All, thanks for your comments. I have some Firm and FitPrime tapes, and they use the medicine ball. This is what first got me thinking about buying one. Now that Cathe's using it too, I have even more incentive to get one.
Since I didn't have the ball, I used 5lb hand weight when I did those other tapes. In general this works fine, but sometimes the angle they hold the ball is a little different from how I hold my weight. For example, they have their palm facing up, and the ball resting in the palm of their hand. I hold the weight with my palm facing up, but since I have to grip the weight (to prevent it from rolling out of my hand) I feel like this is more of a bicep strengthening exercise. Whereas holding the ball seems to force you to use more muscles in your arms and shoulders. I don't know if this is 100% accurate, but it just seems that way to me.
There are other exercises, moving the ball from your left side to right while alternating lunges, and some overhead stretches where the shape of the ball is more conducive to getting into the correct position. All these moves can be done with hand weights, they just require slight modifications.
I don't have to worry about anyone poking my ball, so I may just bite the bullet and order the 6lb ball. I know the 10lb would be too heavy for me. I build muscle very easily, so I'm only interested in toning the muscles I have - not creating new ones. Also, it doesn't bother me if the ball doesn't bounce. In the FitPrime video Jac bounces the ball, but I workout on carpet, so I won't be bouncing anything. The only thing I'm curious about is how to 'add air'. I wonder if this will require my purchasing an additional pump.
I'll let you know how I like my new 6lb medicine ball!!!
