Are you interested in burning fat, building muscle and increasing strength and stamina? Then kettlebell training is for you! What is a kettlebell?
Imagine a cannonball with a handle and you're pretty much there. Kettlebells come in a variety of sizes and can be used by men or women. They start off at 4kg for women or absolute beginners with no experience of resistance training and move up to 8, 12 or 16kg for beginners, 20, 24 or 28kg for more experienced or advanced men or women and up to 32, 40, 48 and even 60kg for the real hardcore! You can do a wide range of exercises with kettlebells such as presses and curls but it is with the fast, ballistic exercises such as snatches, swings, cleans and jerks that kettlebell training really comes into its own. As well as the incredible explosive, lean strength and muscular endurance that you will develop; kettlebell training alongside a proper nutrition plan will see any excess body fat that you may have simply melt away... You will develop a strong, defined core and abdominal section as well as increasing shoulder strength, stability and flexibility. For women that want to lose weight and tone up their bums, thighs, hips, stomach and arms - a steady diet of kettlebell training ballistic work with some low rep kettlebell strength training will give you the kind of results you could previously only dream of.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is kettlebell training the ultimate way to train?
A: There is no one solution to training. Kettlebell training is an incredibly effective and enjoyable way of training but it doesn't replace all other forms of exercise. It should be used in addition to a balance and structured exercise program.
Q: Are kettlebell exercises dangerous?
A: Only when performed with bad technique or form! But then so is every other form of exercise. If performed correctly and with a qualified instructor to teach you the correct techniques and to watch and advise when you're starting out, kettlebell training is at least as safe as any other form of exercise. And certainly more effective!
Of course there will always be someone out there who will buy a kettlebell that is too heavy for them, try to learn to use it by watching videos on youtube and then be surprised when they get injured!
Q: Is kettlebell training effective for fat loss?
A: Absolutely, but only in conjunction with a good diet. Fat loss is 70% diet and 30% training. Kettlebell training is extremely effective in boosting your metabolism and burning those extra calories but don't for a moment think that it can make up for a bad diet! However, alongside a clean balanced diet there is nothing that will burn fat like kettlebells!
Q: Is Kettlebell training effective for building muscle?
A: As with barbells and dumbells, kettlebells are simply another form of weight training. So just as free weights are effective for building muscle, so can be kettlebells. The difference with kettlebell training is that due to the ballistic nature of the majority of exercises, kettlebells are better suited for building lean, explosive strength. If you are looking simply to bulk up then static barbell and dumbell lifts are the way to go, but for a defined muscular physique, a combination of kettlebells and free weights is the answer.
Q: I want to get stronger without getting bigger. Is kettlebell training for me?
A: Yes, and this is one of the most popular benefits of kettlebell training. Women for example love kettlebell training as it helps them tone up and lose fat without over developing muscles and kettlebell training is also extremely popular with the armed forces, martial arts players and UFC fighters as it helps them increase their strength, speed and agility without bulking up.
Q: Do women use kettlebells?
A: Yes! I train more women than men with kettlebells, and a lot of the exercises we perform are aimed at tightening up the glutes (bum) and hamstrings as well as strengthening the stomach and mid section. A lot of women think that training with any kind of weights will immediately turn them into some kind of bodybuilder! Fortunately there are many female kettlebell instructors out there who are perfect examples of the effects of kettlebell training on women and two of the most famous female instructors in the States are Lisa Schaffer (www.nofearfitness.com) and Lauren Brooks (www.socaltrainer.com). Have a look at their sites if you still have any doubts of the benefits of kettlebell training for women. Book you FREE First Session here! |