Who else loves Kettlebells???

Kettlebells started my love affair with fitness. I love them. Swings, farmer carries and bottoms up exercises are my favourites. I quite like cleans, too - took me ages and a load of bruises to master them.

I have over 300 lbs of kettlebells, it's my only strength training equipment. I don't need a lot of space and the types of moves are limitless.

I do wonder, however, if I will be able to build as much muscle/strength with them as I did previously with heavy barbell workouts a few years ago. In a few months when I've removed this layer of fat I'll start to find out.

I love kettlebells. They’re fun and the moves are different. I mix up the different moves in a tabata style workout. I also like Jillian Michael’s Shred It with Weights. I feel like I’m getting a good total body workout with kettlebells.

I prefer the one arm swings to the two arm swings. I think because having to switch arms between swings keeps me engaged. My least favorite move is the Woodchopper. I honestly think it’s because I dislike the move so much that I’m more focused on getting through it than my form. I also dislike the figure 8. I just can’t get it. I’m sure I’m not doing it right, so I feel like I’m not getting much out of it.

My favorite is the Turkish get up. It’s so hard but so good!

msapplek wrote: »

I'm intrigued by kettlebells and everyone's high praises here have me wanting to get started as soon as my current strength training program concludes next week!

I was looking at the kettlebells online, and the cheapest one from Walmart is an all iron cast one, while the vinyl coated start about $20 more. Is it better to invest in the vinyl coated one? Am I okay to start with just one kettlebell, or should I purchase a pair like I do with dumbbells? I've swung my 20lb dumbbell like a kettlebell in one of my workouts. Would it be worth it to go up to 25lb, just to add to the variety of my other dumbbell weights (I only have 10, 20 and 35lbs).

Almost all of the kettlebell moves can be performed with a single kettlebell. You are better off spending money on different sizes than buying pairs. There is some added value (more stabilization required, higher calorie burn per minute) in doing some of the moves with pairs but it's more advanced.

Some of mine are vinyl coated, some aren't. As far as I know (others may have more info) it is cosmetic.

I'm male and not a newbie to strength training (although I've been out of it for several years) and I started out using mostly my 20, 30 and 40 lb. My wife has never really done much training and she mostly uses the 10 and 15 lb. The set she uses are also bigger profile than mine for the same weight which she prefers because she needs to put both hands on them for some moves. Her 15lb kettlebell is the same size as my 40 lb.

Here are some samples for the ones I've purchased:
5, 10 and 15 lb set for my wife: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073XB2W4B/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

35 lber: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0731FCS7T/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

msapplek wrote: »

I'm intrigued by kettlebells and everyone's high praises here have me wanting to get started as soon as my current strength training program concludes next week!

I was looking at the kettlebells online, and the cheapest one from Walmart is an all iron cast one, while the vinyl coated start about $20 more. Is it better to invest in the vinyl coated one? Am I okay to start with just one kettlebell, or should I purchase a pair like I do with dumbbells? I've swung my 20lb dumbbell like a kettlebell in one of my workouts. Would it be worth it to go up to 25lb, just to add to the variety of my other dumbbell weights (I only have 10, 20 and 35lbs).

I prefer the vinyl because they come in different colors 😊. Maybe it’s the brand ( I think it may have been a cheap one from Walmart) but I purchased an all iron cast one and found that the handle was rough, not sanded down, which irritated my hand a bit. But I bought weight gloves and problem solved. Other than that, I like both the iron casts and vinyl bells.

I don’t see the need to purchase pairs when you’re just starting out.

I’ve always loved this workout but I’m not sure about her kettlebell swings form - looks more like a squat than a hip hinge, but you and others who are more knowledgeable could chime in.

https://youtu.be/6pDMOIlPLFE

I also love her kettlebell abs workouts. I prefer the standing because they’re easier on my lower back, but she has more.

https://youtu.be/N6OiTjUszAY

I really like KB's but I've dropped off this year , did some yesterday for first time
Starting mid Nov. and every day December I did 700+ one arm swings a day with 15kg/33lb
I was using it as cardio 22 swings on the minute and then finishing 100+ none stop
Going heavier was hard - 200+ 15kg swings none stop vs 70 with a 20kg
They showed up some major imbalances tho' which will never be right

CeeBeeSlim wrote: »

I’ve always loved this workout but I’m not sure about her kettlebell swings form - looks more like a squat than a hip hinge, but you and others who are more knowledgeable could chime in.

You're correct. It's the thrust of the hips that propels the kettlebell forward. The video below could have been made in the same training center by the trainers who taught me. It took weeks of drills to learn.

Everything said in this video is spot on and important. The start position, hike, hinge (not squat), then the forceful thrust of the KB forward with the power of the hips, and finally letting gravity bring the KB back to the hips, for another forceful thrust. I probably don't explain it perfectly, but that's why we are able to link to videos that do!

https://menshealth.com/fitness/a28439541/kettlebell-swing-form/