You would have to be a hermit not to know about dramatic rise of obesity levels in North America. Health issues have been plastered around media non stop for better part of last five years. The problem is that for most part message has been falling short of its mark. There are more obese people in 2004 then there were in 2003. The number of diet related health complications is growing and children are ballooning at a rate comparable to their adult counterparts. On flip side, health industry has been showing strong signs of growth, with one in four women and one in five men on a diet at any given time. While times have been tight financially, people have been opening up their wallets in record numbers to by fitness products and gym memberships.

So bottom line is that while people are actively aware of health and fitness concerns, and are spending more then ever before on products and services to battle poor fitness, North America as a whole is getting fatter. It seems like a contradiction but it is truth none less. For one thing, most people try to fix their health and then give up because it is too challenging. Often they lack support from friends and family or even proper skill set to be successful.

So there I was, a gangly, ungainly guy standing in a giant aerobics studio surrounded by mirrors. Next to me on floor was a fitness ball. I had never used a fitness ball, in fact I had never even heard of a fitness ball. None less, there I was. My work out partner, in far better shape then I, was going to show me how to use ball to make my ab routine more excruciatingly effective.

The whole premise of this heightened routine was to center around crunch. For those of you who don't know what a crunch is, a crunch is like doing a sit up without actually sitting up. In fact, whole motion of a crunch is to keep your abs constantly flexed. I had always thought that crunches were like doing push ups on you knees – a bit of a cop out. I was wrong.

The thing about your abs is that unlike other muscle groups they can take a lot. When you work your abs, it takes a lot to get them going. What is really different about abs is that they bulge in their relaxed state and are stretched thin when flexed. Think about your leg muscles for a second. Your quads bulge when you flex them. Abs are other way around.

Getting myself on to fitness ball was an exercise in patients. Having never used one before, it was awkward and it felt really odd. This is due in part to my rather uncoordinated nature, and yes I am a horrible dancer. What really made it difficult for me to position myself correctly on ball was fact I was laughing hysterically. Being in aerobics studio surrounded by mirrors, gave me multiple angles from which to watch my floundering.