I thought the obsession over exercising the core muscles was gone. Boy was I wrong! Just when you thought that trainers have finally got off the "core muscles workout" band wagon, another product springs out of nowhere. When did the core muscles become such a focal point that every exercise you perform has to somehow combine with a core stabilizing move? This is what the BallBike core and cardio workout is directly addressing and capitalizing their infomercials on.
Cardio And Exercise Ball Hybrid
The concept behind the BallBike is to simultaneously work your core muscles while utilizing a cardio bike. The infomercials claim that you can burn up to 700 calories in one hour since you are combining two workouts in one. The claim seems to be a little far-fetched, but I can see it as a smart marketing tool and nothing else. The marketing for its "effectiveness" is definitely enhanced when the infomercials say that the BallBike has 349% more core muscle activity than a traditional stationary bike. The problem lies with the concept of cause and effect. The traditional stationary bike has nothing to do with exercising the core. So in reality, doing a single ab crunch can potentially have a 349% more core muscle activity than the bike. I hope you see the point.
Don't Waste Your Time Or Money
If you are looking to shed some pounds, using the BallBike may be the slowest way to achieve results. If you aren't familiar with high intensity interval training, then you will be amazed how fast you can achieve results. Short bursts of intense efforts with 1-2 minutes of rest over a 15-20 minute range will burn way more calories than traditional cardio. With the BallBike, you simply can't exert as much effort into the cardio because you are bouncing around too much. It also doesn't look very natural to have your hips rocking all over the place while you are pedaling. The video looks about as bad as the Hawaii Chair!
Don't Get Caught Up In The "Core Exercise" Hype
I have seen some pretty crazy things over the years in the gym. Especially in regards to all the weird core exercises on Swiss balls, Bosu balls, exercise balls, and every other ball. If you workout with free weights, machines, and even your own bodyweight, you are actively and naturally working your core muscles. You core is also working to stabilize your body even when you are sprinting or hiking up the Stairmaster. From doing shoulder presses to squats, the core is ultimately worked for whole body stabilization. So there really is no need for that much focus and attention on core specific exercises.
Laser Focus Your Efforts On Diet And Strength Training
With any product you see on TV, always read the fine print. Their fine print reads "Weight loss achieved with the BallBike System, which includes reduced calorie New You Nutrition Plan. Results will vary depending on the frequency and intensity of exercise and what you eat." Did you notice how the "diet" portion was mentioned twice in the fine print. That is where the results come from. If you eat less calories than what you burn in a day, you lose fat. Eating more calories than what you burn in a day, you gain weight. It's a simple principle that people tend to ignore. Focus hard to cut back on the calories and implement strength training and high intensity interval training 3-4 times a week. You will surprise yourself how fast you can get in shape. A lot faster and cheaper than the BallBike core and cardio workout!
