Resident creates, markets new exercise equipment

Southwest Las Vegas resident Jerry Abbott is on the ball -- literally -- when it comes to business.

He's the inventor of the Torsoball, a new exercise product that maintains the virtues of the exercise ball, with a few adjustments, which, according to Abbott, have revolutionized the design and made three-minute workouts a reality.

"I have always been interested in personal fitness," he said. "I was a trainer for years."

Abbott, who has worked as a day trader for the past several years, said he got the idea for the Torsoball a few years ago while watching someone work out with a classic exercise ball.

"It occurred to me that while those items are very popular, they aren't very safe," he said. "There's nothing to stabilize you, nothing to grab on to. You're just rolling around on the floor, which makes it very easy to get hurt."

Abbott said his invention features two handles with a weight-bearing beam through the center of the ball that allows for rotation and gripping.

"You can use it for abdomen-specific exercises or a full-body workout," he said. "That's how it's been designed."

Abbott said he drew up the plans for the Torsoball with an engineer and had a prototype made.

"After testing, I decided I really had something here," he said. "You can do cardio, strengthening, conditioning; anything you could want from a workout, the Torsoball can deliver."

Abbottt said 1,000 balls have been manufactured, but he believes that number will need to be more than doubled over the next several months.

"I have had a lot of commercial interest from big retailers interested in carrying the product," he said. "On top of that, we've just finished shooting an infomercial. I think it is going to be big."

So far, several hundred balls have sold, but Abbott is confident that once word gets out, it will become one of the most popular exercise tools available.

"What else can tell you that if you do this three times per week for three minutes a day, you will see a difference in your body ?" he asked .

Abbott said he has designed two exercise programs, along with a nutritional booklet and exercise DVD, which are sold with the ball for $99.

"I call the first plan the One and Done workout because it targets abs," he said. "You roll the ball on the floor, sustaining it with your upper body, and it really works your core area. That's a very basic description."

The second program, according to Abbott, is a full-body workout.

Las Vegas resident Pamela Merida said she is a huge fan of the ball.

"It beats going to the gym for hours on end, that's for sure," she said. "He isn't kidding when he says you spend a few minutes exercising and see a real difference. My clothes are already looser than they were three weeks ago."

Abbott said he hopes to see the product go global.

"I think it will in a very short period of time," he said. "The great thing about my product is that you don't have to be in shape to get started. You can do it at home. You can do it with kids around. You can do it if you have health problems because it's lightweight, no impact. This is an exercise tool for every man or woman."

For more information, visit www.torsoball.com.

Contact Southwest and Spring Valley View reporter Amanda Llewellyn at allewellyn@viewnews.com or 380-4535.