Kettle Bells Explained

What is A Kettle Bell?

While kettle bells, also known as kettle bells, may be new to your gym or fitness routine, they’ve actually been around since the 1700’s. A kettle bell is essentially a weighted sphere or bell with a handle on it.

Made from cast iron, they come in weights varying from 10 pounds to 106 pounds. They were developed in Russia and can be found at just about any gym or sporting goods store. Some of the increase in popularity is due to the show The Biggest Loser which uses them to help contestants lose weight.

This mainstream awareness of a kettle bell is great because it provides new options and awareness to the general public. However, because a kettle bell is a weight, they can be used improperly. Improper usage can cause serious injury.

How to Buy a Kettle Bell?

Best advice is to head to your second hand sporting goods store first. Kettle Balls can be quite expensive and a used one is as good as a new one. Cast iron wears pretty well. You can also find them in many specialty sporting goods stores. Ordering online is certainly an option however, they’re really heavy and shipping can cost more than the kettle bell itself.

How to Use a Kettle Bell

Lifting weights is fantastic for your health. Muscle looks great and it helps you have the best metabolism and fat burning possible. That being said, lifting weights is also a potentially dangerous activity. It’s strongly advised to have a personal trainer show you how to use them correctly.

Once you know how to perform key exercises with the kettle bell, then you can look into home workouts. You can create a workout yourself or purchase one of the many DVDs now available online and in your sporting goods or fitness store. When using a kettle bell, always make sure you have a spotter or someone to help you if you need it.

If you’re looking to add strength training to your home fitness program, kettle bells are a great investment. They don’t take up a lot of space and are easy to use. Visit your local gym for training on how to use them correctly and stay injury free.