Hey Guys!

Having recently bought my first Kettlebell (long overdue, but still, I have it now) I am enjoying smashing through some routines in the backyard!

I have some literature from the great Pavel himself so I am in safe hands to get started.

However, I wanted to find out who else actually uses them and what results everyone is having? The marketing literature tells me I will turn into a wiry fella with the potential to turn into the Incredible Hulk at the drop of a hat.

From peoples experiences is this true or just marketing hype?

Either way I'm having a blast with it, though I am interested to know

Keep up the Intensity

Warrior

I have two kettlebells, a 1-pood and a 1.5-pood. I enjoy working with them as the movement is just so smooth (once you get the hang of it and the bruises on your forearms heal).

When I first started using them, I noticed a lot of stablizer muscle soreness throughout my body, which makes sense when you're mostly doing one-arm at a time exercise like C&P, and snatches. I also think swings are awesome because they're just so draining.

I think kettlebells are suffering a bit from marketing hype though. They're an awesome tool, but not a panacea. I mean, in a pinch, you can use a dumbbell for pretty much anything you can do with a KB. It won't be as comfortable or as smooth but I doubt there'd be much functional difference.

But it sure wouldn't be as fun.

Cheers Splint!

So you're saying the spiel is way over hyped. Interesting

How do you fit it into your routine at the moment? Do you mix it up with free weights?

I'm primarily doing the Crossfit WODs now and for the past 2.5 months or so. Some of those routines call for kettlebells as part of certain met-con workouts like "Helen":

Three rounds for time:
Run 400 meters
1 1/2 pood Kettlebell X 21 swings (or 55 pound dumbbell swing)
12 Pull-ups

But I often do other work after the Crossfit WOD with kettlebells, working on form and flexibility. I also use swings to warm-up when I'm at home. I basically just throw in exercises like turkish get-ups, and windmills after workouts when I've still got a bit of energy to burn or if I feel I need to work on a movement, like snatches or overhead squats, for example.

Cheers for your input Splint I appreciate that

Keep up the Intensity!!

Just stopped by to see what the heck are kettlebells...I think I'll go search it...

You must have heard of them!

Stick it in Google or better still, check out dragondoor.com

Amy - here are some video demos of kettlebell exercises. Now you know what the creatures are!

http://www.physicalfitnet.com/exercise_video_brows e_by/equipment-kettlebell.aspx

I've started with Kettlebell just recently and it's so great.

After just 1 month with them, I was able to beat my until then dead-lift record from my good days when i was fit.
Even though I am not even near to lose the weight / BF% i wanted, i am gaining a lot of strength and endurance.

Can't wait to meet Pavel next year in Copenhagen.

Your meeting Pavel??

You lucky lucky thing!!

That is something I have to make happen for myself, the guy is a legend!!

Better practice first though so I don't show myself up.



Would be interested if you could share what exercises you used and how you put it into a routine. This sounds the business!

Anybody use these for bench presses and other heavy-weight exercises? I prefer to lift at home, but my dumb bells aren't heavy enough for some things. Was thinking about getting a few heavy kettlebells. Of course, it's sort of a big investment for fixed weights...

I'd just get a single modest weighted kettlebell and get cracking. Thats what I did.

Its cheap as chips and gives a great workout!!