In place of my usual Flashback Friday, I’m calling today’s post Fitness Friday, because that’s exactly what it is. I just have to share, and it can’t wait. That’s what you get over here at JL. Pure spontaneity.
Right.
I tried kettlebells for the first time last night.
What the hail is a kettlebell, you ask? Well, you can find out everything you need to know about kettlebells by clicking that linky (but make sure you come back–there’s some nice pictures coming up). Kettlebells are basically just a cast iron weight with a handle.
The physics of the whole thing is that by extending the weight beyond your hand, you are able to swing the weight in ways that you can’t with traditional dumbbells. The theory is that the sheer mechanics of using kettlebells allow you to derive better results faster, but I’ll have to get back to you on that one.
I’ve been wanting to try kettlebells for quite some time, but in all honesty, I was scared. The idea of handing a clumsy, accident/injury prone girl a 20 pound weight with a handle, and telling her to press it over her head (or swing it between her legs) was just a little daunting. So, I enlisted the help of one of my best friends.
[kettlebell what?]
Robert has been with me through the thick and thin of ten years of life and injured limb. When I was just a wee jogger, he was the one who dragged me up hills that I didn’t think that I could make it up. He helps me find confidence and bravery that I didn’t know that I possessed. He’s the fitness angel that we all need in our lives.
He’s also kind of pleasing to the eye.
Don’t let the boyish good looks and rippling muscles fool you.
He’s a highly skilled master trainer, professional boxer, and all around good guy. And while you’re distracted by his forearms and laughing at his stupid jokes, he is plotting your demise in the form of kettlebell swings. He’s like a fitness ninja.
[p.s...your welcome, dear readers.]
I learned some kettlebell basics last night, but I still have a helluva lotta some work to do. I plan to spend the next week practicing with a kettlebell that Robert let me borrow. I think this will lead to me getting my own kettlebells, because I really enjoyed the challenge and variety that last nights’ workout offered.
Over the next week (in addition to getting some pool and bike time so that I can be semi-prepared for IronGirl Syracuse on 8/7), I’ll be studying videos on Youtube about how to do kettlebell swings, kettlebell presses, and kettlebell shoulder presses.
Hint: It’s not as easy as the experts make it look…but that won’t stop me from trying.
