I’m Getting a ROM!!

Because you demanded it…a review ROM should be arriving at my house this week!!

http://www.vanityfair.com/images/culture/2008/09/cuar02_hitchens0809.jpgIt’s hard to believe that a scant three weeks ago I wrote about this intriguing (if super-pricey) workout machine that builder Alf Temme feels would “Solve 2/3 of the illness-care (commonly misnamed health care) around the globe.” It’s a $14,615 machine that promises a complete 4-minute workout. I asked you, dear readers, if you would like to see my get ahold of a ROM somehow and blog/video through a year’s worth of progress, seeing just how fit and healthy I could become.

Well, you spoke – loud and clear. And the ROM company listened! I started talking to Mr. Temme, the man behind the machine here in the U.S. The short version is, after some wonderful email correspondence, they are shipping me the ROM this week – all I had to do was cover shipping. – which, for such a large machine, isn’t cheap. (And before any of my other nu-media entrepreneurial friends get any ideas, I’m pretty sure they’ll be holding off before just passing these things out gratis like candy. In my dealings so far, they’ve been a good company, but a no-nonsense company.) But quite generous over all.

And I must say, after watching the ROM demonstration DVD (which you can have shipped to you free here), I’m already inclined to believe this will really work. There are peer-reviewed university studies backing up its effectiveness, and Mr. Temme is unequivocal in his confidence.

Said to me in an email: “You need not feel in any way obligated to say nice things about the ROM. The truth will work very nicely for us. ”

The truth it is then. Which is all I intended to offer anyway; not only is it good ethics for this sort of thing, it really is the best policy. Over the next year, you’re going to get the unvarnished truth from me – the good, bad, and ugly about the ROM. (My guess is the latter will mostly be me, panting and wheezing in the weekly four-minute update videos…)

This Brings Me to Some Important Questions for You:

  • Where can I find some 1970s and 80s-style men’s short-shorts? The more garish the colors, the better.
  • What are some of the wackiest songs I could work out to? Chariots of Fire, YMCA..? Preferably songs that clock in around 4 minutes. iTunes is gonna love me.

It’s going to take a village, people. (No pun intended – honest!) I need your brilliance to help this oddysey work. So please…share your leads!

22 Responses to I’m Getting a ROM!!

  1. timsamoff December 10, 2008 at 6:03 pm #

    That’s cool, man. 🙂

  2. Alan Hartung December 10, 2008 at 6:24 pm #

    Great news, Mike! Congratulations. I hope the ROM is everything it is supposed to be and more.

  3. Michael Williams December 10, 2008 at 6:24 pm #

    Mike,

    I have some nasty shorts you could use…. I got them at a thrift store. They are SHORT and sparkly blue….

    I also would love to use the machine!

    As for songs…. wow there are so many to choose from. I will look though my collections and shoot you some….

    MW

  4. outofthedesert December 10, 2008 at 6:35 pm #

    Wow way to go. That is great.

    Rather than shorts, I would suggest a spandex full body suit. That way we can really see the progress!

    Can’t wait to see you pump it up!

    Kevin

  5. Jon Dale December 10, 2008 at 7:13 pm #

    Congrats…I’m excited to see how it works for you.

  6. pomopirate December 10, 2008 at 7:29 pm #

    I can’t wait for Cardio-Carnate the you tube channel.

  7. Andrew December 10, 2008 at 8:14 pm #

    May I use the rom for 16 minutes a week?

  8. Frank December 10, 2008 at 8:34 pm #

    Oh, this is gonna be WAY better than I originally imagined!

  9. Amanda December 10, 2008 at 9:28 pm #

    I’m so thrilled it’s worked out for you! This is gonna be good! Jessie and I think you should wear purple spandex. And some songs we thought of off the top of our heads were: Ballroom Blitz, R.E.S.P.E.C.T. (with Jasmin in the background singing of course), Livin’ on a prayer, Yatta (see link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW6M8D41ZWU), Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, The Metal (especially the middle part: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ3emd3phLY), Eye of the Tiger, Hit me with your best shot, I get knocked down but I get up again (chumbawumba), Wannabe (Spice Girls), Barbie Girl, I’m Blue (Eiffel 65). Well those are just the ones that came to us easily…Looking forward to your first You Tube posting!

  10. Gunnar December 10, 2008 at 10:27 pm #

    Mike, lets get to the critical factors first.
    I am going to watch these updates with great consistency…and YMCA is WAY overused. Chariots of Fire is great, but no YMCA. I think an appropriate blog, at somepoint, would just be the 4 minute video, with no sharing on your end, with The Killers song, “Read My Mind.”
    This is absolutely fantastic. I am thrilled.

  11. Kenon Koffkey December 11, 2008 at 2:18 pm #

    Congrats on obtaining the ROM!

    Okay, so for the short shorts I would totally recommend a Goodwill store. They have everything there.

    And as for workout music, find some military cadence tracks and bust a move to those. They are a huge motivator.

  12. Rachel December 11, 2008 at 6:02 pm #

    This is awesome news! Yea! (ok, yes the next post IS super important, but I think this one is too)I love me some Britney Spears and Kelly Clarkson (if you only knew how far this is from my listening pleasure) for working out. And Jive Talkin’ by the Bee Gees, it doesn’t get any better.

  13. Heather December 11, 2008 at 8:37 pm #

    Woo hoo! Can’t wait for the clips to start rolling in! 🙂

    I want to see you work out to some crazy hippy music at some point…like Psalters or something. RED would be a great song….

  14. Jude December 12, 2008 at 9:46 am #

    Great to stumble upon you, via Twitter.

    For Scary Shorts in all spangles, colours and sizes go straight to American Apparel (if, of course, you can’t find them at Goodwill or the Salvation Army!)

    Jude

  15. Darrell Grizzle December 12, 2008 at 3:22 pm #

    Garish workout wear: Check out the absurd metrosexual styles at http://www.undergear.com

    Workout music: Any song(s) from the newest CD by The B-52’s, “Funplex.”

  16. zoecarnate December 12, 2008 at 3:25 pm #

    Wow Darrell, that is totally g…great! 🙂 I shall be placing an undergear order this morning! I appreciate Jude’s American Apparel recommendation too, but sadly, their 70s styles are more prolific for women than men.

    Keep the fashion & music tips coming, people! And if you make music or clothing, I’m up for receiving samples…

  17. Scott December 17, 2008 at 1:50 am #

    Wow I finally found a man who is going to review the Rom got real!!! Hey I have been interested in this machine for about 2 years. I have never been able to find it our try it. Tell me how it goes and I am a 29 male in pretty decent shape and I exercise regularly if they want me to test the machine and go on you tube to see how to different fitness levels get a workout I would be for it 100 percent!!!!!

  18. Jeff J. December 18, 2008 at 4:02 pm #

    If you’re gonna go short shorts you gotta go 80’s. Especially 80’s metal. I also agree with Eye of the Tiger…can’t go wrong with that…ever.

    I’ll Tumble 4 Ya – Culture Club
    Turn Up the Radio or Blondes In Black Cars – Autograph
    We’re Not Gonna Take It – Twisted Sister
    Working for A Living – Huey and the News
    Heat of the Moment – Asia
    I Can’t Get No Satisfaction – Devo
    A Little Respect – Erasure
    Smokin’ – Boston
    To Hell With the Devil – Stryper
    Pump Up the Jam – Technotronic
    Oh Yeah – Yello
    Rebel Yell – Billly Idol

    I’m slightly ashamed to admit that I have much, much, 80’s music. Like, ashamed enough to not admit how many of hours of it I have on CD. If you want a couple of mix cd’s (with awesome 80’s covers), let me know on my Facebook (we’re friends ya know)

  19. Jeff Goins December 19, 2008 at 3:06 am #

    I can’t believe you actually pulled this off.

  20. Rachel January 1, 2009 at 9:20 pm #

    Update please! Not like I can afford one now…. but I am so intrigued!

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Does Anyone Have a ROM? « zoecarnate - December 10, 2008

    […] 12/10: I’m getting a ROM! Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)July!!What NOT to do on your BIG dayFirst View: […]

  2. Blue Like Jazzercise « zoecarnate - January 1, 2009

    […] Dialogue: What About the Fam? (Or, ‘Sex-Crazed Charismatics?’)House Churching: Where I’m at NowI’m Getting a ROM!!Coming Out of the “Pagan Christianity” ClosetSuperman the Idol-Smasher: Your interpretation, […]

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.