My SIL has an exercise ball, and said she really likes it — it works your core, abs, etc. I also read somewhere that someone uses it as a chair at the computer — she said it more or less forces her to sit upright, unconsciously working her abs. That sounded pretty cool. So, I almost bought one a couple of times, but it seemed like I would think about it, and/or see the reduced/clearance exercise balls when I was a little low on funds, and didn’t feel like I could justify the expense. Then I got the brilliant idea to post an “in search of” on my cheapcycle and freecycle networks. I figured that there were a lot of people who probably had bought a ball with the great intentions of using it… and then letting it gather dust within a few weeks or certainly months. I was right. Within 24 hours, I got two offers for free exercise balls! One was a little distance away, but the other was just down the road. So I got it, blew it up… and my kids have been playing with it for hours!

I did manage to steal it away from them, eventually, though. I used the excuse that they were fighting over it to confiscate it. It’s great! I don’t know for sure that I’m working my core muscles — I probably am, but don’t think I’ll feel it until the morning. One reason I got it, though, is that I spend a lot of time at the computer — reading or writing blogs, looking at the news (no TV), doing research, and also typing up very old, out-of-print books. My back has been hurting a bit lately — probably mostly sitting poorly (particularly hunched over), and also lying in an awkward position watching a DVD with my husband. And this seems to help. It probably strengthens my back, in addition to working my abs. My kids are unwittingly helping with that — the younger one particularly likes to climb up on it while I’m sitting on it, which makes me have to shift a tiny bit to keep my balance.

Even if it weren’t free, I’d still be glad I got it. I don’t know that I would have spent full price on it, but I am glad I have it. Particularly since it’s free.