Kettlebell Queen

As I head into a New Year, I happily pack the Christmas decorations away and vow to create a ‘whole new me’, how original! However, this year I have a secret weapon, this New Year I have swapped jingle bells for Kettlebells!  This year I aim to be a Kettlebell Queen;  fitness tool has become fashionable, it can be picked up in any supermarket and used correctly it has the power to sculpt our bodies into whatever we want them to be. It is of course a weight and should be used carefully and correctly to ensure it causes us no injury, I attend Everybody Fit’s Kettlercise class every Monday from 18.15 to 19.15 and I love it, it sets me up for the week. The atmosphere is great and the minute I step into the class I am amongst friends.

When I started my journey, whenever I was asked what my goal was I only ever gave one response; I wanted to be able to run. To me running was the definition of fitness. I wanted to be out running with the masses on a Sunday morning, I even contemplated a race. As my personal trainer introduced me into new training methods my sense of empowerment came mostly from using weights, it made me feel strong and proud, after Kettlercise on a Monday evening I feel that no matter what the week has to throw at me I have the strength to take it on with confidence and it is that inner confidence that I love. Not only does this class make you look good on the outside it makes you feel good on the inside too, really good.

The misconceptions of women and the use of weights are slowly changing. Many still have the idea that this will ‘bulk’ women up and that woman will suddenly sport the figure of a body builder – this is completely not true. Women simply do not have the hormones to develop such muscles without extreme training.  Here are some of the other advantages to Kettlercise I have been taught by the coaches at Everybody Fit:

You’ll Blast More Fat

Forget that “fat-burning” zone on the treadmill. According to new studies, strength training is better at helping people lose belly fat compared with cardio. While aerobic exercise burns both fat and muscle, weight lifting burns almost exclusively fat. Bonus!

You’ll Burn More Calories

Just sitting on your butt reading this, you’re burning calories—if you lift weights, that is. Your muscle mass largely determines your resting metabolic rate—how many calories you burn by just living and breathing. The more muscle you have, the more energy your body expends. This means everything you do, from brushing your teeth, to sleeping, to checking Instagram, you’ll be burning more calories”

You’ll Be Stronger Mentally

“Strength has a funny way of bleeding into all areas of your life, in class and out,” says Cheryl my Kettlercise instructor. By constantly challenging yourself to do things you never thought possible, your confidence grows, Kettlercise empowers you.

You’ll Strengthen Your Bones

Kettercise doesn’t only train your muscles; it trains your bones. When you perform a curl, for example, your muscles tug on your arm’s bones. The cells within those bones react by creating new bone cells this means your bones become stronger and more dense.

You’ll Drop a Size

Strength training has a reputation of making women “bulk up.” But it’s not true. The more your weight comes from muscle, rather than fat, the smaller you’ll be.

Finally…..You’ll Be a Better Runner

Stronger muscles mean better performance—period. Your core will be better able to support your body’s weight and maintain ideal form during other exercises (like running), plus your arms and legs will be more powerful. What’s more, since strength training increases the number and size of calorie-torching muscle fibres fuelling your performance, strength training could actually help you burn more calories during your cardio workouts.

When put down on paper I love this work out and in reality it inspires me and empowers me. As someone who has weight still to lose this class is about me and my ‘bell pushing limits and defying the misconceptions that women cannot lift weights. Walking out of class my confidence is through the roof. There is one down fall though if you’re new to this you may feel a ‘little’ stiff the morning after. Let’s face it though muscle soreness is the most satisfying pain!

Everybody Fit Kettlercise, Queens Drive Primary School

Monday 18.15 – 19.15 £4 per class

£1 for kettlebell hire. www.everybodyfituk.com