Kettlebells!!! Not Jingle Bells :)

JRobbo_100

Hi folks,

My mum has bought me a kettlebell for christmas - so in preparation I've been looking at form and can see that there is room for error and injury so I'm freaking out a lil bit .:noway:

I'm starting off with a 6kg - which I'm now worried it may be too much to start with - I'm not a big weights fan though I do use a 4kg medicine ball now and again for toning exercises (home gym). I've always thought that you bulk up by using weights (I have big biceps from when I trained as a youngster with my dad so the fear as carried through my adulthood.

However, I have seen some before & after threads on MFP and some peops are looking mighty finely sculpted through using weights so now I'm a believer it could be the booster I need. I'm aiming to get sculpted and drop some pounds as I'm getting married next September.

I've been trying to do a bit of research on KBs. I haven't started yet so am reading a lot about how there can be bad technique. I've bought a Bob Harper DVD and one of the previous KB threads someone says don't listen to him or JM... eeek not a good start. I've had a little watch of the DVD and a few of the exercises (and those I've seen on youtube too) seem to pop at the knees which I'm also a bit concerned about as I haven't got the strongest of knees.

I've also just found out that you can get an adjustable KB. Does anybody have one/recommend.

Does anybody have any advice/tips/websites they recommend.

Appreciate your time :drinker: :drinker:

J from the UK

DR2501

Most of the DVD's don't show you 'true' kettlebell exercises unfortunately. Try having a look on T Nation or download some kettlebell apps.

The first move you need to learn is the swing - its the foundation for most of the others. 6KG should be fine for this BTW, my fiance started with this

Best foundation exercises IMO are:

Swing
Goblet squat
Clean
Thruster
Clean & push press (progressing to clean and press)
High Pulls

And when you're a bit more advanced, the snatch is F awesome

Also, not right away, but when you're a bit further on try doing the moves as Tabata sets for an awesome workout - strength and cardio all in one.

Feel free to add me as a friend if I can help further, I love kettlebells so I'm happy to help

WalkingAlong

I started with a 8kg and quickly bought a 12. Check out livefitrevolution.org for tons of free info and workouts. You have to register but there's no spam and it's a good org. She's RKC certified.

MisterDerpington

Swings and Goblet Squats are awesome. I'm sure there's a lot more you can do with them too. Like any other free weight, they can be pretty versatile, but you'll need to increase the weight as you get stronger.

FrnkLft

Since you're new, I HIGHLY recommend you buy and read New Rules of Lifting for Women. It's a very accessible book with tons of information for women on lifting weight and dieting (does a lot of myth busting too, which is great). I would start here no matter what you endup doing. I'm not kidding, you'll thank me.

And weights are weights, whether it's a kettlebell or dumbbell or barbell. Nothing special about any of them really.

Also, I highly doubt your biceps are larger that the woman in your profile picture... and she is sexy as hell. So...

JRobbo_100

Thanks a lot folks, I'll have a look at the suggested sites/books.

schnarfo

I love kettlebells and use them all the time. I started with a 4 which was really too Light and quickly went to an 8 for arm activities and 12 for swings squats and deadlifts. I used an app for the iPhone/iPad which showed me a routine and videos of how to do it and its fab!! It's a woman that presents it - Tracey I think? Brill though - 3 routines. The one I do is the fat loss and tone and takes about 10 mins to do