Medicine balls are great for exercising your body but most of them come at an expensive price. They are around a  dollar a pound and the heavier they get the more expensive they become, but that's not a factor no more. Today medicine balls can be made for only a few dollars. 

What you need:

• Number one on your list is a basketball. This is the most important element you will need to make your ball. 
• A radial tire puncture plug kit, this is to make the hole on the ball. if you buy the kit it comes with a plunger and rasp. Also, buy some plugs you will need them.
• A funnel. This will be needed to insert whatever you are going to put inside the ball. whether it is rice or sand this makes the insertion more easier and if you can't buy a funnel make one! get any container on the shape of a funnel cut the top a you have a funnel.
• Shoe Goo. This seals the deal! Shoe Goo  keeps the whole ball together and sealed up after finished with  putting the element inside the ball.
• Sand or rice. If you want a light ball put some rice inside of it, but if you need a heavier ball simply get some sand. Sand can be found just about anywhere go to the beach and pick some up or buy some at the hardware store.

What to do:

1. Take the ball and jam a hole into it and run the ball over one eight of a turn and jam another hole. You will need to holes because one will be for the funnel and the other for the air to come out.
2. Insert a funnel into a hole and start pouring in the sand. This may be a slow process but the time is worth once you have your own medicine ball.
3. Closing the ball. This is the final step before acquiring your medicine ball. Once all the sand has been poured into the ball get the plunger and plug and jam  following the instructions of the package.
4. Now for the hard part. Get some Shoe Goo and put it on top of the plugs. Wait for a few hours and you will have your own medicine ball all ready to be used. 

Making a medicine ball may take a few hours but in the end it is worth it. You will have a cheap medicine ball for when you exercise and for a low cost as well.

Copley Family YMCA
Main Branch
3901 Landis St.
San Diego, CA 92105
(619) 283-2251
copley.ymca.org

Over the summer I learned how to swim.  I am not the best swimmer out there but I am decent.  Swimming is a good way to exercise and best of all its enjoyable. There is actually a community pool right here in City Heights between Fairmount Avenue and Landis Street.   But it is not the only one, less than a mile away there is another "not as big" pool at the YMCA on 43rd and Landis Street. They charge a fairly reasonable fee. The best part is the pool is inside!  That means that we can use the pool over the winter and not be cold!  Swimming is also a good way to do some exercise since the holidays are here and we do not want to start looking like Santa.  If swimming is not for you, don't worry the YMCA also offers: job trainings, group exercises, strength training, walking, yoga, personal fitness, tennis, football, in-line roller skate hockey, and so much more that you would get bored reading them all.  If you want to come back from Christmas break toned get a membership today at the YMCA and start working out.  And yes guys there is a gym so you can work out those muscles, six packs and maybe join one of the dozens of sports and activities offered at the YMCA. Did I mention there's scuba diving?  Go to www.copley.ymca.org to find out more.