Kettlebells Are Making Me Stronger
I've done seven weeks of kettlebells, and even with only one session a week I've noticed a big difference in my body.
For one, my butt has changed shape. Almost three years of running, squats and lunges, and yoga didn't do this.
My newly toned backside makes sense, as we do upwards of 200 swings during every class, which amounts to lots and lots of work on that posterior chain (think hamstrings and glutes). And thanks to Jen, I always think of squeezing the invisible quarter in my bum and between my shoulders in order to activate the right muscles and protect my back.
In the past, I've never had a very successful go at strength training. Something about the grunting and high-school-weight-room memories I associated with it, I guess. It seemed intimidating and boring (I like to be outside, wind in my hair. I'm like a dog that way. Weight lifting seemed like such a "go to the gym" activity).
Kettlebells is one of the first times I've made the connection between fun and strength training. You get to swing heavy things around! And pretend you're a hardcore Russian spy! I love that I'm using my whole body (my smarter-than-me-about-this-stuff coworkers have all echoed how important this sort of functional training is).
I hope to keep building my strength once this 8-week class is done and find even more full-body workouts. I read about all kinds of fun stuff (TRX, outdoor strength training, band workouts, and on and on), but I've always felt too novice to even attempt them. You're talking to a girl who can barely do knee push-ups, let alone a full on pull-up.
But my confidence is building, and so are my muscles. So let's keep this train moving!
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Find more info, and fun k-bell exercises, in this article.
(Photo by ldanka.)
Good information on the kettlebells! For some reason, I am fascinated with them lately and am dying to try them.
Karen, I totally recommend trying out kettlebells. It's been so fun! But definitely start with a trainer (whether it's in a class or small group) who knows what they're doing -- it's the sort of thing that could easily lead to injury if your technique is off. Good luck!
I biught a book on Kettelbells. It was written by a "Pavel" who is the Russian Kettelbell god!! Just remember to keep your back straight. Don't arch or round your back. One of the exercises the book recommends is the "Kettelbell Swings". However, they had you bring a pair of dice and that is HOW LONG you had to do the swings. I swear that for a week, I rolled nothing lower than a 10!! That is 10 minutes of swings.
very good
Hi I am a 48 year guy and have been using kettlebells off and on for the last 4 years. They are a great workout. Just dont start with one that is too heavy. I first bought a 62 lb one and it pulled my shoulder and I sold it and bought a 44 lbs one. I do passes and swings. The swings are the best exercise that I have ever done in my life. They hit every muscle group except your shoulders. That is why I do passes for those.
Congrats Kaeti, you're a tiny minority of women who have managed to find the right exercise to tone up their bodies.
Sadly too many women try out silly fad diets and boring exercises machines that don't motivate them to carry on exercising or sticking to thei diet.
Kettlebells are fun and they tone up your thighs and glutes and increase your metabolism which shreds fat.