Katie asked:
I heard if I were to sit on an exercise ball instead of a chair I will lose weight. Is that true?
Ask The Fitness Dude’s Answer:
This is actually a pretty common question, and there is always someone saying, “My cousin lost 20 lbs. by sitting on a ball!” It is those statements that give life to this rumor. Although it would be nice if we could lose weight by sitting on a ball, that is just not the case. Sitting on an exercise ball will help strengthen your core, but it will not allow you to burn off enough calories to shed off fat. People might experience some weight loss if they have not worked out in years, but for the most part people will see very little weight loss. Exercise balls are great though! There are tons of workouts you can do with an Exercise ball that can strengthen your whole body, but unfortunately sitting on an exercise ball is not one of those exercises.
Thank you for the question Katie, sorry if it was not the answer you were hoping for.
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Stability or exercise balls are great at utilizing your core and balance. The ball is an unstable surface which helps target all different sorts of muscles that you would not be able to target on a stable surface like the floor. In fact, even just sitting on the ball is better for your stability muscles than sitting in a chair, but do not expect to get six pack abs by just sitting on the ball. A Stability ball will add a wide variety of workouts to keep your routine fun and enjoyable. There are many different workouts you can perform on the ball that targets your core, but also other parts of your body too. If you are pregnant, the stability ball is safe for you, allowing you to do workouts you would not normally be able to do.
Okay, so you want to buy the ball…What size should you get? There are normally 3 different sizes 55 cm, 65 cm, and 75 cm. The 55 cm ball is for people who are 5’7″ and below, the 65 cm ball is for people who are between 5’7″ and 6’2″, and the 75 cm ball is for people 6’2″ and up. You want to make sure your ball is well inflated. When you sit on the ball it should slightly dip down and be firm on the sides. Make sure you check the manufacturer’s weight limits for the ball, most max limits are 300 pounds. It is super important to know the weight limit if you are looking into lifting free weights on your exercise ball. Finally, make sure that when sitting on the ball your legs are bent at a 90 degree angle, with your knees straight above your ankles.
