Number two:
If you are considered overweight or obese you can still use an exercise ball but you will need to take special care in buying an exercise ball. What you are going to need to look for is what the companies call burst-resistance balls. These types of exercise balls are built to hold 600 pounds or more. You can usually find these types of balls at the same place that you can find regular exercise balls.

Helpful Resources: 1. Choosing and Using an Exercise Ball This article talks about what you are going to need to know when it comes to exercise balls. The article provides you with tips on choosing an exercise ball, as well as how to properly use an exercise ball. 2. Exercise Ball Workouts This website provides you with numerous links that you can follow to learn more about the workouts that are available for you to use with exercise balls. The links take you to descriptions and videos of the various workouts for different parts of your body. 3. Core Exercises on the Ball This website provides you with a detailed description about the most basic exercises that you can do with an exercise ball to help improve your core strength. The website also provides you with links to other resources that you will find very useful when first starting out with an exercise ball. 4. 10 reasons to use an Exercise Ball as Your Chair This article gives you the best reasons to use an exercise ball as a chair; it provides you with the benefits of each reason as well as the reason itself. But it also talks about where you can buy a ball and how much they cost on average. 5. ExerciseBalls.net This website provides you with a large variety of exercise balls that you can purchase, in addition to other types of exercise equipment. The website also provides you with links to other websites that they feel are useful for information on fitness equipment. 6. Free Exercise Ball Workouts This website is designed to provide you with free exercise workouts that you can use with an exercise ball. But the website also provides you with a lot of information geared towards exercise balls in general, as well as other areas of fitness. 7. Guidelines for exercise bands and exercise balls This website provides you with a variety of guidelines that you need to keep in mind iof you are going to be using any kind of exercise ball. The website also provides you with tips on choosing the correct ball for your needs and how to properly inflate the ball. 8. Exercise ball FAQs This website provides you with answers to the most commonly asked questions about exercise balls. But in addition to that they also provide an email address so you can contact them if you have further questions on a topic or if your question wasn't answered. 9. Choosing the right exercise ball In addition to giving you the height guidelines for purchasing an exercise ball this website also tells you what to look for to be sure that the ball is the right fit for you. This is especially important if you are on the larger side of the height guidelines or you have really long legs for your height. 10. Exercise Balls: General Info This website provides you with the general information that you are going to need when it comes to exercise balls. This includes how to use an exercise ball and links to other resources for exercises that you can do with an exercise ball.

Here are some things to keep in mind when using your newly purchased exercise ball.

Number one:
Exercise balls actually challenge your body because they put your body into an unstable environment when you use them. The reason for this is that as soon as you lay on the exercise ball your legs and abs immediately contract to help keep you from falling off. So now when you add an exercise to that you have actually increased the intensity of the movement so you are going to get a better workout.

Number two:
Many people often wonder where they can get the best exercise ball workouts. The best source for workouts for your exercise ball are exercise videos which you can get at your local retail stores, rent them video stores or you can even find them online.

Number three:
Exercise balls are also very versatile. What this means is that they can be used for just about anything. Here are some of the most common uses of exercise balls:

• Weight training - you can use the exercise or stability ball as your new weight bench. By using it in this way you are going to be adding difficulty to the movements for your normal weight lifting exercises, but you are also going to be incorporating the muscles of your legs, butt and abs into your weight lifting routine


• Abdominal training - this would include doing crunches, twists and other traditional exercises on the exercise ball will add more difficulty to that movement because you will be using more muscles than what the original exercise calls for.


• Sitting around - just sitting on the exercise ball can be a challenge for some people. But it is also a great way to help improve your posture and you can do it regardless of where you are sitting either in front of a computer or watching television. To work on your posture simply sit on the ball and raise on foot off the ground and balance, this will also help to improve your balance


• Flexibility, yoga and Pilates exercises - the ball is a great way to begin stretching and relaxing, which is a key component in any exercise program


• Playing around - even though it is considered an exercise ball, which means it should be used for exercising, it is still a ball. What this means is that people, especially kids, will enjoy playing with it while it is sitting around so you want to keep a close eye on them when allowing them to play with the ball so they don't get injured.

If you have just bought your exercise ball and are looking for ways to get started one thing you want to keep in mind is to check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program to be sure you are healthy enough to start the program or if you need to make some adaptations to the program to suit your individual needs. Once you have been cleared by your doctor to begin using an exercise ball there are some basic exercises you are going to want to start off with that are designed to improve your balance, stability and strength. One thing to keep in mind is that many people find it helpful in the beginning to sit next to a wall or chair so that they can hold on for balance. When you first start you are going to want to perform one set of each exercise and then add more sets as you get stronger.

Here are some of the most basic exercises that you can do to get started with your exercise ball.

• Ball circles - sit on the ball and place your hands on the ball for balance or if you want to make it harder place your hands behind your head. Then slowly begin to roll your hips to the right. You want to start off making small circles until you are comfortable and then increase the size of the circles. You want to do 10 to 20 circles to the right and then repeat the circles on the left.


• Seated march - sit on the ball with your spine straight and your abs in. Begin slowly marching, by alternating lifting the right foot and then the left foot. As you get comfortable you are going to want to lift your knees higher and march faster, you can also add a bounce on the ball if you feel comfortable. Continue with this exercise for at least 1 to 2 minutes


• Seated balance - sit on the ball with your spine straight and your abs in. Depending on how hard you want the exercise to be place your hands on the ball (easy) or behind your head (harder). Then lift your right foot off the floor and hold it in the air for 5 seconds or more. Put your leg down and repeat the motion with the other side. Repeat this exercise for 5 to 10 reps on each side. Keep in mind if you keep your abs in this will help you to keep your balance.


• Ball walks - sit on the ball and place your hands on either side of the ball for balance. Contract your abs and slowly walk your feet forward as you slide your back down onto the ball. Continue walking until your feet are forward and your body is in the bridge position, your head and shoulders are supported by the ball and your hips are lifted. Now walk your feet all the way back until you are seated again. Repeat for 3 to 5 reps. You can hold onto a wall for balance and only walk forward a little bit at a time until you feel more comfortable with this exercise.


• Hip extension - lie on the floor with heels propped on the ball. Keep your abs tight and slowly lift your hips off the floor, squeezing your buttocks, until your body is in a straight line. Hold this position for a few seconds and then lower your body. Repeat for 10 to 15 reps. To make the exercise easier you can place the ball under your knees rather than under your heels. To make it harder all you need to do is cross your arms over your chest.


• Back extension - lie face down on the ball making sure that the ball is under your hips and lower torso and that you are resting on your knees. Place your hands behind your head or under your chin. Now roll your body down the ball and then contract your lower back to lift your chest off the ball, bringing your shoulders up until your body is in a straight line, be careful not to hyperextend your body. Repeat this exercise for 12 to 16 reps.


• Leg press - sit on the ball and slowly walk your feet forward until you are at an incline on the ball with your knees bent. Bend your knees and roll down the ball towards the floor. Push through the heels to come back to the beginning incline position. Repeat for 15 reps.


• Pelvic tilt on the ball - lie at an incline position on the ball with your hips down and your head supported by your hands. You should feel a slight stretching in your abs. Without rolling the ball you are going to squeeze the hips up and then lower them. Repeat for 15 reps.


• Ball squats - prop the ball against a wall and place it behind your lower-mid back. Walk your feet out a bit so that you are leaning against the ball with your feet about hip distance apart. Bend your knees and lower into a squat, make sure you go as low as you can but no further than 90 degrees and you want to make sure that you keep your knees behind your toes. Push through your heels to come back up and repeat for 15 reps.