Kettlebell Workouts - Most Frequently Asked Questions
Among all the old-school fitness equipment, kettlebells have the best workout appeal. The bank of positive contributions that kettlebells make in physical wellbeing makes them indispensable gym equipment. Regardless of the inspiration from many kettlebells trainees, the topic of kettlebells still has many unanswered questions. Let’s tackle some of them.
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Can you lose weight with kettlebells?
Yes, it is possible to burn excess fats and calories with kettlebells and better enough, even without stressing your joints. Fitness specialists explain the mechanism of kettlebells helping in weight loss from a principle of natural resistance. It has actually been proven that the body burns calories on overcoming any kind of resistance. Whether you are obese or just overweight, kettlebells workouts can improve your body’s response to losing weight.
This, however, is not that simple as it appears in writing. We all know that many weight loss strategies call for patience and consistency and in this, kettlebells are not left out. Besides considering a long-term kettlebells workout, you also need to consult your fitness trainer on the right size and weight of kettlebells for maximum weight loss.
What muscles do kettlebell swings work on?
Swings from kettlebells work on almost every muscle in your body. Kettlebell swings, however, target the abs, neck, legs, arms hip, back, and shoulder muscles. The arm and leg muscles are used to generate the swinging force of these exercising pieces. All other muscles feel worked as they all integrate to maintain posture and balance.
Kettlebell swings increase muscle endurance, the ability of your muscles to contract for a long time. You will actually feel the effect of these extended contractions after you complete a set of kettlebell swings. Building solid muscle endurance helps you withstand doing any strenuous work that mainly engages the above muscles.
What is a good kettlebell weight for beginners?
If you are drafting your plans on buying your first kettlebells, you must first consult your fitness trainer. This is because kettlebells workout depends on many factors, some of which can only be best determined by a fitness trainer. On average, though, men should start with a 16kg kettlebell. Half of this weight, 8kg, is recommendable for women beginners.
The rule of thumb in kettlebells exercises is starting with reasonable and comfortable weights. Many gym enthusiasts and especially men tend to buy heavy unmanageable kettlebells. It is worth noting that the wrong weight can only do more harm than good to your physical health.
Do you need two kettlebells of the same weight?
Unlike most workout equipment that engages different parts of the body individually, kettlebells work on the whole body. In this regard, you only need one kettlebell of the same weight. Did you know that to get the most benefits out of kettlebells exercises, you should train one side of your body at a time? This is because this exercise approach promises a balance between steadiness and full muscle engagement.
Again, if you are a beginner in kettlebell exercises, it is wise to start with one piece. Later on, as you progress with the training, you may add other kettlebells but of different weights.
What do kettlebells do to your body?
As said above, kettlebells are dynamic fitness equipment, and exercising with them assures whole-body physical wellbeing. The shape of this equipment allows the body to move naturally and hence does not put much pressure in any specific part of the body. It's cardio and strength exercises approach can actually make you do away with most of the other exercise equipment that you use.
Kettlebells also have these specific impacts in the body:
• Improved mental toughness
• Increased core stability
• Strengthened back and shoulders
• Reduced muscle pain
How many kettlebells do I need?
If you are on a narrow budget but still need to enjoy all these benefits, one kettlebell is enough. As long as you utilize the kettlebell to do all the beneficial exercises, you don't have to purchase more than one kettlebell. On the other hand, if your budget allows, you can still buy other differently sized kettlebells.
A valuable tip: If you still want to enjoy the entire kettlebell experience, it is advisable to visit a gym or workout room. A good exercise room will have kettlebells of all sizes and weights.
Are kettlebells better than free weights?
This depends on what your exercising goal is. If you are looking for whole-body conditioning, no free weight can beat the kettlebell. The equipment's ability to combine grinding and explosive exercises is nothing close to the impacts of free weights, such as the dumbbells or barbells. If you are a heavy lifter, on the other hand, free weights are the best exercise equipment for you.
It is not fair to state that one fitness equipment is better than the other as they all serve different purposes. It would help if you use all these equipment interchangeably.
How often should you do kettlebells to lose weight?
In this one, you need to have realistic expectations as losing weight with kettlebells can take as long as you dictate. If you are committed to kettlebell exercises, it is possible to lose approximately 10 pounds in a month. To achieve these kinds of results, you must do the correct kettlebell exercises and maintain a proper diet.
What exercises should be done with kettlebells?
There are tons of exercises that you can do with kettlebells. The good thing with most kettlebell exercises is that they can be done with other free weights. The most common kettlebells exercises include:
• Regular wings- Grip your kettlebell with both hands and stand with your feet apart. Swing the kettlebell between your legs as you bend.
• Hand to hand swings- As you bend slightly on your knees, swing your kettlebell as above, but this time switch between both hands.
• Squats- With your feet apart, grip the kettlebell handle with both hands and bend on your knees for a standard squat.
• Suitcase lunges- For this, you must have two kettlebells of the same size. Stand with your feet apart. Hold a kettlebell in each hand, take a huge step forward with each foot, and back to the original position.
• Push presses- Stand with your feet apart, press your handheld kettlebell overhead. Bring the kettlebell back to the shoulders as you bend on your knees.
• Triceps presses- Follow the procedure above, but this time lower the kettlebell back past your shoulders.
• Sit up press- holding your kettlebell in hands, do routine press-ups, but press the weight overhead as you move up.
Getting Started With Kettlebells
With these questions answered, it is clear that kettlebells are an ultimate all in one body conditioning equipment. With one kettlebell and complete workout program, you can reap most of the benefits of this tool, including weight loss. Lastly, you should never disregard the critical factors of any workout regime: realistic goals and commitment!