Hard Harder Hardest?

[cathe4me2]

I have a question for all you who like to make your workouts challenging or more effective, concerning the oblique excersise on the ball. How do you make it hard,harder and hardest.
I must be doing something wrong as I can't feel a thing in this exercise on the ball, as is. I've tried positioning all over the ball and even tried pressing my elbow into the ball to get more leverage in my side but again I don't feel anything.
Now....when we do that move on the floor in Cardio Weights and in the Slow Heavy Series, with the legs lifted off the floor, I only feel the burn (feel the move) when the bottom elbow is on the floor and I make a fist with my hand ala Keli Roberts. If I have my hand resting on my side as in the videos, again I feel nothing. Used to, but no more. This move feels like doing bicep curls with no weights! ??
So, does this modification make this move harder? What will make it hardest? And why is the move on the ball too easy for me? Should I try leaning on the ball and lift my legs as I do on the floor....?? }(

 

[cathe4me2]

Bumping to see if anyone has suggesstions on how to make the obligue work harder using the ball or on the floor.

 

[intensitylisa]

When doing the side bends on the ball have you put your hand on your side to feel the crevace. I go to the fullest extension possible in regards to this move. I can't say I feel much either, but when I put my hand on my waist-obliques I can feel it working! Good Luck!

 

[kathryn]

Try doing these while holding a light medecine ball or other weight at the shoulder that is off the ball. You can also change the position on the ball, so that you are more on top of the ball, starting with your side rounded over the ball. Then, when you come up, start the movement by pushing your abs down into the ball to bring yours shoulders up.

 

[bethj]

I couldn't feel the obliques working much either. so I found a good way to do this: anchor your feet against the base of a wall. Drape yourself a little farther down over the ball than Cathe. Then come all the way up sideways, and all the way down as far as you can go-it really stretches out the oblique. Each time you come up it gets harder. I can only do about 10 that way.
Beth

 

[cathe4me2]

Muchos gracious and merci bu coo (sp) ;-) Lisa, Kathryn and Beth. For sure, I will put to good use, all your modifications for this exercise. I like to feel the area that I'm working. I just couldn't feel the obliques in the exercise as shown, even though I could see the muscles move.

I just KNEW there had to be a harder way to do this in order to "feel the burn" as they used to say.

Again...many thanks.