what do I do with this ball?

Ok I bought the exercise ball, now what do I do with it? I was hoping just owning it would make my stomach flatter, but that doesn't seem to be working.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

hahahaa.. man.. if you had said just owning it would make your stomach flatter i'd by 10!! hahah.. i'm looking into getting one too so i'll be interested to hear the responses.. :) 

This will get you started.

http://exercise.about.com/cs/abs/l/bl_core.ht m

I use the balll amost everyday for my abs and it works really well but you have to be doing cardio also to see a difference..

postion the ball against a sturdy object, like the wall or something. lie on the floor, ankles on the ball, lying straigh all the way. lift yourself up and ttry to reach for your feet as af as possible...make sure you pull in your abs as you do. it helps..

another good one is sitting your back on the ball and not your butt. place hand behind head and lift shoulders and head like a crunch.....that helps also.

The ball is great.  It really works the core.  If you have free weights at home or in the gym I suggest doing chest exercised on the ball.  Instead of laying on a bench to do chest presses, lie back on the ball so that that all is supporting your neck and upper back.  You will then take the dumb bells (one in each hand) and you can either do flys (arms going up and down - start with arms straight up in the arm and then slowly bring them down to the side so that they are stretched out open.  You can also do chest presses where you have your elbows bent to the side and push up.  Both of the exercises you do while your back/neck are resting on the ball.  One key is to make sure that you keep your hips up.  you want to be in a straight line with the floor (knees roughly at 90 degrees).  I also do push ups on the ball but that is a pretty advanced move from what people tell me.

dcgirl i tried doing push up in the ball but for some reason it always seems to roll away from me and i end up banging my head on the ground. So much for me being advance. .lol

it is hard.  to start out make sure the ball is against a wall.  that will help with it not slipping.  Its hard.  it feels like every muscle in your body is working to stablize.  once you have it down with the ball on the wall try it without.  work up to it. :)  You will feel really tough when you get it. 

If you're having trouble with pushups on the ball try pushups this way:  You'll need a basketball

in whatever positon you're using (knees or toes on the floor) place one hand on the ball and the other on the floor -  do your set of push ups keeping focus on your posture. Switch to the other hand and do your next set.  When you get good at this- try the ball again:)

Like dcgirl - I use the ball for chest exercises - you can also work your legs pretty well. Place the ball against the wall and lean back into it - at about the small of your back slowly squat down keeping your upper torso parallel to the floor (dont bend forward) and raise back up. You can do this standing on one leg also - but it helps to have someone in front of you to balance your hand on so you don't fall over:)  Another leg exercise is to lay on the floor and balance your ankles on the ball and place your armsunder you on the floor for balance. Raising your hips up off the ground - slowly roll the ball to your butt and back... start with 2 sets of 8 - you will feel this believe me!  you can use it for sit ups too!

there are so many ways to work the ball - i love mine - especially on days when I can't get to the gym!

i have the ball also and i LOVE IT!!!! I got it off the tv and it came with exercise tapes by Gunner Peterson. It is wonderful! I have a bad back and with his program my back never hurts!