I used to have terrible lower back problems. I work at a desk all day long, and then go home and sit at my computer desk all night. Then I lie down to sleep, and repeat. Well, not quite, I do jog some afternoons and play tennis and that sort of thing, but exercise is an issue for me.

It culminated in me ending up stuck in bed for days at a time, once or twice a year, on painkillers and muscle relaxants, trying to deal with major lower back pain. I had a good chiropractor recommended by a friend, and he worked wonders, but said that he’d fixed me for now, but it would be back in no time. After going over my lifestyle, he told me to go buy a nice big exercise ball.

Here it comes, I thought: 1000 situps a day for the next 14 years, and after that I can slow down.

Nope. Take your exercise ball, sit it in front of your computer, throw away your chair, and sit on the exercise ball.

I’m about a month in. It was a little tiring at first, but my posture is better, my back pain is gone, I’m starting to develop ab muscles that you can actually see, and I’m generally feeling better all ’round. Now, I actually find it fun. I can sit and fidget, roll on it a bit, bounce, and every little bit is burning more energy than sitting still in a chair, and helping develop core strength.