Any Experiment that ends with old ladies running across the gym to my aid screaming, “Oh my dear, are you okay?!?!?” is my kind of Experiment. And the Kettlebell Experiment does not disappoint in this area.
It was the renegade rows that did me in. Also called floor rows or plank rows, they’ve long been a staple in my iron repertoire so I did not anticipate the KBs throwing me like they did. One minute I was perched on top of two 25-lb bells o’ wonder, the next I was nose to the ground in a heap of floor-burned spandex. (Oh, excuse me, it’s called “wicking fabric” these days.) And it wasn’t that it is a hard lift, per se, but rather the gym equivalent of that circus trick where the elephant balances on the little ball. One little wobble in my wrist and the pachyderm went wild like Dumbo’s mama. Although it could just be me, GeekGirl mastered hers with only minor technical difficulties. Me? I ended up with rubber grit in my teeth and nary a gym buddy in sight to laugh with about it. The little old ladies were not amused.
Outside of the humiliation that is the floor row, the KB Experiment is shaping up to be a good one. The BodyBuilding.com workout from the first week was a far cry harder than the Fitness Magazine workout (that used DUMBBELLS in all of their “kettlebell” pictures!) from week two but, surprisingly both workouts left me sore and feeling pretty well worked over. Although I cannot begin to tell you how many times onlookers stopped me to say, “Now don’t you let go of that thingy, okay??” To which Gym Buddy Allison and I would cheerfully reply, “Don’t worry, next week we get to move up to nun-chucks!” Again, the little old ladies were not amused.
My favorite part so far: the warmup. They aren’t kidding when they call the KB swing a full-body exercise. Especially after I watched this Lauren Brooks video on how to do it properly, it really gets my heart rate up fast not to mention hitting my legs, back and shoulders. My advice on this move is to get your form down and then don’t be afraid to go heavy. We weren’t getting anything out of our little tinkerbell and moving up to the bigger bells actually made the move better.
My one complaint: “ow.” Even with the supercool sweatbands, there is still an alarming amount of wrist twisting, bending and thumping. I’ve got bruises all over the place from these things. Some of you mentioned that improving my technique and controlling the KB more will help. All I can say is that I’m trying!
Week 3 Kettlebell Workout
I have to say I’m really really excited about this one. Are you ready? It’s from Mike Mahler via bodybuilding.com. The beginning of the article explains the 5 areas (focii) of KB workouts and how you need to do an exercise from each area to stay balanced. He then explains how to structure your own workout and gives you ideas for exercises within each area thereby giving you the ability to create endless – but balanced! – KB workouts. Lastly, he spells it out for us by giving us a one week program to follow. It entails a different KB workout each day of the week, but it is short so totally doable. And, GeekGirl, it includes the Turkish Get-up – your fave!!
I’ll leave you with this last clip. You know you are one tough chick when you can do this with your KB:
And what’s the betting that girl’s SCRUNCHIE weighed EVEN MORE than her KB? Hardcore.
Charlotte, I’m fully expecting you to post a picture of yourself at the end of September replete with stripey all-in-one and a handlebar moustache – this experiment definitely has shades of old-school circus strongman.
Looks like sooo much fun – you go girl!
TA x (watching in awe from the sidelines as she does some namby pamby pilates move)
I am also in awe.
Any Experiment that leaves me bruised and battered and that sends old ladies rushing to my aid is not one I’d repeat!
You go girl. Keep doing these experiments so I don’t have to.
Ha: nun-chucks. I can’t wait.
This winter I SWEAR I’m going to try some kettlebell workouts. Hopefully with hilarious results…
p.s. I added you to my blog roll. Too good to pass up!
Okay. I would be dropping that thing on my head doing releases. Not fun.
I’ve decided that, after living vicariously through you, kettlebells are not for me. My poor wrists and hands are already so weak I can barely keep a grip on my pen. I have the sneaking suspicion that ‘bells would be flying all over the place if I took to swinging them around.
Haven’t done the K.B. yet, but I have had experience with the nunchaku! Sure, I could spin them, work them in and out of chamber and around various body parts, but the day I hit myself on the back of the head and almost knocked myself out was the epiphany where I decided maybe I’ve had enough fun with this thing!
🙂
Wow. I can’t believe that girl was doing releases with that thing. I know I am not that tough.
I want to start kettle bell training but I first need to get a kettle bell. Step by step.
Jenn
My new ambition in life is to become a Gym Buddy and have lots of fun fitness experiments:)
One of the personal trainers at my gym was working with kettlebells with a client. He probably wasn’t doing the same exercises you were, because I kept waiting for the crazy wrist slap you’ve mentioned, and it didn’t come. Maybe they don’t do that one so they don’t scare away their clients…
I still want to try this though…
albatross?
can I say that my kettlebell is my albatross?
🙂
That’s great that the kettlebell experiment is still going so well. I tried to take an outdoors group class yesterday but ended up not being able to locate the group at the park…I was bummed! I’m going to try again later this week, hopefully! 🙂
Yay! Turkish Getups! When I do them, I like to pretend I’m a Vicorian-era circus strongwoman named Olga.
I found that on the renegade rows that the worst slipping/imbalances happened while my hands were sweaty. I know some KB folks chalk up, but before I make a mess with chalk, I was going to try weightlifting gloves/wraps first. My worst faceplants were when my hands just plain slipped off the KB handles and I couldn’t regain my grip in time. I’m also using Anthony Diluglio’s tip of checking your balance first by lifting the active rowing arm up and out in front of you with no weight before lifting in the row position, as a pre-lift balance check.
I’m taking today off after yesterday’s big-big run, but I can’t wait to get back to KB’s tomorrow! This experiment’s a keeper! Thanks, Charlotte.
How fun! And, y’know, painful.
(I have a kettlebell. Unfortunately, I also have a sore elbow and need to get it right again before i pick the kbell back up. Another reader living vicariously through you!!!!!!)
That girl in the video is amazing!
Oh my good god. I hurt for that woman’s joints.
http://www.groundedfitness.com
Sorry to hear about your spill, especially without any gym buddies around to laugh over it with you!
I am really intrigued by kettlebells, must seek some out to try as they sound like a lot of fun AND a great workout.
I heart kettlebells…
well, I must say, there is really no enjoyment like seeing a flexible gal toss around a large set of balls… mmm mmm now that’s entertainment.
😉
Seriously, hope you are ok – this post has got me thinking about k.b’s again – i have never used one… i guess I had better start..