Weight

[lilithraevyn]

I haven't been exercising, though I have tried to keep moving a little more during the days. I'm also considering getting one of those balance/exercise balls to sit on when I'm at my computer (which is much of the time). It'll help my posture (which is awful), and give my core muscles some badly needed working

Comments

[sthira_sukha]

I know I've seen a ball-holder office chair, meant specifically for that purpose, in my Power Systems catalog. (I needed to order some heavy weights one time....) There's this, which you can probably find somewhere else cheaper. There's also this, without the rolly-wheels and back, which is much cheaper. I've also seen a base for holding a ball steady in their catalog, but I don't see it on their site. Crunches on a balance ball while holding a medicine ball are part of my ab workout routine, along with reverse crunches, each exercise both straight forward and twisted to each side to work my obliques.

I always gain about five pounds when I'm menstruating, but I guess that's not that abnormal. Maybe you're just dealing with some slight edema/water weight? My former nutritionist told me once that bulimics' weights can sometimes vary up to ten pounds plus or minus per day, not that that applies to you.

Hope you are doing okay....Take care.

[lilithraevyn]

The balance-ball-crunches and the like are an added bonus for me. Standard ones on the floor... I just can't figure out HOW to do them that won't strain my neck a little bit more than is comfortable.

Thank you for the links and the info!

[sthira_sukha]

Yeah, I don't experience a lot of neck pain when I do it using the ball, fortunately. I think the adage is to keep your chin up, but I'm not sure if I've personally found that helpful. _Pilates on the Ball_ is the seminal book, I think, of stability-ball exercises, though I haven't used it before, and there are plenty of knockoff books. Really, crunches are the main thing I do on my ball now, though sometimes I use it like an inclined bench to do a chest flyes. Once you get into a little better shape, if you'd like to learn more about strength training, you might want to check out _Sculpt Her Body Perfect_. It lists all the different exercises that emphasize a particular part of each muscle group; I found it very helpful when I was first starting out and still refer back to it often. I think _The Body-Sculpting Bible for Women_ is a similar book.

You're welcome!