Kettlebells over barbell? Really?

Smuterella

OK, so, I've finally decided to bite the bullet and start proper barbell based weight training and, to give myself a good start, I'm trying to find a trainer to teach me the correct form for the basic compound lifts and also to help me until I feel confident with the equipment.

This, however, has been a bit of a struggle.

For some reason, I don't know whether it is because i'm female or just because they are the current "fad", but everyone i approach is telling me to use kettlebells instead.

Are they really that superior? If so why do I hardly ever see anyone using them on here or at the gym?

Delicate

They could be trying to push kettle bell classes sometimes you have to pay for them.

Its not because your female, unless they give you a teeny weeny kettlebell.

But kettlebells are fun and most moves use your whole body.

Although I use kettlebells can be interchangeable with dumbbells alot of the time.

Cr01502

Kettlebells are great for circuit training. I throw them into my routine quite often.

However if your primary focus is strength training you really want the barbell.

Find a trainer who was/is focused on strength training or a strength training coach.

Vansy

I love barbell lifting; but I also enjoy tossing in kettle bell workouts that increase my heart rate between sets of lifting. Kettlebells are sometimes more fun than just lifting weights.

Smuterella

I dunno, I just think of them as things used in classes and as being a bit of a fad because of that. I can see the benefit of perhaps adding them later but I just really want to learn the basics - something I can use at any gym, most gyms here don't have a good selection of kbs, not the cheap gyms anyway.

I'll keep a-hunting!

Female_On_Fire

Kettlebells give your entire body a workout. You are getting cardio and strength training at the same time,they are fun and you can do it at home with one simple piece of equipment. I'm quite in love with them.

toomuchbootyindapants

I don't think they are superior per se, but I use them everyday in addition to barbell training. They are great for finishers as they do have that strength + cardio component. Proper form is a must though as it is easy to hurt yourself with them, especially at heavier weights.

1980karen

I love kettlebell training and ache in places I didn't know existed before hand! but I think it's just preference. I'd tell anyone to at least give it a go :-)

XXXMinnieXXX

Kettleworx is a great workout programme! X

BerryH

There's a nice little article explaining the benefits of both here:
http://news.menshealth.com/why-use-kettlebells/2012/02/29/

Bottom line: barbells are best for building strength, kettlebells are best for burning fat and increasing power endurance. They do also build strength, of course, but to a lesser degree.

For functional strength, such as being able to carry a new TV upstairs or demolish a wall with a sledgehammer, you can't go wrong combining both.

NatashaB8

I use kettlebells but that is because my gym only has a smith machine and I don't want to be locked in a fixed position.

I feel using kettlebells has helped a lot and I get a great workout from them, I feel shattered after it!

mmk137

i strength train and I don't use a barbell.

I do use free weights though.

do what you want, you'll find a way i'm sure.

chymerra

kettlebell workouts are INCREDIBLE. it improves hip drive, grip strength, tones all muscles in your body and improves cardiovascular endurance *all in one workout!* throw in some exercises tabata-style and you'll have a killer workout. i do KB/tabata workouts every saturday for 1hr and i'm WIPED after every workout.

Lupercalia

I don't know why you're seeing it as either/or. I make great use of both kettlebells and barbells in my workouts and have done each separately. They're both very good, and you can build explosive power, strength, and get a great workout from either or both. Do what you are interested in and like to do, that's what's best.

Lupercalia

I dunno, I just think of them as things used in classes and as being a bit of a fad because of that. I can see the benefit of perhaps adding them later but I just really want to learn the basics - something I can use at any gym, most gyms here don't have a good selection of kbs, not the cheap gyms anyway.

I'll keep a-hunting!

Oh right, kettlebells are that 300 year old "fad", haha. Seriously, I've never ever taken a KB class. I started using KBs at home, and still do that, but also use them every time I'm at the gym.

I'm you're not interested in KBs, do barbells! I hate to speak for everyone, but I would daresay you have our permission to exercise as you'd like to. :flowerforyou:

Smuterella

I'm seeing it as either / or as that is how the various trainers I have spoken to have raised it with me so far. Which I personally find rather odd.

IronSmasher

I love kettlebells but I use barbells for the majority of my strength training. I use kettlebells more for my conditioning and cardio.

Kettlebells are indeed a fad at the moment. The same as barefoot running, although over 4000000 years old, is a fad. Hula hooping is a fad, although I've no idea how long they've been around. As soon as uninformed people start using an approach purely due to it's popularity, it's a fad. Although it doesn't take anything away from the people already using the equipment effectively, it sure affects the industry, trainers, and the common knowledge of the equipment.
I think it's great that more and more people have the confidence to pick up kettlebells and start training, I just wish I'd seen more than 2 out of the hundreds I've seen do it have a clue.

If someone is randomly advising you to use equipment that does not represent your goals or interests, then I too would be very suspicious. There is absolutely nothing magical about kettlebells.

IronSmasher

kettlebell workouts are INCREDIBLE. it improves hip drive, grip strength, tones all muscles in your body and improves cardiovascular endurance *all in one workout!* throw in some exercises tabata-style and you'll have a killer workout. i do KB/tabata workouts every saturday for 1hr and i'm WIPED after every workout.

How do you make a 4min workout last 1hr?

IronSmasher

Kettleworx is a great workout programme! X

I disagree

ndj1979

I would say learn proper form for compound moves first ..once you have them down you can build a total body work out plan that incorporates kettle ball work outs into it if you want..

I do not really use kettle balls, except when I do a little plyo or something like that..but that is just me...

ilovedeadlifts

Anyone telling you to use kettlebells instead of a barbell is an idiot.

/thread

ArroganceInStep

I occassionally like kettlebells as a change of pace from dumbbells or for conditioning work, but I'd never personally use them over barbells.

jimmmer

Kettlebells can be a great conditioning tool. And are a lot of fun....

However, you can also do complexes with a barbell and get the same kind of metabolic training effect.

At the end of the day they're all tools and need to be chosen appropriately according to your goals. If you want pure strength, then you have to get under a bar at some point. But you can get some pretty f*cking heavy KBs and do sets of 5 and build strength. How far you can take this is probably limited at some point, but you'd get some mileage from single leg work, etc before you'd completely mined that seam, so to speak.

Personally on one of my "cardio/conditioning/whatever" type days I like to do barbell complexes and finish off with some KB's. Why make everything either/or?

Any well-rounded routine needs some strength, some conditioning and some flexibility/mobility type work in it. How you cash that out in terms of equipment is up to you and probably evolves with you over time as your strength/fitness changes.

contingencyplan

Kettlebells are a great conditioning tool and depending on your goals they MAY be all you need. However there comes a certain point where, depending on what your goals are, there is simply no replacement for a barbell with access to lots and lots of plates. IMO the only area where kettlebells really shine over barbells is when working out at home. It's a lot easier for people who prefer to do their workouts at home to get a few kettlebells than it is to get a squat rack with an olympic bar and a bench and hundreds of points of plates. Personally I think kettlebells are a lot more fun though.

CakeFit21

I prefer the barbell over KBs, but I use both and I think kettlebells are extremely useful.

it's definitely not an either/or type of thing. I think the most important part of this post is that you feel like you aren't being listened to. Find a trainer/coach that will give/teach you the skills the you want to learn. The workouts you enjoy are the ones you will stick with. That being said, kettlebells can be a ton of fun.

chymerra

kettlebell workouts are INCREDIBLE. it improves hip drive, grip strength, tones all muscles in your body and improves cardiovascular endurance *all in one workout!* throw in some exercises tabata-style and you'll have a killer workout. i do KB/tabata workouts every saturday for 1hr and i'm WIPED after every workout.

How do you make a 4min workout last 1hr?

all of the KB classes i've done aren't pure KB but mixed in with Tabata moves. KB lifts and swings are about half of that but then we alternate lifts/swings with things like burpees, plyo training, bear crawls, ab work, ab work with KBs etc.

DawnieB1977

I use kettlebells and barbells in my PT sessions, I guess they're good for different things. My gym doesn't leave them out for people to use as apparently some have been stolen. Much harder to get out of the gym with a barbell lol.

I was thinking of getting my own kettlebells to use at home.

MercenaryNoetic26

I love barbells. But I'll admit when doing Jamie Eason's LiveFit trainer, you can still get a great workout in with kettlebells. Though, she only used them for certain compound exercises.

I guess it depends on what you're doing and how much weight you're using whether or not it's going to be a challenge. When I think of barbells, I think of all the major/largest muscle groups. With barbells you have the ability to go higher and higher in distributed weight. Kettlebells are much like dummbells. How much weight can you bench with a kettlebell?

DavPul

Kettlebells are the current fad (sure, been around for 100 years, but tell me where you could buy one 10 years ago) but that doesn't mean you can't get in shape using them. Hell, you can get in shape with a heavy stone and a pull up bar. So try them and see how you like them.

IMO, get the trainer to teach you correct form on the basic compound lifts. If you switch gyms or go on vacation or whatever, you'll always be able to find benches, barbells and racks. Most commercial gyms do not have KB equipment.

ahamm002

For some reason, I don't know whether it is because i'm female or just because they are the current "fad", but everyone i approach is telling me to use kettlebells instead.

Are they really that superior? If so why do I hardly ever see anyone using them on here or at the gym?

You need to be more assertive. Tell your personal trainer that you want to learn the basic compound barbel lifts FIRST! If they can't teach you those lifts, then ask them to refer you to a trainer who can.

misssiri

I'll speak for myself when I say that kettlebell training was my first exposure to deadlifting and I bet you that is the case for many females posting here.

Yes, they are great but I would go with the barbell training. Learn the compound movements like deadlifting and you will be able to lift a lot heavier a lot faster than if you use kettlebells. You can incorporate kettlebells later if you want. They are fun.