What kettle bells?

[Redorwhitejusthaveboth]

Hi
Hoping for some advice on what kettle bells to buy for use at home?
I'm a novice but DH is a regular user at his work gym.

[jumpingllama]

Take a look at Lauren Brooks website for info on choosing a kettlebell. Just make sure you learn the correct form, ideally from someone who is certified and not necessarily from copying your DH's technique! Kettlebells are widely used at gyms, especially by guys in the weights area, but very rarely are they used properly.

If you can't find an instructor to get you started then Lauren's DVDs have clear demonstrations. Or take a look at Marianne Kane's site for free tutorials and workouts.

Hope that helps.

[Redorwhitejusthaveboth]

Thank you so much... I'm already laughing at my dh reaction I can predict when I tell him I'm not following his tutoring

[jumpingllama]

Not at all. Good luck with your training, they are my favourite fitness tool. I forgot to say if you are looking for a place that sells good quality kettlebells then take a look at Wolverson fitness. I have a few of their bell and they are very good. One of my main regrets is just buying some cheap Reebok ones when I started out! Wolverson are worth the high postage costs and sometime have sales.

Also, take a look at Artemis' site Lots of inspiration there.

[RJnomore1]

Came on to recommend wolverson 😀

Can I ask what you want to do with your kettlebell?

There are actually different shoes for different types of exercise.

[RJnomore1]

Shapes! Not shoes. Obviously there are different shoes for different exercises too but...

[Redorwhitejusthaveboth]

Different shapes??!!!!! No idea - my goal is building upper body and core strength along with improving all around fitness levels, and loosing weight. I am running about 3k twice a week and cycling around 8 miles once a week. I'm doing tough mudder next year so I need to be able to run, upper body strength for the obstacles and the stamina to enjoy it
I'm a novice to all this and trying to fit the exercise in around 4 kids and a part time job. Any advice really welcome!

[jumpingllama]

I'm not quite sure what RJnomore1 means by different shapes but I'm going to guess they mean there there are two types of kettlebells - competition style or standard. You'll see on Wolversons site that they have both types. Personally I would suggest you stick with the standard size to start out purely because if you're keeping them at home the competition size bells take up a more floor space!

It doesn't matter though as you perform all the same movements with either types of bells but you'll probably find the standard ones better for what you plan to use them for. You will see Marianne Kane using competition style bells for all her workouts and Lauren Brooks uses standard sizes.

For what you're aiming to do, learn the technique and then just add a couple of sessions in a week. Take a look at the sites above for workouts that fit into your needs. Breaking Muscle also have a range of workouts but personally I'd stick to Marianne or Lauren to start - Lauren's DVDs are available on Amazon UK as well.

Good luck!

[RJnomore1]

There's more than two jumping but those were the two basics I was thinking of. If you're wanting to do more overhead lifts id get competition as they aren't much bigger really but the shape means you won't bruise your wrists so much, you can get tucked into the handle so it doesn't move and there's more stability so you are less likely to hurt yourself. If you want to do squats lunges and two handed swings more then standards are better the bigger handle abd smaller bell size is easier imo.

Gillian Michaels shred with weights DVD uses Kettlebells and is good too, I'd advise go lighter than you think if you do that though! If you can I'd go for at least one or two coaching sessions with a kb trainer to get your technique right, once you get it you will be fine. I'd recommend that for any weight training mind you.

And beware, they can be a bit addictive 😁!

[jumpingllama]

I know there are different styles of kettlebells out there but I don't think I've ever found any of the professionals discussing any other type except standard v. competition; I'm willing to be corrected though.

I'm afraid I will have to caution against using Jillian Michael's kettlebell DVD. I have nothing against Jillian and have happily used her other workouts but her kettlebell DVD does not demonstrate good technique and was roundly criticised by the kettlebell community. There is a reason this picture is infamous as a demonstration of how not to do a kettlebell swing and that Jillian didn't make a follow up DVD!

[MadameCholetsDirtySecret]

Be careful. I bonked myself on the head with a 4Kg kettle ball last week. It bloody hurt!

[RJnomore1]

That's a good point jumping to be fair, I tend to use Jillian when I can't get to the gym or my coach because she shouts at me (Jillian not my coach) but I use my own technique abd just follow her through the exercises, it's probably not a good place for a beginner to start.

She definitely makes me work harder than I would on my own if I'm looking for a cardio type day.

I wasn't really wanting to get into a debate about the various styles as I said to the op if she is planning doing lots of overhead lifts a competition kb is more suitable though. Out of interest what lifting do you do? (Be warned I can talk kbs for quite a long time 😁 )

[jumpingllama]

Jillian is excellent for motivational shouting. That's why she and Bob Harper will remain in my workout library even if I've learned over the years to ignore some of the 'technique' they demonstrate.

I'm also very capable to talking kbs for ages too so I welcome a kindred spirit. They are my favourite fitness tool although I don't get to use them as often as I like nowadays. Not enough hours in the week although I like to think they also act as interesting household ornaments so they are multi-functional.

I do Olympic lifting (not particularly well but I enjoy it so can overlook my complete lack of ability) and mainly do a mixture of kettlebell or barbell strength work a couple sessions a week. Basically I spend most of my life with DOMS. What type of lifting do you focus on?

[RJnomore1]

Kettlebell pentathlon mostly although I've stated working with a bodybuilding coach in the last month. I'd love to do biathlon but I can't quite get the five minutes on one side yet. That's an ambition.

I'm training well just now so my week is one Kettlebell class, one Kettlebell sport training session, two bodybuilding sessions, one mma training session (I'm crap but it's great conditioning) one metafit and one slow rubbish 5k walk/jog. I find it really helps the DOMS if I do something every day, obviously keep the intensity down some days.

Are you doing barbell snatches and jerks? I've never ever done them - only kb ones. I've basically just given up on housework to find time to train

[jumpingllama]

Kettlebell pentathalon is very challenging, well done! What sort of weights are you using for it? And good luck with starting the bodybuilding, that can be very hardcore and requires so much discipline.

I would like to concentrate on training more but where I currently live isn't great as far as sport facilities go. However, I will be moving soon to another city which should give me easier access to more gyms set up for proper weightlifting.

At the moment my main gym has ONE squat rack which also has to be used for benching. Meaning it gets hogged by the guys benching for an hour and by that I mean, setting the bar up, chatting to one another then performing a couple of reps with their friend up-right rowing the bar then followed by 20 mins of rest. I swear anyone who says men don't gossip to each other just need to head to free weights area of the community gym. More inane nattering goes on there than the average coffee shop.

[jumpingllama]

Oh and yes, I do snatch and clean & jerk. Can't say I've improved much over the last year but I try to overlook my lack of coordination!

[RJnomore1]

Ha! One of the gyms I train in is a boxing gym so a lot of men and they're really friendly, it's more like a club really, but I get really annoyed when they try to chat away to me when I'm concentrating/ timing rests. There's only a few racks in it and not much space, it annoys me when someone comes in and spreads them self every where, especially if I'm doin kb that day cos I only need about 1m square so I just lift away and if they get too close hell mend them.

I'm training for February just now and I'm aiming for 20k cleans, 18k clean and press, 16k jerks, 14k snatches and 16k presses. I can do them all the challenge is the 6 minute sets and getting fixation when you get a bit tired.

I'd love a go with the barbells. But nervous of that. I need to clean up my diet if I'm going to seriously try body building but one thing at a time!

[Redorwhitejusthaveboth]

Foreign language!!!!!

[jumpingllama]

OP - stay around a bit more and you'll learn the secret handshake as well.

RJ - those are good kb numbers, I'm sure you'll get within the 6 minutes by Feb if you're already able to make all those lifts.

And definitely take the opportunity to take up using a barbell, from the sounds of it you'd be hitting some high totals pretty quickly. There is nothing better than deadlifting a heavy weight off the floor.