Customer Reviews

GoFit Core Disk and Training DVD

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This disk is great for different core and other stability exercises for the shoulders, hips, ankles, etc. I really like the "reflexology" side that massages your feet while you exercise - double the benefit. It's a bit like those massaging shoes so you may or may not enjoy that side. It's also very good just to sit on in your office chair to provide some hip and core movement while sitting and remind you to have good posture. I've been using it this way and periodically stand on it or do one leg exercises during the day. I plan to keep one at the office and get another one for home. In pictures, these types of disks look like they are not challenging but in person they definitely are if you try all the exercises, e.g., just basic lunges or calf stretch/raises are quite hard due to the extra balance effort involved. For the simple calf raises, I can make it very difficult just by holding my other leg higher in the air in various directions. Also, I immediately added air (maybe too much) after purchasing to make the exercises more difficult. I thought (probably wrongly) that the default state might be too easy.

Note that the included DVD by Mark Verstegen is excellent and probably provides a significant advantage over alternative products. The exercises he shows can also be done without the disk if they are too difficult. See one of his sites for some free examples to get some ideas of what is possible and what kind of "core" and "pillar" training one should incorporate. I've also had good experiences with other GoFit products and items associated with Core Performance or Athlete's Performance. See my review of his book for more info. I haven't tried a wobble board and I've only briefly tried the Bosu and just standing on a regular gym ball (after seeing this on tv - very difficult). I cannot really compare the difficulty or effectiveness of using those types of equipment vs. this one. I am quite happy with the Core Disk so far, though, so I probably will stick to it. It seems more multidirectional and should be challenging my balance for a long time. I feel various muscles I didn't know I had working to try to stabilize my body in all directions just standing on it. If I feel my balance is getting "too good" (not likely), I'll start adding some light weights or a weight vest or toss a medicine ball while doing the various balance exercises. That should make this disk a great investment for as long as it lasts. The price was definitely another plus. It is also small enough to take on trips and can be inflated/deflated with a standard bicycle pump (a needle is included with the disk).

Bottom line: whether you're a weekend warrior, or you're getting older and worried about your balance, this disk will help you improve, whatever your fitness goal or current routine may be.

This product fit the bill for me in seeking something like a wobble-board, but not quite as difficult. It is a partially-inflated cushion (with the usual air hole to add or remove air) with a smooth side and a nubby side, made of strong plastic. It can be used standing on one or both feet, and the enclosed, well-made DVD provides many useful additional exercise suggestions for other parts of the body.

This disk is not for the very obese or people just starting to exercise. I am over 45 and purchased this to get my balance back. Even while trying to stand on the disk and trying to keep steady I can feel my leg and stomach muscles working. Have a chair close by to help steady yourself in the beginning while trying to stand on the disk. It will be quite awhile before I am able to do half of the exercises demonstrated. The disk is great to put under your back while lying on the floor to stretch aching back muscles.

I wasn't sure how much excersise I will get on this (i have a bad leg and a very bad back) but I was hoping it will allow me some excersises to improve my balance and maybe serve as a 'portable physio ball' to sit on, as sitting on regular chairs is very hard for my back and hip. It is perfect for the latter! It is light enough and small enough to fit in a medium bag and I tote it with me to put on any odd chair I have to sit on for any extended time. It gives me almost the same support as a ball would, and allows me to shift the weight on my spine and pelvis as I sit. Very nice. Definitely helps with my back pain. The disk is filled when you get it so you don't have to fuss around with how much air is needed, which is also great. I am glad I ordered it and I recommended it to some other people, too.

I received this disk and it's red. It comes with a little attatchment to imflate it if you happen to have a bicyle pump. I don't, and the disk was shipped inflated, but it's a little too soft for me. The DVD that comes with it is in no way, shape or form meant to be an exercise routine, it's simply examples of how you can implement the disk into your exercise routine. I think that it's a good idea in general, but I haven't really found it to be a remarkable addition to my workout. I wear size 10 shoes and can barely stand on it with both feet. Not a bad piece of equipment, just didn't fit into my routine as well as I thought it would.

Beside using this disk for core training, it works great in your desk chair at work or home. Use it like a seat cushion. Makes my back feel great and improves my energy all day.

I received my GoFit Core Disk about 2 weeks ago and so far, I really like it. I also use a physio-ball for most of my ab work, but was looking for something new to try. This item fits the bill. I use it for lunges, balancing on two feet, one foot, sit-ups, etc. I like the fact that it came with an instructional DVD (Not a fitness routine, just exercise options). The disk arrived inflated slightly, but I felt it needed a little more air. It comes with an inflation pin (taped to the packaging) and you have to have a bike pump to add more air. I've also been using the fit disk to sit on while I work on my computer (I'm sitting on it now) and it has really improved my sitting posture and makes working on the computer not such a sluggish activity.

My only complaint and reason that I am not giving it 5 stars is I wish that some instructional guide (not a DVD) had been included. I like to watch trashy TV while I workout, so I can't do that and watch the instructional DVD at the same time. A chart or booklet of different exercises would have been perfect for me so that I could refer to it as I was using the disk. Also, some instruction as to the amount that the disk should be inflated to would have been helpful too. Just recommendations about disk inflation for certain levels, exercises, uses. etc.

Lastly, the disk shown above is blue. I received a red one. No problem for me, because I much prefer red to blue, but Amazon might want to let people know that the color they see might not be the color they get.

For the price and size of this; not to mention the simplicity!!-you just can't go wrong!! I haven't even tried the DVD that came with it, I've just gotten ON it! While trying to keep my balance, (on one leg, or sitting) I do a variety of things--leg lifts, knee to chest--or while sitting, I try to maintain a 'V' with my legs and uppper body. I can FEEL my muscles working, even if I'm just standing on one leg! As I've gotten older, I don't seem to be as coordinated, and this is really helping. I highly recommend it. Just try different positions, balance yourself, and try to do it for several minutes a day. It does a world of good!

(This review contains made up exercise names and references to an apartment that's probably messier than yours.)

I bought this item a few weeks ago, and I love it! I have a stability ball that I used to use, but it was so big and cumbersome that I finally deflated it because I spent more time trying to get it out of the way than I did actually exercising with it, and its constant presence was driving my partner mad. Stability balls are great if you have a lot of space, but discs take up virtually no space at all, and I think I actually get a better workout on the disc, anyway.

My favorite way to use it is while I'm listening to a book on my MP3 player. I'll stand on it for a while, then do various crunches and "upside down bike riding" and leg stretches, butt lifts with my feet or shoulders on the disc, etc. When I'm sitting around the house I sit on it on the floor. With my feet together, it's just as much if not more of a challenge to stay balanced as it was on the stability ball.

And the best part of it is, when I'm done using it I can put it under a chair, toss it onto a pile of laundry, or just leave it in the middle of the floor because it's so easy to step over and doesn't stub toes in the middle of the night. Since my favorite time to exercise is right before bed, that gives this piece of equipment a definite advantage as far as I'm concerned!

As far as comparing this stability disc to others, I haven't tried any others so I can't give you a definitive on that. However, I can say that it stands up well to my 2-year-old jumping on it, and my 275lb partner feels comfortable and safe using it. I love the massage side (and the fact that the other side is actually flat.) Also, the alignment of the brand name on the flat side and the place where the air goes in on the other side mean that I can step up on it with confidence knowing that I won't end up with my foot on the internal valve stem.

I've lost 50 lbs in the past 5 months. Although I didn't have the stability disc for that entire time, and most of my loss was due to dietary monitoring, I feel confident saying that the sort of exercises I do on this disc are what has really helped me to tone up as I've lost weight, and I definitely plan to continue spending lots of time on it!

This disk is well made and can help with balance and making exercises more difficult... but the "training" DVD it terrible. It shows you basic ideas and positions, but does not offer a whole work out or show. It is a "here is one exercise", "here is another" that lasts about 15 minutes. The DVD is pretty worthless. But, I really haven't used it much because of that. Same your money and buy a balance ball