Ive had one of these for about a year. I dont know if it is this exact ab lounge but they are all built the same way. Despite what i and most people Originally thought you CAN get a really good ab workout using one of these. The key is to make sure you isolate your abs and let them do all of the work. Alot of newbies use their back and legs to complete the motions and then complain that the machine doesnt work. But it does. Do not get the wrong idea, this is no miracle machine it simply assists you in keeping proper form while doing crunches/ sit ups. The reason why i would recommend this product is because it takes alot of strain off of your back, helps maintain great form and also it is a little more fun to use than just laying on the ground and doing regular sit ups so there is a bit of a motivational factor. There is a DVD that came with mine, this is good for beginners and provides some basic concepts for different abdominal workouts. After a while you may be able to expirament and find new techniques to use. I payed $80 Canadian for mine at a local fitness store. I literally spent more than that on protein today so i think it was well worth the money.