Kettlebells were made for so much more than swinging! Case in point: This routine uses just one ‘bell (and a four-legged spotter) to tone your whole body.
Struggling to find a pair of dumbbells in a packed weights area? Las ’em. One kettlebell is all you need to tone your whole body. This workout, by Men’s Health cover guy Johry Batt (and his adorable dogs, Duke and Harvey) uses just a kettlebell and your own body weight. And while there is a swing involved, that’s definitely not all you’ll be doing!
READ MORE: This trainer’s no-running cardio plan is what we’ve all been waiting for.
Kettlebell vs Dumbbell: What’s The Diff?
So what’s the difference between a kettlebell and a dumbbell? Aside from the obvious – they look nothing alike – a kettlebell’s centre off gravity is off centre. So when you use it, your body is making micro-corrections to keep the weight stable. You might not even notice them, but they’re strengthening your stabiliser muscles, which help in all exercises and daily life. The handles of a kettlebell are typically thicker than those of a dumbbell so you’re building grip strength. And the kettlebell is easier to manoeuvre, making it good for dynamic movements, like snatches and swings. Dumbbells, on the other hand, come into their own for more traditional, basic strength moves. It’s a lot easier to go heavy with dumbbells than with a kettlebell.
You can swing my be-e-ell…
READ MORE: “I tried that new HEAT class at Virgin Active. This is what it’s like.”
Your One-Kettlebell Workout
For this workout, you’ll need: A kettlebell; a timer
If your timer has intervals, set it for one-minute intervals. If it doesn’t, just make sure it displays seconds and keep your eye on it. Do the moves in order, starting each move at the start of a fresh minute, and do 10 to 15 reps. Rest for the remainder of that minute. When the next minute starts, do 10 to 15 reps of the next move. Once you’ve done all moves, take a breather, then go again. Do four rounds for a 20-minute workout. Or six rounds for a 30-minute workout.
Watch MH cover hottie Johry Batt demo the moves…
Looking for more? Check out Johry’s battle rope workout for serious fat burning!
