Friday Favorites

By far, my favorite piece of exercise equipment is the Bosu Balance Trainer

This little balance ball thingy is great for your core, legs and butt. I have one at home and I use the one at the gym (when I get there). If you buy your own you get the balance trainer itself, a pump to inflate it, an instruction manual (a must), as well as a DVD of workouts. It's a little pricey ($109 + tax), compared to a balance ball or something like that, but I think it's worth it.

Usually, I use it while I'm watching TV so I don't feel too lazy. I like little mini workouts, so I'll use it a couple of different times throughout the evening.

My favorite exercise with it is standing on the flat side, with the ball side down (which it says not to do, but I guess I'm a rebel), and doing arm curls or lifting a kettle ball. This is pretty extreme balancing and is GREAT for your legs. Sometimes my legs start to shake so much that the Bosu shakes and I have to jump off. It's pretty funny at home, embarrassing at the gym, ha ha. Sometimes I'd just stand on it and balance on one leg at a time.

It's also great for doing squats, lunges - put your front foot on the blue side, and you can also use it to do push ups with the flat side which will tone the crap out of your arms! In the DVD there were a couple of ladies showing how to use it and they kind of step in place on it for "cardio". I don't really use it for that, but I'd be interested to hear if anyone actually does, and how it works for them.

This little balance trainer has a lot of uses, and I really like it. I'd recommend giving it a try at the gym, even if you're afraid to look silly because you're not exactly sure how to use it. It's pretty fun once you get the hang of it! Just grab a kettle ball and give it a try!