No, this isn’t me but kiddie kettlebells!! How cute are you?Because I am a good little consumerist, I have a wish list. I generally just pull it out for my birthday, Mother’s Day, Groundhog Day and all other Major holidays but today you get a sneak preview. My wish list reads like the annual Fitness Magazine product review. I covet fitness gadgets of all shapes and sizes. But seeing as my covetousness is surpassed only by my cheapness, my wish list rarely turns into reality.
Until today, baby. See, number 1 item on my list of Fitness Trends I’m Dying to Try But Too Cheap To Buy are kettlebells. And, like magic, Sarah Lurie and her candy-colored iron wonder appeared on my doorstep. You’ve read Kelly’s rave review. You’ve heard Lisa’s (workout mommy’s) praise. The Monkey Bar Gym folk adore them. Alice, WeeLittleMe, and GeekGirl all have great things to say about them. Now it’s my turn.
Meet TinkerBell
My kids think every package that comes to our door is a present for them. They even call the Fed-Ex van “the present truck.” So of course they were hanging all over me as I opened my weighty package. (Seriously – GoFit sent me an actual 15-lb kettlebell! I figured it would be a gift cert to go buy one somewhere. Guess they want the Present Guy to earn those little brown shorts.) As I withdrew the bright red beauty – red is my fave color – my five-year-old gasped, “Someone mailed mommy a real live tinkerbell!”
Thusly christened, TinkerBell accompanied me to the Y the next day. My spin instructor was mildly amused (“road block?”), the gym floor manager less so (him: “you gotta bring your own weights now?” me: “the other gym has them.”) but the Gym Buddies were as excited as I was.
After Gym Buddy Mike impressed us by demonstrating proper hammer throwing technique, Gym Buddy Megan and I went to town with the swinging (but not throwing, as tempting as it was), pressing, cleaning, squatting and Turkish get-upping.
The Good
It got my heart rate up. It was fun to have a legitimate reason to swing my weights. I could feel my lower back, core and legs stabilizing every move so it felt like a total body workout. Plus I like novelty and Lurie & Co. are all great poster-people for SuperFit.
The Bad
Can be summed up in one word: OUCH. Lurie instructs you to hold the bell in “rack position” which means the bulk of the weight is resting on the outside of your wrist/forearm. So anytime you move from another position back to “rack”, as in a clean or a shoulder press, the kettlebell gives you a good painful whack. Our reps went like this, “And one, OUCH! Two, OUCH! Three, OUCH!!!! Four, *****!!!” If the Y didn’t have it’s family friendly code, we might’ve resorted to more than just asterisks, I tell you. Catholic nuns and their wrist slapping got nothing on GoFit.
“Maybe they didn’t plan on people with bony wrists using these,” Gym Buddy Megan griped after a particularly hard thwack that may have left a bruise.
“Maybe we’re doing it wrong,” I grumbled and put TinkerBell in time out for not playing nice.
At home I reviewed the technique DVD again. Aha! I discovered that by catching the bell on my shoulder/bicep I could avoid the painful thwack. My elation was quickly dampened by Lurie admonishing, “If the kettlebell hits your shoulder or bicep, that is an indication you have bad form. The bell should always rest on your forearm.” Maybe you eventually develop wrist callouses?
The Hilarious
My favorite line from the DVD was, “And remember, never let your arms become disconnected from your body.” What does that even mean? Are there really people out there whose arms actually disconnect from their bodies? How does one prevent this? Can I see it??
Conclusions
Aside from the wrist abuse, this is a great workout. I enjoyed the novelty and the stares. You can get a serious workout in a short amount of time with these babies not to mention feeling very cool as you strut around dropping bombs like “russian wrestling technique” and “original iron.” I’m very tempted to do a whole Experiment on kettlebells. So if any of you have any form tips to help me with the wrist problems, speak up!
More From My Wish List
I was never a fan of running skirts. It seems like it’s just more fabric wrapped around your legs. That is, until I saw this red and white polka dot number. Now? I want one. Why should tennis players have all the fun?
Also, I so want to try the MBT shoes. Just one more way I want to be like MizFit!
And last but not least, they’re Jelly Bellies! They’re sport gels! That makes them practically health food right? Okay, it makes them expensive jelly beans. But still. *love*
Got Kettlebell tips for me? What’s on your wish list?
Cute skirt!
Thanks for reviewing the kettlebells; you’ve all got me dying to try them out! I think I need to go to my nearest fitness store and see if they carry these things. That’s really cool that yours came with a dvd and all too to teach proper form.
I would love for you to do a 30 day Kettlebell experiment and see how you turn out. Personally, I am loving my little red kettle. For the wrists, note that Sarah is using wrist bands… Yeah… try that! Because I had the same issue, still do, and some cushioning totally helps turn the whack into a thud.
My new little workout plot is to mix Turbo and Kettlebells: I do a portion of the Turbo round, then one set of the circuit and so on. It is a kiiiiiiiiiiiiiller.
Please, do a Russian toughness epxeriment!
LOVE working with kettlebells. Great way to build up endurance and strength very quickly. As for the wrist issue… it will happen for a while until you get used to the proper form. Make sure you are not flailing (sp?) the bell around and keep your wrist straight. I had a bruised left wrist for the first two weeks but it stopped after I built up strength in that arm and maintained proper form. The vid’s on Art of Strength ( http://www.artofstrength.com ) are really great to learn proper form. Sorry this was so long!! Have fun with your bells!
Does “bell” mean the same in the US as it does in UK slang??? Many opportunities for innuendo there.
We have Tinkerbells at our gym but I have no idea how to use them. However THANKYOU for explaining away all those disembodied arms on the workout mats! I’d always wondered….
My wishlist is a weights bench for home so I don’t have to go over to where the guys work out. Honestly they grunt like rutting pigs, it’s scaaaary…
Have a happy weekend!
TA x
THAT WAS MY FAVE LINE AS WELL!
My mom and I rewound it a bunch to be *sure* we werent hearing it incorrectly 🙂
M.
I must be too busy trying to look tough with my kettlebell, because I have not noticed she said that. I am going to perk my ears now…
Love the review!
I think I’ll stay away from any form of exercise equipment that actually beats on me. Whether it’s a whack or a mere dampened thud, no thanks. I’m grouchy enough when I strength train that I don’t need any guff from my weights.
Great review! I’ve been wanting to try these out for awhile, but was waiting until someone not from the companies reviewed them. Sounds like they are worth the cash and a good change up to the workout regime!
Try some wrist bands for the ouchiness. They’re not the coolest of trends anymore, but whatever prevents your wrist from being beaten up!
And I love running skirts! They really are very comfortable and, most importantly, they don’t ride up the legs like regular shorts do. Oh, and you’re not just running in some spandex shorts. Much better to have some fabric covering the spandex-clad bum, IMO.
I bought one last month. I’m ashamed to tell you how bruised my wrists were… (and my kids laughed at me after every OUCH!). I LOVE that it really engages your core and gets your heart rate up while being no impact. And those Turkish getups were hard!
Just Google “bruised wrists kettlebell” and you find loads of info about improper form 🙂 Those blogs will explain how to correct form much better than I can quote.
I’m still working on it, but I wear my kickboxing fingerless gloves which cover the wrist and that helps, too. It has to be about form…. how else could people do those 35 lbers and not break their arm??
I’d be in for a kettlebell experiment.
Lori
I am dying for a kettlebell! They sell the one you got at Target, and it is taking all my will power not to buy it.
I am also intrigued by the running skirt. I think they are cute, but I don’t see many people wearing them around here so might feel self conscious.
Great post!!
Love the kettlebells! My training is on hold though until I can upgrade. I took a seminar with an RKC certified instructor and realized my 20lb bell is waaaay too light. A lot of the forearm banging I was experiencing was due to improper form which was partly caused by being able to fling my bell around too much. I used an 18kg (~40 pound) bell in class and it was a whole ‘nother experience!
Running skirts rock – especially for thick-thighed girls like me whose shorts always ride up. The inner short of my skirt still rides up on me but at least no one can see it now.
Jelly Belly sports beans are delish! I look forward to my 10-mile+ runs because that gives me an excuse to eat them. I get them at Target for about $1 a pack.
My wish list just got a little shorter since I bought an over the door pullup bar the other day. I still want one of those foam rollers for core work or stretching and a Bosu though.
Hi All,
Thank you for the review. As far as banging your wrists with cleans, this is the most common issue for people starting out. The DVD that comes with the GoFit bell explains how to avoid this, but also Kettlebells The Iron Core Way, my follow along workout DVD’s also go into more detail on fixing improper form. Most people have too much of an arc when cleaning the bell- in other words your elbow should stay pinned to your body throughout the movement and your hips should be doing all the work- the arm is just the guide. Try facing a wall and clean the bell without hitting the wall. This will train you to not have any type of arc in the bell while cleaning. Kettlebells should not hurt! In addition, many people allow their shoulders to become “disconnected” from their lat muscle- hence the term disconnected. Make sure all muscles are locked and loaded throughout to ensure good form and to prevent injury. Have Fun!
Sarah Lurie
i truly am a huge ran of the running skirts – I wear them all over…so comfy and sport and surprisingly, no, it doesn’t seem like an extra layer of fabric – very flattering! I like addidas and Lucy!
My wish list did include really good dark chocolate, vintage Richard Simmon’s VHS tapes and bocce ball set, but scratch that. I want the polka dot running skirt. I heart polka dots, and I heart my running skirts. This one makes both loves merry. Wheee!
Thanks for the review, Charlotte! I haven’t used Kettlebells, but I’m considering getting my personal training cert, and I think this would be a valuable tool to use if I do that.
Have you ever tried SmartBells?
ttp://www.thinkfit.com/
I just bought some of these at a conference, and I’ve started training a friend of mine to help me get up to speed before teaching a class (the local women’s gym has whole classes with SmartBells. I feel a little strange using them in the weight room at the gym, because they’re so weird looking, but they’re very fluid (regular weight lifting is very linear, SmartBells is all about curves and arcing lines).
I’ve tried those sports jelly beans, they gave us a bunch at a fitness conference I went to. They’re yummy 🙂
Sweat bands doubled around the wrist! Check Tracy out and whenever she does C&P or Snatches she uses them…..
http://tracyrif.blogspot.com/
LOVE Kettles!! Those with my gymboss (www.gymboss.com) and I can do any type interval circuit without missing a beat!
Christi
I hate to disappoint, but I tried the Sport Beans and they weren’t as fantastic as you might imagine. I’ll stick with my Sharkies (http://www.sharkiesinc.com/)anyday.
As for the kettle ball, if you have wrist sweat bands, these can be positioned to cushion the blow
Polka dots AND jellybeans in one post?! Go Charlotte. I LOVE the Sport Beans. They’re even juicier and more fabulous than regular JellyBellys. I used to save mine to eat in the icebath after my marathon training long runs…ah the memories…
And the skirt is very Minnie Mouse, but in a good way. PErfect for working with Tinkerbells, ho ho.
(and tokaiangel — yeah we ain’t got that slang here, but I follow. Heh.)
Greatly enjoyed your post today; it made me smile. And thanks for providing a great source for running skirts. Have a great weekend.
i love my ‘bell! I also had bruised wrists and started using sweat bands to cushion the blow. But after talking with sarah and focusing on form, I don’t fling the kettlebell around anymore.
you totally need to do an experiment charlotte! 🙂
It’s moments like these:
My favorite line from the DVD was, “And remember, never let your arms become disconnected from your body.” What does that even mean? Are there really people out there whose arms actually disconnect from their bodies? How does one prevent this? Can I see it??
That makes all my co-workers look at me funny since I can’t contain my laughter.
“Tinkerbell!” That is SO CUTE!!!!
And that running skirt is cute, too. I have a running skirt (for walking), and I love it. It’s very comfy, and I don’t have to worry about my shorts riding up and flashing my ultra-white thighs to (and blinding) unsuspecting passerby.
Ah, those MBT shoes! I dream of owning a pair one day…
So, I asked Don (my husband, who uses kettlebells regularly) about the bruised wrists, and he actually LIKES the fact that the bells smack him in the arm. He uses it as “conditioning” for blocking punches and kicks in karate.
And, I use the sport beans during my long runs, and I’m a big fan. I can handle them way better than Gu. (although, they still don’t compare to ACTUAL jelly bellies!)
I also wondered about the ‘arms disconnected from the body’ remark, but wasn’t she talking about not letting the shoulder come out of its socket? Not that my shoulder usually does that… kinda scary thought, really.
Great post!
As for skirts, check out http://www.skirtsports.com. Nicole DeBoom, a pro triathlete is the beauty and brains behind the company. She was doing skirts before all the big boys brought them out. Plus, they send out really funny emails (do you write for them?) and have clever promos like the “Skirt Chaser 5k” — women start ahead of the men. And the jelly belly’s… love them too. Pick them up FREE at race expos! (I’m cheap too:-)
I go to a kettle bell gym three days a week. I have never sweat so much in 30 minutes in my life. Always fun, and always exciting. Oh, and we wear sweat bands on our wrists to pad where the bell hits. 15 pounds is actually pretty light, you should be able to lift double that in a short time.
Awesome. My son just did his first triathlon, but we haven’t broken out the kettlebells for him. Although I am seeing them everywhere in the last week or two.
Perhaps kettlebells are the secret to getting him over the top 😉
http://www.marathonme.com/index.php/2008/07/21/all-hail-the-conquering-hero/