Kettlebells:
Take Your Fitness to a New Level
Every year, someone comes up with a new exercise gadget that is supposed to sculpt, tone and magically make body fat disappear without any effort on your part. Usually annoited with some catchy alpha numeric name and endorsed by some “fitness guru”, it can be yours for 4 easy payments of...well you get the picture. The truth is, all of the great exercise equipment has already been invented. Barbells, dumbbells, medicine balls, and your own body weight are all you really need to get in tip top shape. There is however, one other piece of equipment to consider and that is the Russian Kettlebell. The kettlebell is basically a cannon ball with a handle on it and comes in sizes ranging from 4 kilograms (9 pounds) to 48 kilograms (104 pounds). Used in Eastern Europe for generations, the kettlebell is becoming increasing popular in the U.S. because of it's ability to increase strength, flexibilty, and cardiovascular fitness while decreasing body fat.
Kettlebells aren't for building massive muscles. They work the entire body in ways that mimic basic human movements. They enhance functionality by increasing range of motion and joint stability, making them effective training tools for fitness buffs and athletes.
The endurance effect of kettlebell training is another benefit. Muscular endurance and cardiovascular fitness can be greatly improved with a dedicated routine. Because the movements involve so many muscle groups, the demand on the cardio-pulmonary system is intense, without the monotony of running in place on a treadmill. And along with that intensity comes the benefit most people are interested in, fat loss. A kettlebell workout can burn up to 20 calories per minute and it's a great way to turn your body into a fat burning machine, leaving you lean and stronger than you'd ever imagined.
