Customer Reviews

Weights on the Ball Workbook: Step-by-Step Guide with Over 350 Photos

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of the best books I've seen of it's type. It is well organized and the approach is realistic. There are three general types of workouts which are mentioned in other reviews i.e. firm foundation, slim and trim and muscle bound. Under each one there are three levels of difficulty. These workouts are well thought out and the general lifting guidelines are valid.

The book also does a nice job of presenting the workouts in an easy to understand format with useful pictures and variations for many of the movements. What I see as a drawback, however, is information on how to get on and off the ball safely with weights and sufficient warnings and/or tips about potentially hazardous movements. Even so, the information that is presented is better than other books of its type that I have seen.

I have been doing a lot of the exercises on the ball and I think the concept is useful and it adds another dimension to each exercise. It also forces one to stabilize their core, which is important to have functional strength and to protect the back. On the other hand, this also increases exercise risk and the possiblity of a fall.

Many of these exercises are what you might see in any book on using dumbbells with some imaginative additions. The main difference on conventional exercises is the use of a ball instead of a bench. I would say roughly a third of the exercises are what you would see in a standard dumbbell book where a ball isn't necessary or a bench is the replacement for the ball.

One thing the book doesn't talk about is different kinds of balls with respect to punctures or leaks. My understanding is that you can get slow deflate balls in case of a puncture or leak. I understand Thera-Band makes these.

For people who want to use light weight on a ball or even resistance straps, I think it's possible to get a great workout. This approach to exercise also lends itself to circuit training, especially if adjustable dumbbells are used so the rest between sets is not too long. Using resistance straps for the exercises is also a safer option to consider.

I didn't give this book 5 full stars because of the safety stuff about getting on and off the ball. I think this is a big deal because a back, knee or other injury can be forever.

Now this is what I was looking for in an exercise ball book. I wanted one with routines and this has routines. You can train for Firm Foundation, Slim and Trim, and Muscle Bound. Within each routine one has three choices, twice a week for 20-30 minutes, three times a week for 20-30 minutes and three times a week 45 minutes. Five stars for color pictures and spiral bound.

This book is a great tool for working out with weights and the stability ball! It's very difficult to find any workout books using the stability ball & weights. The book has great black & white photos that show you step by step how to use the stability ball. It's easy to follow and makes exercising more challenging each time. You can follow their plan or make up your own routine.

The daily routine of working out can become boring and monotonous at times. I like to mix it up with different videos and different work outs. I've been following the "Body for Life" work out eating and exercise plan for years now. It's really taught me how to eat properly and what to eat. It also includes working out with weights and aerobic exercise. Now, I've added the stability ball work out with the weights and I'm even getting a better well rounded work out.

Buy this book if you are looking for great work out ideas using the stability ball and weights. You should also consider this book if you're looking to spice up your present workout routine.
Weights on the Ball Workbook: Step-by-Step Guide with Over 350 Photos

I'd searched high and low for a book of this nature, and this easy-read, easy-to-follow instruction piece fits the bill perfectly. There are several different workout formats to follow, all dependent upon your workout goals (i.e. weight loss, toning, muscle building, etc), and the individual exercises are pictured in several different stages of the select moves, as opposed to just one or two different views, leaving the reader having to "guess" how the rest of the move is supposed to be done. I use this book about three times a week (forty-five minute sessions) and on those days I also incorporate a couple of additional ball moves I'd found in other places, such as Denise Austin's "Sculpt Your Body With Balls and Bands" book, and also do about four or five days of elliptical for cardio. Overall, I am hoping to achieve some great results.

This is absolutely terrific, and highly recommended!

Ulysses Press has done it again - another top-quality exercise book. Lay-flat binding for ease of use, well organized, well presented, informative, with excellent workouts, clear exercise explanations, packed with photos. If you want to do weight workouts on the swiss ball, this is the book for you. I am VERY pleased with this book and will get much use out of it.

This book, though small, provides a very concise and necessary guide for anyone who wants to add variety to their strength training routines. Acquisition of these skills will eliminate the word 'routine!' There are so many options as each page includes a basic, intermediate, and advanced instruction for each exercise! Directions are simple and straight-forward and there are very few superfluous instructions. It is truly a "just the facts" guide.

I like this book very much; the exercises are all great and cover a wide range. My book was not spiral-bound as one reviewer mentioned. That would have been a great bonus!

The Editorial Review is real, the content is comprehensive, informative, clearly presented, various workouts for different ability/goals. All it needs now is a companion CD.

Originally, I borrowed this book at the library to start a weight work out program. I already had a balance ball and weights and I was looking to put some "variety" in my workout regime. I liked the book so much I ordered it used on Amazon.Com My husband and I complete this workout at home on alternate days when we don't go to the YMCA to walk or swim. I would highly recommend this book. It provids beginning, intermediate and advanced variations of using weights along with the balance ball, and so we can use it for a long time as our capability increases.

I bought this book from Amazon last August, have been progressing through its workouts 3 times a week since then, kept waiting to be disappointed by some part of it, but am keen to report that this is the best book of its type that I have yet found. Here are several reasons why this book is excellent. The explanations and photos that show how to do each movement are superbly clear. I haven't found one yet that I had to read twice in order to understand. Each movement also comes with basic, intermediate and advanced variations. The author also used very good sense when he created sequences of movements called "Firm Foundation," "Slim and Trim" and "Muscle Bound." One other reason I enjoy this book so much is that the different workouts provide me enough variety that I can easily shift programs once a routine starts to become too familiar. I believe that whether you are at a beginning or intermediate fitness level you will benefit greatly from this book.