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  #1   ^
Old Mon, Feb-06-06, 19:21
Freds Mom's Avatar
Freds Mom Freds Mom is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 138
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 173/159/120 Female 63 inches
BF:
Progress: 26%
Location: Hamilton. Ontario
Default %#$(ng Exercise Ball

Granted I am not the most graceful person in the world but I have been thrown by that darn ball more times than I can count. I really want to be friends with my ball but it has taken a very distinct dislike to me.

I am trying to do crunches on it. So the instructions say "lie on your back, abdominals face up and crunch". That's it. Simple. Nuh uh. I ended up on my butt, on my head, once on my face and that last was a slow roll into the fridge.

What am I doing wrong?
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  #2   ^
Old Mon, Feb-06-06, 19:32
Bellina's Avatar
Bellina Bellina is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 545
 
Plan: WW
Stats: 155/151/130 Female 5'3
BF:
Progress: 16%
Location: Ontario,Canada
Default

Now that made me LOL!!!!

How do you keep your feet? I usually keep mine close to the ball and arms crossed...maybe the ball has too much air in it? No clue but just wanted to give you my 2cents

Vanya
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  #3   ^
Old Mon, Feb-06-06, 19:33
Dodger's Avatar
Dodger Dodger is offline
Posts: 8,752
 
Plan: Paleoish/Keto
Stats: 225/167/175 Male 71.5 inches
BF:18%
Progress: 116%
Location: Longmont, Colorado
Default

Sounds like you're getting lots of exercise with that ball!
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  #4   ^
Old Tue, Feb-07-06, 04:52
dane's Avatar
dane dane is offline
muscle bound
Posts: 3,535
 
Plan: Lyle's PSMF
Stats: 226/150/135 Female 5'7.5"
BF:46/20/sliced
Progress: 84%
Location: near Budapest, Hungary
Default

Hahahaha! (Sorry!)

It DOES take some serious maneuvering to stay on the ball, which is why it's so useful. Works muscles younever knew you had, ha.

I do weighted crunches on the thing, but I have a trick. I position myself so that my toes grab the raised bottom of my door frame. I grip it for stability as I crunch. You could try wedging your feet under a bedframe, or having someone hold your feet maybe?

Once you get the feel for it, it does get easier.

<still laughing! >
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  #5   ^
Old Tue, Feb-07-06, 10:12
doreen T's Avatar
doreen T doreen T is offline
Forum Founder
Posts: 37,194
 
Plan: LC paleo/ancestral
Stats: 241/188/140 Female 165 cm
BF:
Progress: 52%
Location: Eastern ON, Canada
Default

I was thinking along the same line as Belina .. how much air is in it? If the ball is overinflated and hard as a rock, there will be no "give" or flexible support. Also, how big is it, ie the diameter when inflated? If the ball is too big for you, then it will be very difficult for you to maintain proper balance and alignment on it. At 5'3", you should be using a 55 cm ball. The bigger 65 cm balls (like the purple ones sold at Walmart and Canadian Tire) are intended for persons over 5'6" .. although I'm sure they don't indicate this anywhere on the package .

If your ball is a larger one .. just deflate it a bit. When you sit on the ball, your hips and knees should bend at 90° angles with your feet flat on the floor .. like this ..


. Besides making it a better height for you, the softer ball will provide more flexible support under your hips and low back when doing crunches. When the ball is too big, your hips tend to be angled downward in an effort to keep your feet flat on the floor. This means your thighs and low back are doing all the work, not your abs


hth


Doreen
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  #6   ^
Old Wed, Feb-08-06, 07:24
Freds Mom's Avatar
Freds Mom Freds Mom is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 138
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 173/159/120 Female 63 inches
BF:
Progress: 26%
Location: Hamilton. Ontario
Default

It is the big Barney one from Canadian Tire. At least that's what i told the kids. They asked if I was trying to hatch Barney and got quite alarmed when I started bouncing. I'm starting to find my balance. Only landed on my head once yesterday. Thank you all for the advice, it really is a handy "little" exercise device.
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  #7   ^
Old Wed, Feb-08-06, 08:52
cs_carver cs_carver is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 4,629
 
Plan: Generic LC with tweaks
Stats: 204/178/165 Female 72 inches
BF:
Progress: 67%
Location: NC
Default wider feet?

I'm thinking maybe your feet need to be further apart, to make a more stable triangle?
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  #8   ^
Old Wed, Feb-08-06, 09:23
lizzyLC's Avatar
lizzyLC lizzyLC is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 1,187
 
Plan: LC
Stats: 157/155/135 Female 5'6
BF:
Progress: 9%
Location: PNW
Default

I agree with doreen - it may be too big for you.
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