Is the Kettlebell Craze: Worth It?
In the world of fitness, new ways to workout come in waves. A new workout fad seems to come about every week. Recently, you may have seen that kettlebells are all the rage. In the past couple of years, they have definitely taken a spot on the top of many trainers’ favorite workout equipment lists. If you’ve never used them, you may be asking yourself: What’s the big deal with them anyway? Kettlebells are a great workout, and they will change your body like never before. Here are some of the greatest advantages of using these cannonballs with handles.
The weight is uneven
A kettlebell literally looks like a cannonball with a handle. That means that the weight is pretty dense. Unlike a bar or dumbbells where the weight is fairly evenly distributed, kettlebells make you work to keep them balanced with your body and movement. So, not only are you lifting weight, but you’re working on balance as well which is a full body engagement.
Your moves are fluid
Sometimes with weights, your movements can become pretty stiff. Not with kettlebells. Lots of the exercises required by kettlebells involve swinging and rotating. This means that your weight lifting movement is fluid. Your body doesn’t stop working through the entire rep. Because of this, your body gets worked in positions that don’t usually get worked, and muscles are used that don’t typically see much use.
You can work everything with one kettlebell
While it’s best to have different weights, it’s not technically necessary. The same kettlebell can be used for squats, bicep curls, tricep dips, Russian twists, and kettlebell swings. You don’t have to stop and switch. You can literally move from one move to the next. With the need to stop eliminated, kettlebells can give you a strength plus cardio workout all in one.
You burn more calories
Anytime you combine strength and cardio, you are bound to burn more calories. Kettlebells do this with every move, so everytime you workout, you’re burning more calories than you would be otherwise. With some kettlebell workouts, you can burn the equivalent of running miles in just a 20 minute workout.
While not every new fitness craze is worth it, kettlebells are one that actually meet the hype. If you haven’t tried them, give them a go. You’ll definitely be glad you did. With some guidance and persistence, you’ll quickly see the results and see what all the fuss is really about.
