Getting started with kettlebells

My love affair with kettlebells is well documented on this blog, but since I got a question from Beth I am going to compile a handful of resources to kick off the post.

This is the website of a kettlebell centric gym in Palo Alto: http://giryastrength.com/index.html  The site has articles and resources and is a good place to do some research.

If you want to find out more, here are some more resources:  http://tracyrif.blogspot.com/ and http://tracysfoodandthought.blogspot.com/ These are both blogs by the same gal (Tracy Reifkind) where she talks about her evolution - using the kettlebell to help her lose 120 pounds and become a personal trainer. The blogs contain routines and videos.

If you want more, look for Tracy's products on amazon. She has produced a lot of kettlebell videos as well as published a book: The Swing Tracy has studied, trained, and is certified in the most prestigious kettlebell certification programs around. The kettlebell is great, but I've seen videos where famous trainers are showing you exercises that are at best a waste of time and at worst downright dangerous the way they are being done. They're jumping on the bandwagon without being familiar with the tool.

I've learned what I've learned through a combination of online research, watching videos, trial and error, and going to certified trainers. They've been happy to meet with me for an hour to review my form.

If you are interested in looking for a trainer to help you in person, start here   https://www.strongfirst.com/  StrongFirst is where I found the gyms in Durham where I found trainers willing to meet with me for a one off session since I lived so far away. It's also where I found the trainer I'm working with now that's actually close enough to see regularly! They are a lot more common now than a decade ago when I got started. You don't have to go the trainer route, but it's been helpful for me.

Yesterday I went swimming, and let me tell you it was hard to head out in 24 degree weather to the pool! Today I did the elliptical at lunch and I'm meeting with Brad at the kettlebell gym after work. Then we are going out to eat here:  https://www.cleaneatz.com/ :-) Healthy AND no dishes! Lol

I did get my table cleaned off but my guest room still looks like the hurricane hit our house instead of the coast. Since Jan (ex MIL) is dog sitting this weekend I have to get that sucker cleaned up!!

I'm working on doing the things I need to do and doing the rest as I can manage. Priorities. And I am a priority!

Take care!! :-)