Fun Friday: check out this hot “Kettlebella” :)

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Many years ago I joined forces with an awesome fitness coach. He was short, muscled and seriously serious about fitness. No problem. I was in for the long haul.

We started out slowly and I remember the day I got to do what almost everyone else was doing: swinging kettlebells. The exercise had always intrigued me but research had shown that it was a great way to build muscle, get stronger and make my fat cry a lot aka sweat.

After a few months I had dropped two dress sizes, could easily lift a crate of soda with one arm and loved feeling good about my body. It was a good time in my life.

Today though I have been kidnapped by menopause.  The heaviest I have ever weighed in my adult life, two dresses bigger and constantly sweating, I am definitely not a happy camper.  And it doesn’t matter how much I exercise or how little I eat, nothing changes.  It’s been three years now so I’m hoping I’m closer to the end than the beginning. Guess we’ll see.

In the meantime click on the links below for more info on this super fat-burning exercise – that really works 🙂

Article I: What is a Kettlebell?

“The kettlebell or girya (Russian: ги́ря) is a cast-iron or cast steel weight (resembling a cannonball with a handle) used to performballistic exercises that combine cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training. They are also the primary equipment used in the weight lifting sport of girevoy sport. Russian kettlebells are traditionally measured in weight by pood, which (rounded to metric units) is defined as 16 kilograms (35 lb).” Read more

Article II: History of the Kettlebell

Excerpt: “In Russia, kettlebells are a matter of national pride and a symbol of strength .Unlike most national armed forces, which test their soldiers with push ups; the Russian armed forces test their soldiers using the high volume kettlebell snatches with a 24 kg kettlebell (Tsatouline, 2006).  In 1981, the Russian government recognized the various benefits that kettlebells could provide its working citizens; and an official commission enforced mandatory kettlebell training for the masses, relying on the kettlebell to increase productivity and to decrease the healthcare costs of the country (Sanchez, 2009, p 7).”   Read more

Article III: Some Kettlebell Exercises

“Kettlebells are all bells, no whistles. Resembling a mini bowling ball with a handle,kettlebells are great for cardio, strength, and flexibility training . Start by picking up the weight of your choice—women usually grab between eight and 16 kg weights, while men go for 16 to 32 kg, though these weights vary depending on the exercises of choice. (No harm in starting low and working your way up!).”  Read more