Rating the fitness fads

Have you ever watched those late-night infomercials touting the newest piece of exercise equipment? Personally, I'm not a big fan of home workout equipment. Most of them limit what they can do for your body and they just take up so much space! But sometimes you have to wonder ... is the latest, greatest machine really what you need to get a toned, firm body? Or is it just bound to become a dusty, expensive, clothing rack in your bedroom?

Some fitness experts rated six fitness fads to see if they're really as great as they say they are:

• Skorcher. This claims to be the world's best butt exercise, but it garnered mixed reviews from the experts. One said that all of the exercises the Skorcher offers can be done effectively without the machine. Another, however, thought it could really rev up your workout.
• Slanted Riser. These risers that angle your step aerobic bench got a decent review, because they add a new dimension to your step aerobic workout.
• The Brain Muscle Workout. This fitness DVD didn't strike the experts as anything new. But the mind/body connection the workout promotes is beneficial.
• Yoga fusion. Many DVDs and fitness classes have tried to add to the popularity of yoga. But one fitness expert doesn't like the trend. She feels that yoga is for meditation, and the new trend is trying to turn it into a weight loss or fitness activity.
• RealRyder. This indoor cycling bike that tilts and turns got rave reviews from one fitness expert, but another felt that the bike offered only slight advantages.
• Gravity. This machine is supposed to provide a full-body workout. One fitness expert says that the machine can provide what it claims, however, it's big and bulky (not to mention expensive) and adjusting the resistance is tricky.