Fitnessfreakk366
Cathlete
Thanks Lisa!
Bender Ball
- Thread starter Timber99
- Start date
Thanks Lisa!
FiddleFit
Cathlete
Love the Bender Ball!
Hello! I recently purchased the Bender Ball and a few workouts, from a local supplier here. For those of you thinking of purchasing online, my supplier (I'm in Canada) suggested a better website for US clients:
http://www.savvierfitness.com/
It's Bender Ball Pro, and you won't get all the billing problems of the other website. A friend of mine ordered from them and had no problems (and you can add a few gliders to your order, too.
Loooove my gliders! ).
I really, really like using the BB *for core*. I'm a convert. The core workout that came with my ball is about intermediate in level. The Advanced Core workout is tougher, and when I'm done all 15mins, I have a thorough toast in my whole core, but without conjoining fatigue in my hip flexors and lower back. Leslie comes from a pilates background, and the BB is just the pilates mini-ball, with her name stamped on them. The core work is primarily about working the transverse abs. Yes, of course all the rest of the core muscles get used, too, but because you're doing it all with your TAs contracted, you're developing great stabilizers, which are the most critical core muscles to strengthen IMO. Posture, posture, posture!!
Having given all the positive plugs, here's my negative comments: I think the best use of the BB is for core work, as well as butt/hips/thighs (floorwork type stuff). But to take it as far as she tries to with total body workouts, you're better off doing your other workouts. It seems whenever someone comes out with a new tool they want to claim it "does IT ALL"....and can even cook a 20lb turkey! I'm not impressed with the workouts that don't focus solely on core or hips/glutes. I did the Strong & Healthy Back workout once, and it left me with a really nice, stretched out back; sort of the same way yoga does. You do a gentle superman-type exercise that truly leaves you about an inch longer by time you're done. It's very nice. I think that workout will develop back flexibility, endurance, spinal stability, but isn't going to replace barbell rows or pull ups for lat development, etc. It's a great one for posture, but not muscle building.
Overall, I like to use the Advanced Core workout once a week (Cathe or my own core workouts other days), and the Glutes/Hips/Thighs workout once a week (as a "floorwork" session), and a Cathe floorwork session once a week. So, like anything, I don't put stake in any particular workout or piece of equipment being the Magic Bullet for the perfect core. The BB just offers another way of changing it up, keeping it fresh, and introducing something new.
The core workouts are 15mins long, the Back workout is 30mins, the Booty Bootcamp workout is just over 30 mins, and the Glutes/Hips/Thighs is 20mins. I think $20 is a lot to pay for one 15min workout, but also think the Advanced Core was worth it, given how often I use it. And while I won't use the other workouts regularly, myself, I will use them for ideas for working with clients.
HTH,
Sandra
Hello! I recently purchased the Bender Ball and a few workouts, from a local supplier here. For those of you thinking of purchasing online, my supplier (I'm in Canada) suggested a better website for US clients:
http://www.savvierfitness.com/
It's Bender Ball Pro, and you won't get all the billing problems of the other website. A friend of mine ordered from them and had no problems (and you can add a few gliders to your order, too.
Loooove my gliders! ).I really, really like using the BB *for core*. I'm a convert. The core workout that came with my ball is about intermediate in level. The Advanced Core workout is tougher, and when I'm done all 15mins, I have a thorough toast in my whole core, but without conjoining fatigue in my hip flexors and lower back. Leslie comes from a pilates background, and the BB is just the pilates mini-ball, with her name stamped on them. The core work is primarily about working the transverse abs. Yes, of course all the rest of the core muscles get used, too, but because you're doing it all with your TAs contracted, you're developing great stabilizers, which are the most critical core muscles to strengthen IMO. Posture, posture, posture!!
Having given all the positive plugs, here's my negative comments: I think the best use of the BB is for core work, as well as butt/hips/thighs (floorwork type stuff). But to take it as far as she tries to with total body workouts, you're better off doing your other workouts. It seems whenever someone comes out with a new tool they want to claim it "does IT ALL"....and can even cook a 20lb turkey! I'm not impressed with the workouts that don't focus solely on core or hips/glutes. I did the Strong & Healthy Back workout once, and it left me with a really nice, stretched out back; sort of the same way yoga does. You do a gentle superman-type exercise that truly leaves you about an inch longer by time you're done. It's very nice. I think that workout will develop back flexibility, endurance, spinal stability, but isn't going to replace barbell rows or pull ups for lat development, etc. It's a great one for posture, but not muscle building.
Overall, I like to use the Advanced Core workout once a week (Cathe or my own core workouts other days), and the Glutes/Hips/Thighs workout once a week (as a "floorwork" session), and a Cathe floorwork session once a week. So, like anything, I don't put stake in any particular workout or piece of equipment being the Magic Bullet for the perfect core. The BB just offers another way of changing it up, keeping it fresh, and introducing something new.
The core workouts are 15mins long, the Back workout is 30mins, the Booty Bootcamp workout is just over 30 mins, and the Glutes/Hips/Thighs is 20mins. I think $20 is a lot to pay for one 15min workout, but also think the Advanced Core was worth it, given how often I use it. And while I won't use the other workouts regularly, myself, I will use them for ideas for working with clients.
HTH,
Sandra
Fitnessfreakk366
Cathlete
Sandra, thanks for the review!! I think you've sold me on it!
SirenSongWoman
Cathlete
OMG! That Commercial! I thought the same thing about the woman who's husband (allegedly) can't keep his hands off her. Roll my eyes every time she laughs and tosses back her hair. What I want to know is this: If you can't spot-reduce, how'd she end up with tight, sexy abs but still has a double chin?
BTW, you can do the moves on a standard stability ball.
Tamrahan
Cathlete
http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm824YYUS
I just heard "I love my belly, I love my abdominalzzzzzzzzzzzzzz".
angie_nrs
Cathlete
LMAO!
I bought the ab DVD on ebay for a couple of bucks and then bought a kids ball at the store for about a buck and it worked just fine. I've only used it once....not much of a fan of the DVD, but it does put a different twist on ab exercises. I will likely use the ball again for ab moves but probably not the DVD.
By the way, I found something on target that I think would be even better than the gliders but I'm not sure since I don't have either one of them. I was thinking these would work great on STS for some of the moves Cathe uses the paper plates for. For $15 at Target, I just might have to try it out. They have them at Meijers too. If I don't get any use out of them, I'm sure that the kids will.
http://www.target.com/FunSlides-Car...5?ie=UTF8&index=target&rh=k:fun slides&page=1
Angie
I bought the ab DVD on ebay for a couple of bucks and then bought a kids ball at the store for about a buck and it worked just fine. I've only used it once....not much of a fan of the DVD, but it does put a different twist on ab exercises. I will likely use the ball again for ab moves but probably not the DVD.
By the way, I found something on target that I think would be even better than the gliders but I'm not sure since I don't have either one of them. I was thinking these would work great on STS for some of the moves Cathe uses the paper plates for. For $15 at Target, I just might have to try it out. They have them at Meijers too. If I don't get any use out of them, I'm sure that the kids will.
http://www.target.com/FunSlides-Car...5?ie=UTF8&index=target&rh=k:fun slides&page=1
Angie
JennieR
Cathlete
That's what I was looking for.
princessbear
Cathlete
LOVE the puking emoticon.
Angie - those FunSlides look perfect for STS leg work. Let me know what you think of them.
Angie - those FunSlides look perfect for STS leg work. Let me know what you think of them.
MAYNARDSMOM
Cathlete
I tried this some time ago & was not impressed with it. May be good for some but I sent mine back. I thought my money could be better spent elsewhere.
kathryn
Cathlete
I actually have these (I found them on sale and couldn't resist the price, even though I already have Gliding discs--I thought I'd keep these in the office and take gliding breaks!) and I wouldn't recommend them. They are not as usable as Gliding discs, or even paper plates, for several reasons:By the way, I found something on target that I think would be even better than the gliders but I'm not sure since I don't have either one of them. I was thinking these would work great on STS for some of the moves Cathe uses the paper plates for. For $15 at Target, I just might have to try it out. They have them at Meijers too. If I don't get any use out of them, I'm sure that the kids will.
http://www.target.com/FunSlides-Car...5?ie=UTF8&index=target&rh=k:fun slides&page=1
Angie
1) they are stiff and your foot is strapped into them, so they work best (only?) if your foot is parallel to the floor, while many moves require you to have just the toes on the discs;
2) they have a weird texture at the front that serves as a braking mechanism, so they don't glide evenly all the way, you can 'slide' forward, but moving the leg back or maybe even to the sides makes the braking texture engage;
3) in all, they are made to 'ski' on carpet (there's a video online somewhere showing people sliding down a hallway,and one guy 'braking' by running into a pile of cardboard boxes) and aren't designed well for other movement.
Better than these would be large round furniture sliders.
princessbear
Cathlete
Kathryn - thanks for your input ... I'm gonna stick with my original idea of getting the Gliding Discs.
teddy16410
Cathlete
I'm a Fan!
I can ditto 99% of what Sandra wrote...She actually converted me!
The Pluses for me:
1: I actually got killer core DOMS after doing 30 minutes of core work with the ball.... That RARELY happens anymore!
2: There are no funky moves that make me think I could break my neck if I lose focus for a split second... Hats off to all you who want to, can, & actually love the advanced moves with SB...Not me kids!
3: After doing the DVDs a couple of times I started using the bender ball with other Core workouts ... Its a great burn & easy to incorporate with most other core work.
I wasnt thrilled with the price but I must admit it does work the core in a unique way (at least for me) I LOVE it and feel it was worth the money.
As far as buying a ball on your own... Absolutely I think you can but the ball isnt "just a ball" so to get the full impact I think one needs to at least test the actual BB before just buying a small ball.
I can ditto 99% of what Sandra wrote...She actually converted me!
The Pluses for me:
1: I actually got killer core DOMS after doing 30 minutes of core work with the ball.... That RARELY happens anymore!
2: There are no funky moves that make me think I could break my neck if I lose focus for a split second... Hats off to all you who want to, can, & actually love the advanced moves with SB...Not me kids!
3: After doing the DVDs a couple of times I started using the bender ball with other Core workouts ... Its a great burn & easy to incorporate with most other core work.
I wasnt thrilled with the price but I must admit it does work the core in a unique way (at least for me) I LOVE it and feel it was worth the money.
As far as buying a ball on your own... Absolutely I think you can but the ball isnt "just a ball" so to get the full impact I think one needs to at least test the actual BB before just buying a small ball.
Hello! I recently purchased the Bender Ball and a few workouts, from a local supplier here. For those of you thinking of purchasing online, my supplier (I'm in Canada) suggested a better website for US clients:
http://www.savvierfitness.com/
It's Bender Ball Pro, and you won't get all the billing problems of the other website. A friend of mine ordered from them and had no problems (and you can add a few gliders to your order, too.
I really, really like using the BB *for core*. I'm a convert. The core workout that came with my ball is about intermediate in level. The Advanced Core workout is tougher, and when I'm done all 15mins, I have a thorough toast in my whole core, but without conjoining fatigue in my hip flexors and lower back. Leslie comes from a pilates background, and the BB is just the pilates mini-ball, with her name stamped on them. The core work is primarily about working the transverse abs. Yes, of course all the rest of the core muscles get used, too, but because you're doing it all with your TAs contracted, you're developing great stabilizers, which are the most critical core muscles to strengthen IMO. Posture, posture, posture!!
Having given all the positive plugs, here's my negative comments: I think the best use of the BB is for core work, as well as butt/hips/thighs (floorwork type stuff). But to take it as far as she tries to with total body workouts, you're better off doing your other workouts. It seems whenever someone comes out with a new tool they want to claim it "does IT ALL"....and can even cook a 20lb turkey! I'm not impressed with the workouts that don't focus solely on core or hips/glutes. I did the Strong & Healthy Back workout once, and it left me with a really nice, stretched out back; sort of the same way yoga does. You do a gentle superman-type exercise that truly leaves you about an inch longer by time you're done. It's very nice. I think that workout will develop back flexibility, endurance, spinal stability, but isn't going to replace barbell rows or pull ups for lat development, etc. It's a great one for posture, but not muscle building.
Overall, I like to use the Advanced Core workout once a week (Cathe or my own core workouts other days), and the Glutes/Hips/Thighs workout once a week (as a "floorwork" session), and a Cathe floorwork session once a week. So, like anything, I don't put stake in any particular workout or piece of equipment being the Magic Bullet for the perfect core. The BB just offers another way of changing it up, keeping it fresh, and introducing something new.
The core workouts are 15mins long, the Back workout is 30mins, the Booty Bootcamp workout is just over 30 mins, and the Glutes/Hips/Thighs is 20mins. I think $20 is a lot to pay for one 15min workout, but also think the Advanced Core was worth it, given how often I use it. And while I won't use the other workouts regularly, myself, I will use them for ideas for working with clients.
HTH,
Sandra