Kettlebell Workouts - Are They Just a Fad?

Kettlebells have been trending for quite a while now, although they still haven't made it to households as common exercise equipments like dumbbells. They are being popularly used in boot camp or weight training classes. The lightest one I saw weighed 5 lbs. Those who prefer working out with 1 to 3 lb weights are probably better off using dumbbells because they offer a greater range of weights to choose from. Typically made of cast-iron, they offer a total body workout.

One of the common exercises with the kettlebell involves squatting down with the kettlebell handle held in both hands, then thrusting up your body in a strong, fluid motion, bringing your arms straight out in front of you, letting the kettlebell swing outward while grasping onto it with control. This works out the arms as well as trapezoid muscles (the ones along the lower back of the neck, which give a beautiful shape to your neck when toned); the glutes are used every time you squat, the core is largely engaged to keep the posture upright and provide balance when moving with the weight. Repetition of this exercise, even 10 times, will definitely create a cardio workout. The video here demonstrates the exercise (at 0:54)



The same exercise can be done with dumbbells too, but it may not be as high-impact as with a kettlebell. The swinging motion provokes the whole body to become responsive to distribute the weight evenly on your body. Dumbbells only have a short handle which doesn't provide as much of a momentum as the kettlebell's handle. Therefore, I think that even though kettlebells are a fad, they have a great utility, providing a greater total body workout as opposed to the classic dumbbells.    

Anyone using kettlebells to workout?

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