Discovering new ways to lose fat and get in shape is obviously big business. It seems that every day there is a new piece of equipment or a new “revolutionary workout” that is being advertised on TV or fitness magazines. Everything from incredibly complex abdominal machines, to high end home gyms that cost as much as your mortgage payment, and even, (and this is my FAVORITE), machines that actually ELECTROCUTE your muscles are being sold each and every day. With all of these choices being thrust at us all the time, how can we choose? How do we know which ones are really worth the time, effort, and expense? Well, have no fear, because I have the answer for you. I am going to tell you about one of the newest and most effective exercise tools on the market and one that will literally transform the way you think about exercise, AND will dramatically speed up the results you get.

Now, before you get the wrong idea and think that I am no better than the plethora of ads I just talked about, let me say that this tool is new, only to us. What I am talking about has been around for hundreds of years, but has only recently been introduced here in the US. Give up? I am talking about the Russian kettlebell.

Remember when I asked “How do we know which ones are really worth the time, effort, and expense?” How about 300 plus years of proven results? The kettlebell has been around since 1700, maybe even before that. Russians used the bell, which resembles a cannonball with a handle, as a counterbalance in their open air food markets. Some of the market owners started lifting the weights for fun and challenging each other to lift heavier and heavier weights and thus, a new sport was formed. Because of the unique design of the bell, an amazing array of lifts and exercises were possible and some even began throwing around the large handled bells to add even more intensity to the workout.

Working out with a kettlebell is unlike anything you have ever tried before. The basic idea of the kettlebell is to use your entire body to move the bell through space and using principles of physics, the weight is transferred through all of your muscles increasing the calories you burn and the muscles you work out. Rather than just standing still and lifting a dumbbell or barbell, the kettlebell is an active exercise often involving swinging the bell, power lifting moves such as the clean and snatch, and for those who are really experienced, even hand to hand drills that involve throwing and catching the bell just as the Russians did hundreds of years ago.

If you are looking for a new and EXCITING way to tighten and tone your body, pick up a kettlebell and give it a try. I can promise you, it is addictive, and VERY effective. You may start to experience your body looking and feeling stronger and leaner than it has ever been before. The newest piece of exercise equipment may just be one of the oldest. Kettlebells have been around for hundreds of years, don’t you think it’s time you tried them out?

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• A Women’s Guide to Enjoying Time at the Gym. (0)

We have all seen them. I call them Gym fly’s. The guys that hang around the gym and do more talking than working out. They have the latest workout clothes, and are sipping on their carbohydrate and protein loaded fitness drink while they work their jaws. They LOOK the part, but in reality, they are simply LOOKING. Their target? Women.

From my experience, most women are at the gym to do one thing: workout. They are not interested in meeting guys and they are not impressed by how much weight you can throw overhead or how cool your arms look in your wife beater. The problem is, gym fly’s don’t get this. They often hover around these ladies ready to offer their “advice” to the “helpless woman.” Well ladies, listen up. Here are a few tips to help you keep these BUGS away from you and help you concentrate on getting a serious workout!

1. Knowledge is power…use it! – Many guys love to go up to women to give them advice on their lifting technique or workout in general. First of all, if ANYONE is going to put themselves out there in this way, you MUST be tactful…most of these guys AREN’T. Secondly, the fact is, a lot of their advice is often flat out WRONG. Women, if you do your homework and brush up on both your workout knowledge and technique, you will put THEM in their place. Trust me, they will leave you alone.

2. When in doubt, bring a friend – Working out with a partner will not only help keep your workouts focused and safe, it will also help keep the unwanted gym fly’s at bay. People who are together are less likely to be bothered when working out

3. Crank up the music – I like to listen to music when I workout personally. Rather than dealing with whatever is pumped through the speakers at the gym, I like to pop in the ear buds of my iPod. If you are there to concentrate on getting in shape, not socializing, then listening to music or audio books via earphones will surely let others know you mean business. Anyone who decides to interrupt you had better have a good reason as the simple fact that you will have to stop and pull out your earphones will deter many from even bothering.

4. Don’t go to the gym – Wait a second, don’t go to the gym? Yes, I said it. See, the mere fact that there are so many distractions at gyms makes working out at a gym not an option for a growing contingent of fitness buffs. This is not to say DON’T WORKOUT, but instead, workout outside of gyms at a boot camp style class. Obviously, you won’t have to deal with the aforementioned gymflys, nor any of the other interruptions and distractions that keep you from what you really want to do…get in shape! Outdoor workouts are a great alternative and if you take some time to learn a little about all the ways you can get in shape just using your own bodyweight, you may decide to stay away from the gym altogether.

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