial taking out, or paying for an annuity pension with the funds. Your existing wife/husband has until they get to sixty years old to put-off the purchase of an annuity, though no financial benefits are allowed to be given in the interim period.

Why choose income drawdown? Well principally because it could result in you earning an enhanced retirement income from your particular pension by doing so. You can also pick precisely when you want to get the annuity, so if you stop working at a period when annuity rates are low, waiting could well be a smarter decision. If the residual stocks & shares increase as forecasted, then simultaneously with the fact that annuity rates mature with age, you may in the end be able to procure a healthier pension than you may have acquired originally.

Furthermore, also means that when you depart this life your spouse or those legally responsible are covered monetarily, since they are lawfully entitled to the residual assets, as stated above.

Like all investments, there are perils as a consequence though. If investment performance on the remaining stocks & shares is below par, the level of salary payable could reduce. And it is imperative to consider that there’s no reassurance that the pension got will ultimately be anywhere near the overall figure that could have been paid for at the kick-off.

Driving Targeted Traffic To your Website

Posted by admin on 28 Sep 2008 | Tagged as: School of Traffic Building

I guess everyone will agree if I said that obtaining enough highly targeted traffic is the key to success in affiliate marketing business. This method is proven to be effective if you’re promoting or reselling product or service online. One of the best and most secured marketing strategies that affiliate marketers can employ is the strategy of paying for performance. This means that your investments are used only on results such as additional sales and incomes.

In online marketing business like affiliate marketing, no traffic means no sales. That’s the reason why most affiliates or webmasters easily shell out even big bucks just to get top rankings on the search engines. Once you are promoting a product or service in you web page, you need to have more visitors that can be potential consumers to your products and services. This is one of the fundamental rules to succeed in online marketing business. Here, you just need to start and get it right and you can do some things wrong but still manage to succeed. Don’t ever try to get it wrong because no matter how hard you work, you can never find yourself on the way to success.

Let’s take a practical example. Paying for performance could mean giving a commission to a sales person only when new sale is made. This strategy assures you real profit because you can already compute the amount of money you have to spend for every new sale made. Also, you can avoid spending any marketing bucks because every cent you use up has either come from sale or will generate a sale in the future.

And one of the proven and most efficient ways of acquiring sales in affiliate marketing business is by drawing laser-targeted traffic towards your web site and converting them to sales by means of “Pay-Per-Click” Search Engines (PPCSEs).

PPCSEs like Overture can bring impressive sales because they permit you to pay for performance by means of attracting precisely targeted traffic to your niche. And this means people or site visitors who are actively searching for what precisely you are offering or selling. Overture’s secret is to drive laser-targeted traffic to your website by proposing or bidding on keywords that are related to the product or services that you are offering. And this strategy works this way: the more exact the keyword is, the better results you’ll receive and the less you’ll have to spend for each new sale.

Overture claims to be the Internet’s best pay-per-click search engine. It is the world’s leading resource of Pay-For-Performance search on the web. And what’s more enticing about Overture? When you advertise in Overture Premium Listings, your site will absolutely appear in the leading U.S. search engines like Yahoo, InfoSpace, MSN, Netscape, AltaVista, Lycos and more. Plus, you can get the benefit of reaching more than 80% of active Internet users.

Overture drives targeted traffic by keeping you away from the general keywords that are very common and usually come expensive and by casting a wide net of laser-focused keywords that are more targeted, not so expensive, and with high conversion rate. I’ll tell you, attracting laser-targeted traffic through Overture is nothing but a “Win-Win” Situation.

Overture’s strategy also allows your visitors to respond. And what’s important once you get your visitors to respond? Well, you are given a chance to develop lifetime customers that will patronize your product and will buy from you over an over again. Bear in mind that one-time sales can’t be a key in creating a highly profitable business especially online. You can only achieve this through PPCSEs like Overture, which gets your site visitors to respond. And once it happens, you can constantly market and sell your products to them.

Another tactic that Overture uses in order to gain laser-targeted traffic is to have a “Back-Up Response” for those who “almost bought” your product on the first visit. To successfully realize this, you need to market and advertise to them over and over again until you make them a new customer. Offer them an incentive so that they’ll allow you to advertise to them over a certain time span by means of e-mail or post mail. Here are some of the back-up responses, which you can use: send a free e-mail newsletter, give a free catalog and offer a promo or sweepstakes, which gives them the chance to win free merchandise.

Other things that will surely attract lifetime customers to your site are offering valued customer discounts, giving seasonal and special offers especially to your repeat customers and any other incentives to purchase. Don’t get me wrong with this; the abovementioned strategies can surely develop a trusted relationship between you and your customers. Aside from patronizing your products over their lifetime, they may even refer others to you or to your site.

Publisher: http://www.netmarketer.org

The best home based business ideas and
opportunities so you can work at home.

What is Intellectual Property?

Posted by admin on 22 Sep 2008 | Tagged as: House Of Legal Resources

Intellectual Property is the product of your thinking that can be used for commercial value. In other words, you think of a song and write down the words – you have the legal right to prevent others from copying or making a song based on your lyrics. This right you have can make you money if someone is willing to pay you for your song. Maybe your boss asked you to write a computer program. Who owns the work? You may have designed a new mouse trap and have the design on computer. Or you have created a distinctive logo for your company. But Intellectual Property goes deeper than songs or even copyrights. Let’s examine the four main areas of Intellectual Property law: Trade Secrets, Copyrights, Trademarks and Patents.

Trade Secrets

Trade secrets give the owner a competitive edge. If some information has value to competitors and they don’t know about it – then it’s a trade secret. If the information was not kept reasonably safe (secret) then it’s not a trade secret. Trade secrets may be sold with the business or stolen from bad employees. Maybe a former employee didn’t sign a non-disclosure statement before going to work at the competition. Some also reverse engineer software to gain the source code. This highly protected source code for computers is their trade secret, giving them an advantage over the competition. The trick is you have to keep your trade secrets as such, secrets.

Copyrights

Copyrights protect all kinds of writing by singers, writers, programmers, artists, etc… These are the best known of all intellectual property. Registering with the US Copyright office can enhance the automatic protection. You must have your copyright material on paper, tape, or computer. Copyright protection applies to the “literal expression.” It doesn’t protect the “underlying” theme of the writing. It must have some creativity. You can’t copyright a simple list. You don’t actually have to have a copyright notice since March 1st, 1989. The recommended notice is “copyright” year author’s name. For example, this article will have a copyright. Copyright 2005 Stuart Simpson. But it is not necessary.



Trademarks

Trademarks must be a unique name, design, symbol, logo, color, container, etc…that businesses use to distinguish their goods from others in the same market. You should have a strong name for a mark, as common words receive less protection. Like Stuart’s Cold Ice Cream Company. My name and the descriptive term (cold) are weak marks. But a distinctive name like Netflix, is a strong mark. Netflix is technically a “service” mark. It falls into the same category as trademarks. Your trademark must be submitted to the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). But first, the mark must be put into use “in commerce that Congress may regulate.” This means you have to sell across state lines or have a business that caters to interstate or international travelers. After you do this, you can file another form to show the mark is actually being used. The PTO checks for similar marks. You can’t use the circled R just yet. You can only use this if your logo or mark has been registered.



Patents

Patent law gives inventor of new and special invention the right to use this invention for a fixed period of time. The US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) must find that the invention qualifies for patent protection. Your invention has to be new and novel, not obvious. What do you do with a patent? Normally, the inventors get a license agreement with a company to produce the product for a period of time. In exchange, the company pays the inventor royalties for each item sold.



Intellectual property goes further in depth on each of these items. I wanted to give you a brief description to help broaden your knowledge base when writing, creating or inventing. If your work falls into one of the above categories, do more research. I will be writing on each specific area in the future.

2005 Copyright Stuart Simpson

http://www.patent-review.com
But do I really have to say “copyright?”

Deeds of Variation – The 2 Year Rule

Posted by admin on 19 Sep 2008 | Tagged as: House Of Legal Resources

Introduction

I recently received a query from a practicing solicitor asking for advice on using Deeds of Variation. The solicitor in question was acting on behalf of clients who wished to alter the terms of their father’s Will to afford a fairer disposition of the assets amongst family members. Ordinarily this would one of the situations where a Deed of Variation could be employed. However, the testator’s death was 6 years ago. The query was despite the lapse in time, could a Deed of Variation still be used without asking for it to be applied retrospectively for the purposes of inheritance tax and capital gains tax?

The Purpose of the 2 Year Rule

To recap from my previous article, in order to be valid a Deed of Variation must comply with 3 conditions;

Must be made in writing.

All persons who were original beneficiaries in the Will and any persons who benefit from the proposed variations in the Deed must sign the Deed.

It cannot be given for money or money’s worth.

It must be made within 2 years of the death of the decedent.

One of the most crucial uses for a Deed of Variation is to affect the tax liability on an estate. Therefore, for a Deed to be valid it must be made within 2 years of the death of the testator in order to be applied retrospectively for Capital Gains Tax and Inheritance Tax. If a Deed of Variation fails to comply with this – or any of the other conditions – it ceases to have retrospective affect for tax purposes, and amounts to nothing more than a transfer of value – namely, a gift.

Having liased with the Inland Revenue on this subject, it is clear that Deeds of Variation are only to be used within the 2 year period as, to quote an Inland Revenue adviser “there would be no point in using such instruments after that time as it would afford no tax saving benefit”.

Changing the Will after the 2 Year Period

So, what do you do if you wanted to change the terms of a Will after the 2 year period? As stated above, where a Deed of Variation does not comply with the 2 year rule, any dispositions which the beneficiaries seek to make via the Deed amount to nothing more that simple transfers of value, gifts. Thus, the approach to adopt would be to make Potentially Exempt Transfers of the assets which the beneficiaries seek to redistribute. This is as simple as handing over the gift, or saying ‘I give up my interest and gift it to you’. It is always advisable however, particularly where substantial interests in property are involved, to write a memorandum of the potentially exempt transfer. Such a memorandum should include the name of the person giving the gift, to whom the gift is given and the date.

JsByrne

LLB (Hons) LPc.

www.Draft-Your-Will.com

Patent – Some Famous Patents

Posted by admin on 18 Sep 2008 | Tagged as: House Of Legal Resources

In this article we’re going to discuss some of the most famous patents in history. These are inventions that greatly changed the world we live in.

To go over all the patents that have changed the world would take a month of Sundays and then some. What follows is just a brief look at some of the greatest patents in our history.

What is considered the most valuable patent is the one issued to Alexander Graham Bell for his invention of the telephone. The patent was number 174,465 issued in 1876. Ironically, early attempts to make the telephone popular were unsuccessful. People looked at the idea as nothing more than a novelty and didn’t take its communication possibilities seriously. Try telling that to all the people walking around with cell phones today.

This one may come as a bit of a surprise. Thomas Edison didn’t actually invent the light bulb. What he did was improve on a fifty year old idea. In 1879, using lower current, a small carbonized filament, and an improved vacuum inside the globe, he was able to produce a reliable, long-lasting source of light. This invention led to the creation of jobs for millions of people. Quite literally, without this invention we would all still be in the dark. Thomas Edison actually received 1093 patents during his life.

If you’re into some really odd trivia you can tell people that Abe Lincoln was the only United States President to receive a patent. He did so for his manner of buoying vessels. He was issued this patent in 1849. It was patent number 6,469. When Lincoln was young he took a boatload of merchandise down the Mississippi River during a trip from New Salem to New Orleans. There was an accident when the boat slid into a dam. It took great effort to get the boat dislodged. Two years later Lincoln had a similar accident crossing the Great Lakes. These two incidents led Lincoln to come up with a solution to this problem. His invention consisted of a set of bellows attached to the hull of the ship just below the water line. When the vessel is in danger of an accident, the bellows are filled with air and act as a buoy to keep the ship afloat. Lincoln never profited from his invention but he was a very strong supporter of the patent system.

Probably the most famous patent was the one issued to Frederic Auguste Bartholdi for his design of the Statue Of Liberty. The Statue Of Liberty came to New York on June 19, 1885. It was a gift of friendship given to the United States from the people of France. It was intended to celebrate their 100 years of independence 10 years earlier.

The statue is constructed of copper sheets which are assembled on a framework of steel supports. In order to be transported to America the statue was disassembled into 350 pieces and was packed in 214 crates. It was then reassembled when it arrived. Nothing like this was ever done before and most likely will never be done again.

Calafornia Exotics Win Awards for the Big Pete Vibrating Dildo

Posted by admin on 11 Sep 2008 | Tagged as: Hall Of Products

The company responsible for the Big Pete, Calafornia Exotics are perhaps the oldest and loved trade marks engaged in the production and design of sex aids. They are distributors for a large number of other premium vibrators such as the Soft Touch Penis as well as the Glass Intruder. Calafornia Exotics are probably the most cost competitive, so you can buy safe in the knowledge that you will never find any a better buy by another company.

This dildo has wonderful bulbous heads, to take your after hours fun to new heights. The Big Pete is made from easily cleaned resin, to make certain it is very safe to handle. The soft construction of the Big Pete makes penetration possible at angles that are not achievable during normal sexual intercourse, allowing you to experiment with never before experienced pleasures and hither to un explored parts of your body. The Big Pete can be ordered in numerous colors, lengths and widths. The Big Pete benefits from an additional vibration booster, making this a toy of the best quality.

The Big Pete has remained a top seller for Calafornia Exotics for the last three years. The popularity of the Big Pete is down to the unit’s flexibility. This sex aid is the perfect ideal compliment to any dildo connoisseurs collection. The Big Pete is ideal for stimulation of any of the female erogenous zones. The Big Pete dildo is also very popular with guys both gay and straight. This sex aid is also a great first dildo for an individual who does not already own a dildo. The perfect sex toy for those lonely nights at home.

2 Muscle Building Secrets Guaranteed to Add Muscle Mass!

Posted by admin on 10 Sep 2008 | Tagged as: Templates Tips

Building muscle mass is much easier to do when you are armed with the correct information. With the correct information, you’ll build muscle mass faster than you thought possible.

If you’re frustrated with your muscle gain or fat loss goals, I sympathize with you completely, and understand exactly what you are going through. I worked out for years before finally figuring out the correct ways to go about building muscles and losing fat.

I finally figured out that the routines and weight lifting tips touted by professional bodybuilders and the muscle magazines just aren’t going to work for most people. But take heart, you can start building muscle with effective weight training routines and nutrition programs.

Following are a couple of weight lifting tips that I’ve found to be extremely effective in building muscle and adding strength as quickly as possible. Putting together a program that incorporates the following weightlifting tips will point you in the right direction and get you making gains you hadn’t thought were possible.

Building Muscle Tip #1 – An Intense Twist

Arthur Jones, inventor of Nautilus, pioneered the concept of training with 100% intensity, ie, training to failure. And this is an extremely important part of your routine if you are interested in building muscles as quickly as possible.

However, as others caught on toe Arthur’s effective training ideas and the training to failure concept became more widespread, an important piece of advice by Arthur was forgotten. Arthur suggested that people go beyond failure.

And I’m not talking about some of the more popular high intensity techniques available today such as rest-pause, forced reps, drop sets, etc. I’m talking about a very specific way of training to failure that is very effective for building muscle mass.

Arthur Jones suggested that once you could no longer complete another repetition, you should continue pushing or pulling on the weight for approximately another 20 seconds. Obviously, on certain exercises like squats or bench presses, you either need to work in a power rack with safety pins or have a very good spotter.

Let’s use the bench press as an example of how to use this bodybuilding technique for building muscles. Most people, when they start a rep and get stuck near the bottom, they drop the weight against the safety pins or have their spotter help rack it. Instead, you should continue pushing against that immovable weight for a good twenty seconds.

On barbell curls, you would most likely come to a grinding halt about two or three inches into the rep, when your arms are slightly bent. You know you won’t make the rep but you continue to pull on the bar for as long as you can before finishing the set.

Muscle Building Tip #2 – Squat, Squat, Squat

You have to fall in love with the squat. It truly is the king of all muscle building exercises, bar none. While some people can build muscle mass on almost any training routine or diet, most of us can’t. So put as many factors in your favor as you can control and one of the biggest is work hard on an effective squat program.

Hard work on the squat is the single most important thing you can do to ensure your bodybuilding success. Forget about the latest greatest high tech routine or the newest supplement fad. The key component to any program you do is hard work. Building muscle isn’t easy. But it can be made easier. Hard work will take you much further than your choice of exercises, sets or reps.

But if you get the other components of your training program put together correctly and then add hard work and dedication, you’ll be absolutely amazed at the progress you can make. You’ll be building muscle so fast, you’ll go from a before to an after before you know it.

You need to use all the weight you can handle and then add some more. Since the squat is the toughest weight lifting exercise you can do physically, it’s also the toughest mentally.

Your mind gives in on the squat well before your body does. If you want to gain lots of muscle, you need to put an end to that. Everything you have has to go into your squatting program.

The key to the success of rapid weight gain by squatting is the amount of work you put into it. After your warm ups, load the bar to a weight you normally do 10 reps with. Now, do 20 reps. No, I’m not kidding. Like I said before, the squat is the most mental exercise there is. I’ve never seen anyone, when properly prepared mentally, fail to get 20 reps with their 10 rep weight.

These bodybuilding tips are very effective tips for building muscle and getting stronger. Add them to your weight training program and watch your muscle mass increase.

Keep in mind that weightlifting workouts like this are the best way for effectively building muscle mass fast but it’s also the best way to lose fat, completely change the shape of your body, and keep the fat off. Weight lifting is much more effective for fat loss than aerobics or dieting alone.

The Booming International Property Marketplace — Futhered by The Property Index Online Company

Posted by admin on 09 Sep 2008 | Tagged as: Real Estate Profits

Even though the Property Index service must be rated a new kid on the block house, founded in March 2007, they have become experts very quickly. Actually, they are a extremely undemanding house and focus on counseling every customer who is striving to buy, sell, rent etc. real estate across the globe. Their assurance: to offer you assistance to laser target squarely what you have called for quick and, of course, in a trouble-free manner.

Land can be located everwhere at present, possibly the choicest area being property available for sale in France. It should be a no brainer to list the fantastic properties on the market in France, the motive for investigating real property here is a combination of the houses and apartments you can purchase and the ripping opportunity of being able to live amongst such a sprightly and enthusiastic populace. This is one of the truly well-liked property markets at present, and in view of the scenic splendor and the sunshine surrounding you, how can you say no. Land in France is rich in history, this area of the world has been and is still home to numerous indigenous nations.

Property Index is an online platform that gives buyers access to thousands of properties www.propertyindex.com. Property in France is currently booming so browse the range on offer at Property Index.

About 25 years ago there’d be just a dribble of Britons looking for properties in France. Just ask everyone who has chosen to relocate to France and they’re likely to tell you the same. There’s many people who would tend to view it as a temporary craze and others tend to view it as a practically an addiction… People who are interested in moving to this place range from young freshly weds looking for a life perspective to the retired looking to enjoy themselves and have a break. Note, however, that you might encounter some hindrances when looking to buy properties in a foreign market; it stands to reason that there are a hundred varied, pretty complex, actions be it when organizing, popping in or signing the documents. Even if but a single procedure is missed this could easily trigger dramatic hindrances not to forget, more importantly, a financial trouncing.

As is to be counted on with this favored place, properties could be expensive in this area which is clearly on account of the expanding demand. Notwithstanding the customer is indeed very spoilt for choice in such a location boasting such a shiny terrain and superb panorama. It’s really got the whole ball of wax just about anyone might imagine and more.

Realy terrific MP3-players to be won at Windeprijsvraag online

Posted by admin on 08 Sep 2008 | Tagged as: The Fun Universe

Many state lotteries also run a second chance sweepstakes in conjunction with the retail sale of state lottery scratch cards. Everybody can win marvelous plasmas every 6 months. Sweepstakes are frequently used by fast-food restaurants to boost business. 9 hours ago a Dutch dutch online company has started with a dutch online sweepstakes. Anyone can win fantastic speedboats every 10 days. In an effort to increase consumer demand for scratch cards and to help control the litter small problems associated with the disposal of non-winning lottery tickets. Although some sweepstakes ask for a proof of purchase or UPC code, the sponsors must provide an alternate method of entry if they do so. Super prizes to win at sweepstakes websites. 3 weeks ago a European dutch company took of a contest websites. Thats really great or great to win 331 euro. Sweepstakes are generally easier and quicker to enter than contests.

Translated it says: Leef jij in Lelystad of Woerden en wilt u vaker prijzen winnen’ Winnen met Win de Prijsvraag is nog nooit zo gemakkelijk geweest. Leuke prijzen winnen met de windeprijsvraag website‘ Op zijn minst 446 prijzen per week. Van Groesbeek tot Zijpe, winnen met Windeprijsvraag.nl is hier geen enkel probleem. Een mevrouw van 43 heeft deze maand nog een keuken weten te winnen.

3 hours ago a Belgium online company begun with a online sweepstakes. 3 weeks ago a Europe based company started a dutch online contests. Sweepstakes are also legally different from contests in the United States. Consumer promotions advertised as contests, however, can require an entry fee or proof of purchase. Many more sweepers are choosing to enter online sweepstakes. That will be absolutely fantastic or terrific to win 388 euros. Really everybody can win realy terrific swimming pools every 9 days. The reason why contests are treated differently is that the winners are not chosen by chance but by an element of skill. Great tools to be won at sweepstakes websites. Sweepstakes promotions are prohibited from requiring a purchase to enter. 4 months ago a Dutch webcompany took of a dutch online sweepstakes. Members sign up once and are entered to various sweepstakes each month. It should be marvelous or terrific to win 452 dollars. Really great SUVs to win at online sweepstakes. There are also other online services, which automatically enter members into sweepstakes. Entering sweepstakes by mail is declining in popularity. Before home computers were popular a common method of entry was a mailed one.

Lose Weight-Tone Abs With Electronic Muscle Stimulator? Can Body Fat Melt Away?

Posted by admin on 07 Sep 2008 | Tagged as: Templates Tips

You have probably seen plenty of advertisements extolling how Electronic Abdominal Stimulators can melt your belly fat fast and quickly. Most of these advertisements will also claim that their electronic abs stimulators can also flatten your tummy to reveal your six pack abs muscle. They even claim that by using electronic abs stimulators for X minutes is better that 300 sit ups or crunches, so you can say bye bye to diets and exercise forever. Too good to be true?

On the other hand, you may also have come across many articles and messages from the health and fitness industry or from your fitness personal trainers who refute the advertisers claiming that the only way to get a flat tummy with well defined six pack abs muscle is through healthy eating and exercise. Now that is hard work isn’t it? So you will rather take a chance with an electronic abs stimulator won’t you?

So who is telling the truth? Ok, instead of joining in the controversy, this article points out what the authorities such as U.S. Food and Drug Administration has got to say. Below is an excerpt from U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Consumer magazine July-August 2002. You can read the full report at http://ww w.fda.gov/fdac/features/2002/402_abs.html :-

“In May, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed complaints against three manufacturers of these devices, alleging that they have made false claims in their advertising, seen in heavily aired infomercials on national cable television, shorter television commercials, and ads in the print media.

The unfounded claims cited by the FTC include the promise of “six pack” or “washboard” abs without exercise, claims that the devices will give users a trimmer waist or cause fat loss, and that use of the device is equivalent to (or better than) regular abdominal exercises, such as sit-ups or crunches. The FTC complaints also allege that the advertising claimed falsely that the stimulators are safe for all to use, and did not disclose adequately the possible health hazards for some people.

Q. Why does the FDA regulate electrical muscle stimulators?

A. Electrical muscle stimulators are considered medical devices under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Under this law and the agency’s regulations, the FDA is responsible for regulating the sale of all electrical muscle stimulators in the United States. Therefore, firms must comply with appropriate FDA premarket regulatory requirements before they can legally sell their stimulators. Most electrical muscle stimulators (EMS devices) that have been reviewed by the FDA are intended for use in physical therapy and rehabilitation under the direction of a health-care professional. If a company wants to sell EMS devices directly to consumers, the company needs to show the FDA that the device can be used safely and effectively in that setting.

Q. These electrical muscle stimulators are advertised not only to tone, firm, and strengthen abdominal muscles, but also to provide weight loss, girth reduction, and “rock hard” abs. Do they really work?

A. While an EMS device may be able to temporarily strengthen, tone or firm a muscle, no EMS devices have been cleared at this time for weight loss, girth reduction, or for obtaining “rock hard” abs.

Q. Is the FDA concerned about the unregulated marketing of these devices?

A. Yes. The FDA has received reports of shocks, burns, bruising, skin irritation, and pain associated with the use of some of these devices. There have been a few recent reports of interference with implanted devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators. Some injuries required hospital treatment. The FDA is also concerned because many of these devices have cables and leads. If those cables and leads do not comply with electrical safety standards, there is the possibility that users and other household members could be electrocuted. The FDA is currently investigating firms that are illegally marketing EMS devices.

Q. What does FDA regulation accomplish?

A. Before they may legally sell their devices, firms that market EMS devices must be able to demonstrate that these products are as safe and as effective as similar devices that are legally marketed. Devices may be marketed only for uses that are established for the device or for uses that the firm can support with data. At this time, the FDA is not aware of scientific information to support many of the promotional claims being made for numerous devices being widely promoted on television, infomercials, newspapers, and magazines.

Q. Does that mean that it’s unsafe to use an electrical muscle stimulator that has not met FDA requirements?

A. Using a product that has not met FDA requirements isn’t necessarily unsafe or dangerous. But it could be. Unregulated devices also may have safety problems associated with cables and leads that can lead to accidental shock and electrocution of users and other household members, including children.

Q. If I use an electrical muscle stimulator, will it give me the same kind of effect that lots of sit-ups, stomach crunches and other abdominal exercises will?

A. Using these devices alone will not give you “six-pack” abs. Applying electrical current to muscles may cause them to contract. Stimulating muscles repeatedly with electricity may eventually result in muscles that are strengthened and toned to some extent but will not, based on currently available data, create a major change in your appearance without the addition of weight loss and regular exercise.”

Now, who is telling the truth about electronic muscle stimulator being able to melt tummy fat and reveal your six pack abs? Well, you be the judge and come to your own verdict.

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