Dumbbells versus Kettlebells: Which is the Fat Burning King?

Ok, so here is the debate. We are all familiar with dumbbells, and for many of us, they represent our first foray into working out. I can remember the first time I grabbed a pair myself. They were the 10lb ones with the red plastic casing. The kind filled with cement that after awhile started dropping cement dust all over the place. I remember how great it felt to do those curls and feel my biceps burn. Yep, dumbbells represent many a fond memory for most of us which is why it is so hard for some to accept that there may be another player on the scene that is a WHOLE lot more effective and burning fat and getting you into shape.

You might have guessed from the title that I am talking about kettlebells. Described by some as “cannonballs with handle”, kettlebells are fairly new to the US but have been making quite a splash of late in the world of fitness. I often snicker when I overhear “fitness experts” (read: MUSCLEHEADS) at the gym talking about the FAD of kettlebells and how it is a worthless piece of equipment and will never compare to the workout you can get with a dumbbell. I even overheard some cry out “you can’t even do bench presses with them!” Well, here are the facts…

Kettlebells, while they may be new to you, are NOT new at all. In fact, history finds them showing up in a Russian dictionary as early as 1704, with some estimates dating them much earlier. Kettlebells, unlike dumbbells, require the use of your entire body when performing many of the exercises. Dumbbells often revolve around isolating one muscle at a time. For instance, one of the core exercises of the kettlebell, the swing, recruits just about every major muscle group to perform the movement. This type of workout will not only burn more fat than simply curling or pressing using a dumbbell, it will work to stretch and strengthen your entire body at the same time. As you build muscle over your ENTIRE frame, that increased muscle will in turn burn more calories working to speed up the fat loss you experience from using kettlebells.

To truly experience the difference, all you have to do is watch someone who is skilled with using a kettlebell alongside someone who is skilled at using dumbbells. The kettlebeller will be squatting, exploding upward, forcing the kettlebell through the air, and performing a full body workout while moving the whole time. The person handling the dumbbell will…curl their arm…lay on a bench and press up…stand still while doing triceps extensions…need I say more? But listen, don’t take my word for it…I have lost so much fat lately using the kettlebell, my brain may not be working right…;-) Pick up a kettlebell and get some instruction from a certified kettlebell instructor. After a few sessions, you may never pick up a dumbbell again. Heck, you may never NEED to…

By: Emile A. Jarreau

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