Stability Balls?

[jillyjoey]

Does anyone use one of these ? Three times this week, I have heard that if you had to own one piece of equipment this is the thing to get. Then, in my Self magazine there is a workout using the Stability Ball. How hard are they to use if you are overweight. I normally run 4 -5 miles a day and lift weights 3X a week but nothing is happening. Will adding this workout (?) help?

 

[ohMom]

jillyjoey -- sorry for the delayed response!

i do have a stability ball and LOVE it -- i use the Denise Austin Shrink your Female Fat Zones workout DVD with it (and hand weights), and have recoreded some shows on FitTV that use the ball. I also purchased a book with strength training routines using the ball that i love. for me, it feels easier on my back to do these on the ball. you can also do pilates with your ball and use it to stretch. I think using the ball will strengthen your core muscles, which aids in your weight loss; but like any part of a workout routine it is all the components that bring the changes.

so examples of exercises i like on the ball are: sitting on the ball -- bicep curls, delts, shoulder presses, overhead triceps dips; back against the ball feet flat on the floor to do various crunchers; lying with my side against the ball and doing various leg lifts; lying on the floor with ball in between feet to do inner thigh and lower abs

 

[sm4987]

I use the Stability ball with my Cathe workouts. She includes it in a lot of her workouts especially the lower body ones. It is great. I love the workout tht you get from one.

 

[jillyjoey]

Thanks for the responses. Okay I am going to do this -- I hope it helps because my walk/running and lifting weights is not doing it.

 

[jillyjoey]

i do have a stability ball and LOVE it -- i use the Denise Austin Shrink your Female Fat Zones workout DVD with it (and hand weights), and have recoreded some shows on FitTV that use the ball.

Would you mind providing a review of "Shrink your Female Fat Zones" -- I am thinking of ordering this. I have done the self exercises with the stability ball.-- 2 I just could not do (coordination problem I think) but I did not feel the muscle strain as I normally do with other exercises. Thanks

 

[Seahunt]

2 I just could not do (coordination problem I think) but I did not feel the muscle strain as I normally do with other exercises. Thanks

If you have a hard time using a ball, you might try the "Bean" - it blows up like the ball, but is shaped differently and is easier to balance on. I just got one of these and was surprised at how easy it was to use

I used it and it felt way too easy, like I wasn't doing anything, but today, YIKES! You can really feel it in your tummy..... the best part of it is that they pay return postage if you don't like it - but I'm keeping mine!

Go to www.bean.com to see what they show about it - Kristi Yamaguchi's on there talking about it!