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Group: General Fitness & Exercise

Stability balls

agamble Posts: 1,029 Joined: 2003/09/22	2004/03/10, 11:37 AM That big round thing. Anyone ever had any success with one? I'm thinking about buying one as my next purchase. Is it worth it? I would be interested in any feedback, positive or negative. Thanks
	2004/03/10, 11:43 AM I start with one this afternoon and I'll let you know. Everything I have read here and elswhere say great things. They are cheap enough. The Mens Health book I posted about has scads of uses. :dumbbell: -------------- The greatest mystery of life is who we truly are. Charlie
agamble Posts: 1,029 Joined: 2003/09/22	2004/03/10, 12:12 PM They appear versatile but so did the Bun Blaster.
	2004/03/10, 12:18 PM I guess I am intrigued by it because several mods here and even the Gatormade have endorsed them. They are also in the FT options. The involvement of the stabilizer muscles makes a lot of sense to me. Anyway I'm out $20. I never got sucked in by the TV stuff. I'll be putting the workouts in my journal along with results. -------------- The greatest mystery of life is who we truly are. Charlie
agamble Posts: 1,029 Joined: 2003/09/22	2004/03/10, 12:38 PM My thoughts exactly. I've seen them discussed here and they are listed in the exercise resources. This site hasn't steered me wrong thus far so I guess this weekend I'll be out $20.00 as well. Plus if it doesn't work I'll have something to play with in the pool this summer.
dfly411 Posts: 1,352 Joined: 2004/03/04	2004/03/10, 02:40 PM I have cussed this certain stability ball at the gym many times after working my abs..lol!! It will work if you utilize it...no different than a set of hand weights in the corner...they won't do a damn thing unless you pick them up, right?:dumbbell::dumbbell: How stupid does it make me that I thought they were stored on the racks in the gym for special classes developed for kids, until I discovered the benefits of using one?:(
agamble Posts: 1,029 Joined: 2003/09/22	2004/03/10, 03:23 PM Oh, I'll use it. I might kick it around the yard but I'll use it!
yadmit Posts: 4,670 Joined: 2003/10/05	2004/03/10, 03:26 PM The one we have was free.... it rolled into our yard from God knows where... kids were playing with it one day and my wife told me what it was... (this was before I was the fitness guru I am now :laugh:) and I laughed at her... like they're gonna use a freakin' oversized balloon for fitness... guess they do... I use it occasionally, but I think it's the wrong size... guess I'll just wait till a new one rolls into our yard! -------------- Tim "I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies, for the hardest victory is over self." Aristotle TimDay@freetrainers.com
agamble Posts: 1,029 Joined: 2003/09/22	2004/03/10, 04:21 PM Maybe I should hold off on buying one. Might have one roll into my yard. Hey you never know.
asimmer Posts: 8,201 Joined: 2003/01/07	2004/03/10, 05:49 PM I absolutely l;ove stability balls!!! there is so much you can use them for - they can be used as a bench - forcing you to use your core to hold yourself in place, they can be used for pilates type movements, they are great for core workouts, preacher curls are different on them - lots of ways to use them. i am even resist-a-ball certified to train clients on them. Plus they look like a toy - very appealing! -------------- "To be able to go to the gym and train hard is a joy and a privelege, even though the hard work necessitates driving yourself through considerable discomfort. Savor this privelege and blessing, and revel in it." Stuart McRobert, Beyond Brawn
Datdanigirl Posts: 452 Joined: 2004/02/11	2004/03/10, 10:13 PM They are great for adding core strengthening to your usual resistance training by using them in lieu of a bench - rest your shoulders/neck on them and hold yourself in the bench position while you do your flyes.. whoa! Use it to vary the incline of your pushups, or balance on your side to do leg raises.. Great way to mix up your usual exercises and surprise your muscles. Also, you'll find at first you feel silly and wobbly, but once you get the knack you'll love them too.
azredhead57 Posts: 1,651 Joined: 2003/04/11	2004/03/10, 10:23 PM I love them. I use one at home and at the gym and just bought another one for hubby to take back with him. All of them came with a chart of exercises you can do with it. I use it for abs, squats, hams/glutes. My dogs are scared of them and hide as soon as we roll it out...:laugh: -------------- ~Victoria~ ...Do not be discouraged; everyone who got where he is, started where he was.--anon ...There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.--Beverly Sills
asimmer Posts: 8,201 Joined: 2003/01/07	2004/03/11, 08:50 AM :laugh: I had a client who's bichon would attack the ball whenever we got it out.pretty funny because the ball was twice his size..
hecdarec Posts: 2,457 Joined: 2003/12/16	2004/03/11, 08:52 AM They are also great for stretching your back. I usually stretch using a stability ball. -------------- Hecdarec in full effect.
yadmit Posts: 4,670 Joined: 2003/10/05	2004/03/11, 08:57 AM I'm actually waiting for a Bowflex to fall into my yard... think it's gonna happen? :laugh: t ============ Quoting from agamble: Maybe I should hold off on buying one. Might have one roll into my yard. Hey you never know. ============= -------------- Tim "I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies, for the hardest victory is over self." Aristotle TimDay@freetrainers.com
	2004/03/11, 10:01 AM I have been working with that type of excerize and I found it helps stretch out my back when I lie on it and rock back and forth. Also, I do situps with it and lie on the front of it to lift those glutes and lower back area. I even do some pushups with it. It does BURN so its quite nice and a different something for the workout. I like it and include it in my stretches for sure. :dumbbell:
	2004/03/11, 10:31 AM Well, first time with ball was interesting. Kind of like walking on ice. It will take a while to dial in the weight amounts with each exercise. -------------- The greatest mystery of life is who we truly are. Charlie
agamble Posts: 1,029 Joined: 2003/09/22	2004/03/11, 10:01 PM Charlie, get a picture of you on that thing and e-mail it to me. I'll give you 20 bucks. LOL
	2004/03/11, 10:03 PM You would post it. I did not fall off the turnip truck yesterday. Even the models in the demo pictures look silly. -------------- The greatest mystery of life is who we truly are. Charlie
agamble Posts: 1,029 Joined: 2003/09/22	2004/03/11, 10:35 PM Hey I shouldn't talk. I'm buying one tomorrow. I was just waiting to hear from you. And one didn't roll into my yard today. Someone did drop off some kittens though. What the heck can I use them for?
	2004/03/11, 10:53 PM Give 'em one of my patented toilet baths!! And its ok about the ab ball. I have practically made looking silly a career. -------------- The greatest mystery of life is who we truly are. Charlie
yadmit Posts: 4,670 Joined: 2003/10/05	2004/03/12, 12:16 AM Well, the only thing that managed to get into my yard was a larger puddle... a lot of snow melted today and it turns out the low spot in town is right in front of my front step... almost need hip waders to get in now... still waiting for that bowflex though... unless it sank in the yard lake... t -------------- Tim "I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies, for the hardest victory is over self." Aristotle TimDay@freetrainers.com
Ogun Posts: 559 Joined: 2002/08/11	2004/03/12, 01:07 AM While Charlie continues to work on his career, Tony, work those obliques with the old mega ball. There's a trillion exercises to do, but that one is the best in my opinion. I'm firmly against any rotary torso exercise that incorporates twisting with weight (it's just dumb from a skeletal point of view--discs will be flying out like a dam skeet shoot). I did have a Gold's Gym roll into my yard, but before I could catch my breath and get my water bottle, my dog chased it off. -------------- --There are no versions of the truth.-- Jeff Goldblum, Jurassic Park II
agamble Posts: 1,029 Joined: 2003/09/22	2004/03/12, 10:11 PM Well, I got mine today and let me tell you it wore my a$$ out tonight. Now that I finally got it aired up, I can start my workouts with it tomorrow. I can't wait.
Reddy Posts: 597 Joined: 2003/09/11	2004/03/13, 06:33 PM I have one - I love but so does my boys. I usually have to get it away from then to use it - They have theparist that say it is great for build your core :big_smile: -------------- Reddy All people smile in the same language
dellafalls Posts: 41 Joined: 2003/09/27	2004/03/13, 10:30 PM I use mine instead of a chair at my desk, and when we are goofing around, stressed out ect., we kick it, swimming on it, strech on it, it is great for the back!!!!
Pritchard Posts: 1,212 Joined: 2004/03/02	2004/03/14, 01:12 PM i didn't know what a stability ball was until now, the name of the topic just made me chuckle
yadmit Posts: 4,670 Joined: 2003/10/05	2004/06/14, 03:10 PM Anybody know what size of stability ball a 6 foot tall person should use? I know you can get different sizes... any idea? t -------------- Tim I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies, for the hardest victory is over self. - Aristotle You have the power to change a life right in your own hands. - Paul Brandt
	2004/06/14, 03:15 PM Height doesn't matter as much as the width of the ass on it. -------------- Foolish consistancies are the hobgoblins of small minds. Charlie
yadmit Posts: 4,670 Joined: 2003/10/05	2004/06/14, 03:18 PM Well said... haha.... do you mean 'ass' as in bum, or 'ass' as in person....?:laugh: t -------------- Tim I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies, for the hardest victory is over self. - Aristotle You have the power to change a life right in your own hands. - Paul Brandt
	2004/06/14, 03:19 PM Yes -------------- Foolish consistancies are the hobgoblins of small minds. Charlie
yadmit Posts: 4,670 Joined: 2003/10/05	2004/06/14, 03:19 PM :laugh::laugh::laugh: Just as I thought! haha t -------------- Tim I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies, for the hardest victory is over self. - Aristotle You have the power to change a life right in your own hands. - Paul Brandt
twrightnc Posts: 2 Joined: 2004/06/11	2004/06/15, 07:52 AM I tried relentlessly to tone my middle, but my body adjusted to sit ups and crunches easily, so I was having to do more and more for results. So I decided to try the ball and it was great! I felt tight and the burn came soon. You are doing more work than you realize to try to stay on the ball. It's worth the $20 investment; just make sure you get the right size for your height to avoid injury.
	2004/06/15, 10:10 AM Tim, there is somthing about "stability balls" that just makes me not want to say anything seriously about it. You have no idea how difficult to give a straight answer. But....twitching as I type, I am 6 feet like you. My stability ball is 18 inches. You can vary the air pressure to make it more or less difficult to balance on. In this case I think size isn't important but firmness matters. -------------- Foolish consistancies are the hobgoblins of small minds. Charlie
Varekai_chick Posts: 3 Joined: 2004/12/11	2004/12/11, 08:49 PM We bought one..and I love it! It's done so much for my balance, just by sitting on it, it'll increase your ab control. And then it was when I was watching an episode of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (my personal fave) and the one guy showed the most wonderful ab workout ever on it! All you do is put it under your hips/ upper thigh area while your upper body in supported by your arms (which are perpendicular to the floor...making your whole body parallel to the floor). Then you use your abs to pull your waist up so that the ball is now at your ankels and your butt is in the air. Next, just roll back down the the first position and do it again. It's the best ab workout I've ever done, and it's so simple to do. (but tough as hell to do a lot of):)
rusc0042 Posts: 6 Joined: 2004/12/09	2004/12/13, 08:25 PM I love mine. I use it instead of a bench. You really have to focus on your core during everything. And you can do almost everything on it.