exercise ball

Anyone use fitness/exercise ball ? Uses, benefits, alternatives?

Replies

  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Sometimes I lie backward on it to stretch. Otherwise it's useless for me, personally.
  • Willbenchforcupcakes
    Willbenchforcupcakes Posts: 4,955 Member
    Hamstring curls. Straight and bent knee body weight glute bridges. Especially brutal as a superset.
  • gainerpal
    gainerpal Posts: 43 Member
    edited July 2016
    body weight is usually enough to keep gaining muscle instead of fat. Keep focused on a strong core. balance is the key.
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  • sunnybeaches105
    sunnybeaches105 Posts: 2,831 Member
    My kids like to sit on it, and it seems okay for some ab work such as pike roll outs. It doesn't get much use here.
  • lemmie177
    lemmie177 Posts: 479 Member
    I use it pretty regularly for hyperextensions (w/ heels hooked under a loaded barbell). But that's it. I should probably use it more to justify all the space it takes up!
  • gainerpal
    gainerpal Posts: 43 Member
    thats the good thing about them you can deflate and pack away. You can always use it for a chair.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    Hamstring curls. Straight and bent knee body weight glute bridges. Especially brutal as a superset.

    Those hamstring curls get me every time. I always forget how challenging they are with the ball when I drop them for awhile. Then I decide to throw in a few sets and, yikes.
  • Willbenchforcupcakes
    Willbenchforcupcakes Posts: 4,955 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    Hamstring curls. Straight and bent knee body weight glute bridges. Especially brutal as a superset.

    Those hamstring curls get me every time. I always forget how challenging they are with the ball when I drop them for awhile. Then I decide to throw in a few sets and, yikes.

    Pure and utter torture as a finisher after heavy squats. My last set is a grit your teeth how bad do you want it grind with where they are placed in my current program.
  • Wolfena
    Wolfena Posts: 1,570 Member
    Great for sit ups☺
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,195 Member
    All brands seem pretty comparable. They will last for many years unless you accidentally puncture them, which is hard to do. I abuse mine quite a bit and it keeps on bouncing.

    I currently have a BellFit 75cm at home. I've been sitting on it while I work from home for...five years? I also do stretches, situps, etc. with it.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    I use one for abs / core work - over a loooong period it helped transform my back health (I have degenerated lumbar discs).

    These days mostly use it for weighted sit ups, very high reps to maintain my core strength endurance while cycling.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    Ball roll outs and ball pikes for core. I like single leg ball hamstring curls too.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

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  • JoshuaMcAllister
    JoshuaMcAllister Posts: 500 Member
    edited July 2016
    Rarely used, occasionally I'll do pikes and use it as a stretching aide.

    It does make a fairly good addition to the bed room haha.
  • gainerpal
    gainerpal Posts: 43 Member
    ^ it helps to be fit for sexercise ! B)
  • gainerpal
    gainerpal Posts: 43 Member
    Im surprised none has used one for inducing or helping through labor...