Still not sure if you want to start training with a Kettlebell? Well, then check out these hot bodies developed by Kettlebell training:
Hot Kettlebell Body #1: Missy Beaver
Missy Beaver RKC is Katherine Heigle’s (Knocked Up) trainer. She trains heavy, and she trains hard.
Hot Kettlebell Body #2: Lance Armstrong
Here’s a classic pic of Lance Armstrong swinging a Kettlebell. Look at how every single muscle in his body is working hard.
Hot Kettlebell Body #3: Katherine Heigle
Katherine Heigle was always hot, but Kettlebells just made them hotter. Thanks Russian Special Forces!
Hot Kettlebell Body #4: Mathew Mcconaughey
This guy is all muscle and we works with Kettlebells as well. He’s proof that Kettlebells can helps you lose fat, and build lean muscle mass.
Hot Kettlebell Body #5: Geri Helliwell
Kettlebells helped this former Spice Girl slim down and reveal a nice six pack. I used to listen to Spice Girls all the time.
Hot Kettlebell Body #6: Jessica Biel
Used to watch her on 7th Heaven, and now look at her! She got into fighting shape for Blade Trinity and now she’s going to be kicking butt in A-Team.
Hot Kettlebell Body #7: Channing Tatum
Channing Tatum’s trainer said, ‘He needed to have strength, flexibility and endurance so I came up with a routine of rope turns and calisthenic bodyweight exercises, such as jumping jacks, burpees, press-ups, pull-ups and squats, to help him build that. I also threw in some classic compound moves using barbells and kettlebells.’ Nice, my kind of workouts!
Hot Kettlebell Body #8: Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston began using Kettlebells in 2007 to improve her already hot body. She’s come a long way since “Friends.”
Hot Kettlebell Body #9: Sylvestor Stallone
Sylvestor Stallone used Kettlebells as part of his montage to train for his most important fight ever.
Kettlebells has proven to be extremely popular amongst celebrities. What are you waiting for?
Kettlebells are not a fad. They’re not a gimmick. They’re not your Tony Little’s Gazelle Free Style, or Tae Bo. Kettlebells can be used for a variety of goals: strength, mass, athletic endurance, etc.
Celebrities like Katherine Heigel, Sylvester Stallone and Lance Armstrong use to improve their body composition and burn tons of calories per day. Kettlebells are basically a cold, hard, piece of iron that is an incredible fat loss tool.
The key to losing fat with Kettlebells is to perform big, compound movements that work lots of muscle at once such as the Kettlebell swing, clean, and snatch. Most people never do any big compound movements, which is the reason why they never achieve the kind of fat loss they strive for.
Bodyweight movements such as pushups, squats, and pullups are my favorite form of exercise. This is because they engage lots of muscle groups at once. However, the Kettlebell actually works even more muscle than regular bodyweight movements.
The only thing that engages more muscle that Kettlebell training are big Olympic lifts you perform with a barbell such as the Snatch, Clean, and Push Jerk. But that’s the thing – you’re doing modifications of these Olympic movements with the Kettlebell.
You can also do these modified versions with Dumbbells. But, because of the Kettlebell’s unique cannonball shape, with the thick handle, you’re forcing your body to activate more stabilizer muscles to control the weight.
Kettlebell will always feel heavier than dumbbells. With a dumbbell, the weight is evenly distributed to either side with a nice, comfortable handle in the middle. The Kettlebell has no nice, comfortable handle in the middle.
You’re literally carrying a huge chunk of iron. But, this huge chunk of iron is what helps us perform better in our daily lives. For example, for people who travel with big suitcases – there’s no nice handle right in the middle, is there?
If there was, the suitcase would be easier to carry, but no. It’s basically a large bulky weight with a single handle. Most things in life that we carry are designed this way.
We need hoist things, not curl things. The bottom line is that the Kettlebell is more efficient, more practical, and more challenging then any other fitness equipment out there.
For more intense Kettlebell workouts, exercises and training ideas, check out Turbulence Training Kettlebell Revolution. Click here for more information.
Everyone wants to be lean and ripped. Even guys who want to be big want to be lean. Even guys who say, “I don’t care about being fat,” actually do care about being fat, and they want to loose their gut.
Structuring a Kettlebells workout for Fat Loss can either be the most painful thing you’ve ever done, or the easiest. I prefer to keep think rather simple, so that my workouts come out painful and intense.
Steady State Cardio – Practical No More
For years, coaches and trainers have been telling people to perform distance cardio in order to burn fat. The more cardio you do, the more fat you burn. Well, at first everyone was getting results.
However, as our society became more and more competitive in every aspect of life, and the average individuals free time diminished to that of being able to eat dinner, doing tons of cardio each week was no longer a practical approach.
Luckily, the past decade and half (or more), trainers have developed a new method of fat loss: interval training. World class trainers such as CraigBallantyne and Chris Lopez point to interval training as being the best way to burn fat without spending hours at a time on a treadmill.
Here’s how it works: you choose a form of exercise and perform it at a high intensity level for a short period of time, say 30 seconds. Then you rest as long as you need to recover and repeat.
Beginners can start off with 30 seconds work, 2 minutes rest, and perform that cycle for 15-20 minutes. At first, this new Interval Training method was a big hit. And most people either performed sprints or cycle sprints.
Interval Training with Kettlebells
However, lately, due to the popularity of bodyweight, dumbbell, and Kettlebell training, people have been using strength exercises to perform Interval Training. This has erupted into a whole different debate when it comes to steady state cardio vs. interval cardio.
Because now, people are starting literally combine their strength and cardio sessions into one. They’re cutting both their time andbodyfat in half. On top of that, the strength training stimulus is helping people pack on muscle mass.
Even though there are many different ways to structure a fat burning plan using Kettlebells, you’re better off starting off with interval training. Simply choose an exercise that you can perform for high repetitions, say Kettlebell Swings, and set a work and rest scheme.
Start off with 30 seconds work and 2 minutes rest, and gradually decrease your rest period until you’re able to perform 30 seconds work with 30 seconds rest. This is going to be the easiest way to get started on your fat loss plan.
One of the best ways to help you with your intervals is to use the GymBoss Interval Timer. It costs just $19.95, and you can program it to help you keep track of any sort of intervals you may use. Click here to grab yours today.
Advanced Fat Loss
Once you’ve been able to do a 30/30 interval scheme, start to experiment with other training methods. You can do superset, trisets, or circuit training. These three training methods are all about performing 2,3, 4, or more exercises back to back with limited rest between each set.
Supersets is another great way to lose fat and pack on muscle mass. For more intense Kettlebell workouts, exercises and training ideas, check out Turbulence Training Kettlebell Revolution. Click here for more information.
The Kettlebell Revolution Fat Loss System is a training program developed by Turbulence Training Author Craig Ballantyne and Turbulence Training Certified Trainer Chris Lopez. Out of all the Kettlebell Fat Loss systems out there, Chris Lopez’s system is the only one that uses the famous Turbulence Training method of training.
Who is Craig Ballantyne?
Craig Ballantyne is the author of the Turbulence Training fat loss system and has been published in top fitness publications such as Mens Health, Mens Fitness, and Oxygen. His top selling Turbulence Training system has helped hundreds of thousands of individuals around the world lose fat fast in the comfort of their own homes.
Who is Chris Lopez?
Chris Lopez is a certified Turbulence Training instructor and the author of the Kettlebell Revolution for Fat Loss system. He has combined his own knowledge of Kettlebell Training with the Turbulence Training system to develop an incredible fat loss system proven to help you improve your body in the comfort of your own home.
Lets review some of the pros and cons of this program:
Pros:
You do not need to take an hour-long kettlebell class or hire an expensive Kettlebell trainer. This system will show you how to perform each and every Kettlebell program safely and effectively. You’ll save lots of money while getting incredible workouts!
All you need is one Kettlebell. I know from experience most people that are new to Kettlebell training only buy one Kettlebell to start off. You may want to purchase more Kettlebells as you progress and get stronger, but you do not need to buy a full set of Kettlebells to make this program work for you.
The workouts just last 15-20 minutes. So you’re not only saving a lot of money, but you’re also saving a lot of time. If you’re like me and live a busy lifestyle, than these workouts are absolutely invaluable! Imagine getting up in the morning, getting a 15-20 minute workout, and just going on about your day without having to worry about going to the gym.
This system is backed by the trust and support of famous home fitness coach Craig Ballantyne. So Chris Lopez isn’t just some random trainer trying to push another fitness program. Craig Ballantyne would not partner up with someone if he did not believe in the training program itself.
Cons:
The only one drawback is that you will need to purchase a Kettlebell if you do not have one already. However, this is a small investment compared to all the expensive home gyms that are floating around. And honestly, a Kettlebell is 20 times more effective than a Dumbbell.
Additional Benefits:
Workout at anytime and anywhere with your Kettlebell. Even if you’re going on a road trip, you can just put your Kettlebell in your trunk and workout at a random rest stop. Don’t worry, no one will stare. Even if they do, who cares! You’ll be in shape!
Kettlebell Revolution is based on the time-tested principles of Turbulence Training. Chris Lopez has used his unique blend of Turbulence Training Kettlebell workouts to help his clients lose fat faster than any other trainer’s clients at the gym. In short, you know this system works.
The Number One Reason Why You should Purchase the Kettlebell Revolution Fat Loss System:
Out of all the benefits of this system, there’s really only one reason that I personally love the program – You can get a great workout and actually attain results with just a few minutes a day, 3 days a week! I love fast, intense workout, and Chris Lopez’s workouts are certainly fast and intense.
The Kettlebell Revolution Fat Loss System is ideal for…
Busy professionals who have very little time to workout
Busy moms who want to stay in shape despite a hectic schedule
Students have limited time, space, and money to workout
Average Joes who want to get in shape at home without going to the gym
Overweight individuals who are tired of boring workouts that don’t produce results
What You Get:
The basic package includes:
The Turbulence Training Kettlebell Fat Loss Training System Workouts
The Turbulence Training Kettlebell Revolution Quickstart Coaching Guide
The Kettlebell Workouts For Women Program
This $203 value is yours for just $57!
But, there’s another, bigger package you can grab. The deluxe version has:
The Kettlebell Revolution Abdominal Exercises for 6-Pack abs & Flat Stomach
The Kettlebell Nutrition Guide and 7-Day Meal Plans
The Kettlebell Muscle Building Workouts
Turbulence Bodyweight Training Hotel Workouts
The Advanced Turbulence Training Bodyweight Workout
I first learned about Russian Kettlebells in 2002 while reading Pavel Tsatsouline’s Power to the People. As a competitive powerlifter I was always looking for new ways to get stronger and Pavel’s writing was very interesting and informative. In the back of his book was an ad that boasted, “Burn body fat without the dishonor of cardio!” Now, as a big fat powerlifter that really interested me because running sure didn’t! At the time of reading that ad I was 23 years old and lifting in the 242 lbs (110 kg) weight class. I was big strong and really out of shape. I loved powerlifting and being huge but carrying all that blubber was unsightly and unhealthy.
I spent a few days reading about kettlebells online, back then it was just Dragon Door promoting them, and finally bought one 35 lbs kettlebell. It was pretty expensive at the time to buy a kettlebell and have it shipped across the US border to Canada so I was kind of regretting my purchase as I waited for delivery. But when the kettlebell finally arrived I was like a kid at Christmas and tore open that box!
After my parents were done asking me what the hell I just spent my money on, I finally got to try this crazy tool. My first time with the kettlebell I popped in the VHS (yes, VHS) and went through Pavel’s workout. It was brutally hard for me and my technique was appalling. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how to do a darn kettlebell swing. I kept lifting the kettlebell like a weight and messing up the movement. It took me 4 days to finally figure out how to do the two handed kettlebell swing but once I got the hang of it I started to really enjoy kettlebell training.
At the time my workout schedule was high volume powerlifting training 4 days a week and kettlebell 3 days a week. That is a lot of volume and I would not recommend it for anyone else, but I was a crazy kid so what can you do? I trained with the kettlebell for 30-45 minutes each time and almost passed out each time. I would blast heavy metal and just go crazy swinging, cleaning and snatching that thing until I had to lie down to avoid passing out! Remember I was both fat and out shape so kettlebell training was very demanding for me. I really was not used to the oxygen debt you experience when training with them. Picture running sprints and lifting weights at the same time. Would that lean you out? Would it be really, really demanding? Well, that’s exactly what it was like for me.
In four weeks I lost about 20 lbs of fat! I kid you not. I lost weight so fast I could actually notice a difference in my belly every time I worked out! I lost fat so quick my little sister did a double take of me in the kitchen one afternoon. Nobody could believe it, even me! Keep in mind, all the weight lifting I was doing had built muscle, but I had layers of fat on top of it. During this period I was not dieting or changing my weight training at all. The only factor I changed was adding kettlebells and that was only 30-45 minutes, 3 times a week! Kettlebell training had literally melted the fat off my body but that was not all. My powerlifts did not decrease as some would suspect. In fact, my squat increased nicely because all the dynamic lifts with the kettlebell had improved my explosiveness. This was really evident in the vertical jump. I must have gained three inches on my vertical jump from kettlebell lifts! It was crazy. I was leaner, stronger and faster than I had ever been. All from throwing around this big metal ball for about 2 hours a week that no one had even heard of!
Ever since then kettlebell training has been a very important part of my regime and I recommend it to anyone who needs to lose weight or improve their fitness levels. Getting started with kettlebells is easier than you think too. It might be a little intimidating at first because those bells are mean looking, but it shouldn’t be. Trust me, they work and they are fun for men and women! In fact, kettlebells will help sculpt a women’s physique to perfection because it will not build muscle mass but will simple melt off the fat and tighten up the muscles.
Okay use the video and the book to learn the kettlebell two handed swing. This move is the foundation which all other drills will be based on. Do not progress past the kettlebell swing until you have truly mastered it. I cannot emphasize how important snapping the hips is in this movement. Do not lift with your back or shoulders, simply snap the hips forward and send the kettlebell moving through the air. Your arms should act like a rope that the bell is tied to.
Swing, swing and swing until you can’t do it anymore!
Sets and reps are not too important at this stage but aim for as many reps as possible each workout
Once you have mastered the swing, now start learning all the other great kettlebell drills, you won’t be sorry (unless you hate sore muscles and hard work)
Upon mastering many of the other kettlebell drills such as the clean, high pull and snatch, consider purchasing a heavier kettlebell or a second one of the same size.
Using two instead of one is VERY demanding and will really turn your workout up a notch
Using one heavier kettlebell is great also and you can even use different weights at the same time!
I would love to spend more time explaining specific drills to you but the professionals who make kettlebell videos can do a better job. Learn from them and then see what is new on the internet when you need inspiration. Check out youtube.com and my kettlebell blog for great ideas and tips on keeping your kettlebell workouts fresh!
Check out Nathan’s blog Kettlebell Planet, for more Kettlebell info!
How did you guys get started with kettlebells? Post your answer to comments.
Editor’s Note: Kettlebell training is still a rather new form of training, even though it was first developed in the 18th century in Russia. There are only a handful of really great instructors out there. The rest of them either are trying to be great, or are just plain bad.
Either way, your goal is someone who’s brand new to Kettlebell training is to keep learning. I personally try to get my hands on as many training guides as possible, especially since I can’t afford a coach or seminar. I’ve gotten pretty good at training on my own.
One of the best guides out there, is a brand new system just developed by Craig Ballantyne and Chris Lopez. Craig Ballantyne is the creator of Turbulence Training, one of the best home fitness programs on the market. Chris Lopez is the first Turbulence Training certified instructor.
Kettlebells are quickly increasing in popularity. It used to be that just a few thousand fitness enthusiasts were training with these unique looking objects. But now, almost everyone from world-class athletes, bodybuilders, movie stars, busy professionals, teenagers, and stay at home moms are starting to use Kettlebells to get in shape and stay healthy.
But, most of the people using Kettlebells are using them the wrong way. In this article, you will learn 6 primary concepts that you need to understand before you begin your Kettlebell training.
Kettlebell Concept #1: Kettlebells are Heavy
Yes, light Kettlebells exist, but even they are heavier then their dumbbell counterparts. For example, after training with my 16kg (35.2 lbs) Kettlebell, 50lb dumbbells seemed like a walk in the park. Kettlebells feel much heavier because of their unique design.
In a dumbbell, the weight is cut in half by a convenient handle. So, that 35lbs is actually around 15lbs on each side, with maybe a 5lb handle. However, with a 35lbs Kettlebell, the thick handle itself probably weighs close to ten pounds, with the rest of the 25lbs compressed into a ball.
With a dumbbell, there’s not much weight control that you need to do. The weight is balanced, evenly on the both sides. However, with the Kettlebell, the weight is not evenly distributed, and so every time you swing or clean a Kettlebell, you’re not just fighting gravity, you’re also fighting to keep the Kettlebell in control.
This is why if you don’t have a good guide or a coach, then you may get injured very easily with a Kettlebell. It’s better to start off with a lighter weight, then trying to act macho and start heavy. You can even practice the basic movements first with a dumbbell.
Kettlebell Concept #2: Kettlebells are Versatile
There are those that claim the Kettlebells should only be used by performing high repetitions ballistic movements. Then there are those that you should focus on only improve your strength and size with Kettlebells. Still others are convinced that Kettlebells are only an athletic tool, and average men and women who don’t compete in sports have no business training with Kettlebells.
The truth is that Kettlebells have many uses. You can adapt your Kettlebell workouts based on your goals. For example, if your goal is to burn fat, then you can simply perform high repetitions swings, snatches, and cleans. In fact, there is a method known as Kettlebell Cardio which I have written a full article about.
Kettlebells can also be used to increase your overall strength and size. This is done the same way you would use barbells or dumbbells to put on muscle and size. However, keep in mind that each Kettlebell movement activated more muscle mass than any dumbbell or barbell exercise.
Hence, if used properly, then Kettlebells can be a superior method to putting on muscle mass, compared to dumbbells or barbells. But onceagain , proper coaching and guidance is necessary to achieve this. There are many guides and videos out there that you can use if you can not afford a Kettlebell Coach.
Kettlebell Concept #3: You Must Learn the Basics
The three basic Kettlebell exercises are the Swing, Clean, and Snatch. If you are unable to perform these basic movements, then you will not have success with Kettlebell Training. Sure, there are other movements that are important such as the front squat and press.
However, these three are MADE for Kettlebell training. Learn them. The following videos will help:
Kettlebell Swing
Kettlebell Clean
Kettlebell Snatch
Kettlebell Concept #4: Kettlebell Workouts save Time
Because Kettlebell workouts are so difficult and engage more muscle groups at once, your workouts will last a very short time. A workout that may take you 30 minutes with dumbbells will take you 15 minutes. In essence, you’ll only need to do half the work you originally needed to do to get the same or even better results.
Kettlebell Concept #5: Your Technique can Always Improve
There is a great tool you can use to improve your technique: YouTube. I started posting my own workouts a long time ago. Some people liked my workouts and started copying them. Others, more experienced then myself, began to give me some tips on how to improve my technique.
So, once you start training with your Kettlebell, I urge you to video tape yourself, and post your exercise, and workouts on YouTube. If you would like me to look at any of your videos, then simply send me a message to shah@shahtraining.com
But the main purpose of talking about YouTube is the fact that with Kettlebell training, your technique can always improve. You’ll never have perfect technique, but there will always be little things you can do here and there to make your exercises more intense, efficient, effective, and safe.
Kettlebell Concept #6: There’s Much to Learn
Kettlebell training is still a rather new form of training, even though it was first developed in the 18th century in Russia. There are only a handful of really great instructors out there. The rest of them either are trying to be great, or are just plain bad.
This is, by far, the best Kettlebell training guide out there on the market, and provides a great introduction to beginners. It also features some great high intensity workouts for advanced athletes.
The Turbulence Training Kettlebell Revolution program will show how to lose fat with kettlebells and build a muscular physique as well. Even if you do not care about getting bigger, all of the techniques on the information packed in this incredible product will teach you how to maximize your fitness with kettlebells and attain the physique that you have always wanted. This program is made for people that love kettlebell training and want to take use Kettlebells to lose fat. This detailed product is for all levels and covers the basics enough for beginners and offers new challenges for experienced kettlebells lifters. Even if you do not train with kettlebells, all of the technique tips that you learn will carry over to other forms of fitness training.
I have no doubt that you will love this program and have decided to include 4 additional months of Kettlebell workouts, which I will send you via email once you’ve purchased the Kettlebell Revolution workout for only $57. If that is out of your price range, you are in trouble!
When it comes to external resistance, we have a lot of options available to us – barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, medicine ball, and resistance bands. Each of these implements offers a unique advantage to the other pieces of equipment. Lets take a look at each implement to see which is right for us:
Barbells
Best Uses – Great for overall maximal strength training. If you were to just perform a handful of compound lifts using barbells, you’d get big and strong fast. In fact, some of the best strength training programs out there such asStronglifts 5×5 and Starting Strength rely on the primary use of a barbell.
Drawback – Barbells are big and bulky. If you don’t have space for them, you shouldn’t grab them. In addition, if you do not have a power rack or Continue reading
Is your Bodyweight Training becoming a little STALE? The following are some high intensity methods that are guaranteed to “spice up” your workouts:
Method #1: Ascending PHA Reps
Ascending Reps are where the repetitions gradually increase after each set. PHA is where you alternate between an upper body and lower body exercise. Ascending PHA Reps are where you alternate between an upper body and lower body exercise, but after each set, the repetitions increase slightly. Continue reading
I’ve come across a lot of great intense workouts. I have found a pattern in many of the se well-designed workouts, and have decided to give you guys four templates to help you create your own effective high intensity workout. Here they are:
Effective Method One: Rounds for Time
Simply choose two-three exercises you can perform in a circuit, and perform 3 to 5 rounds of the circuit. Time the entire workout with as little rest between exercises/circuits as possible.
Effective Method Two: Maximum Rounds for Time
Choose a particular time limit such as 10 or 20 minutes. Create a circuit, and try to perform as many rounds of the circuit within the given time frame.
Effective Method Three: Station Training
Choose 3 to 5 exercises, or “stations.” Spend a minute on each station, performing as many reps within that minute as possible, then move onto the next station. Repeat the circuit for 3 to 5 rounds.
Effective Method Four: Pyramid Reps
Choose two to three exercises, and steadily increase or decrease the reps per each exercise as the rounds progress.
Use these techniques as part of a full three to four day a week plan, or use them as a once a week challenge workout. The possibilities are endless.
For some really high intensity, hard core workouts, check out the Gladiator Body Workout:
Gladiator Body Workout is an Athletic Fitness system which combines Dumbbell and Bodyweight exercises along with interval training to help you Drop Fat, Build Lean Muscle Mass, Get Stronger, and Improve Athletic Performance.
If you purchase the Combo Pack, you can also get two other eBooks which Author Coach Eddie Lomax sells separately: “Ultimate Gymless Workout” and “Extreme Dumbbell Fitness.” When you include all the workouts in all three systems, you’ll get literally months worth of fitness programming.
The Basic version sells for just $27. Each separate eBook in the Combo Pack sell for $27 but coach is giving them to you for just $49.00.
I finally saw Dheeraj again on Friday. He was HUGE! By huge, I mean FAT! According to Dominic, Dheeraj had been eating a lot. Dheeraj follows a typical bodybuilder training split, and just like a typical bodybuilder he goes through some strange cycles.