It seems that many of my clients and readers of my Blog don’t quite understand kettlebells…MANY don’t even know what they are! So I mad a promise to one of my Adventure Boot Campers to take care of that today;-) Now It is 430 PM as I am writing this and I was up working on a new program at 330 AM today (not a nap anywhere), so if you catch any mistakes or just stupid stuff…FORGIVE ME…I”M DUSTED:-)
OK, Russian Kettlebells:
have actually been around in one form or another since…oh, say the 1700’s. They are basically a form of dumbbell, except the handle is on top rather than in the center. They are different from normal dumbbells in that they are not so much for lifting as throwing. Now that does not mean that you actually let go and throw the things because that could kill someone! Rather Russian Kettlebells are used for swinging.
Why use these goofy looking things? More on Kettlebells
Guess what everyone…it is true! Weight Loss is tough, demanding, and sometimes downright annoying.
Some days are good, some months are bad. Sometimes you can’t seem to drop an ounce no matter how hard you exercise. Sometimes you gain a damn pound when you think you are doing everything right! DAMN!
Guess what…it is the same for 95% of the American Population. It is probably true for you, and it is even true for me. Yea, I am human too. Those other 5% have genetics built in for being lean, and that just is. So forget them and focus on us.
As I was cooking my breakfast I reflected back on the great workout I just have, which followed a great workout for the ladies in my 5:30 AM San Jose Adventure Boot Camp class. You see, it is getting cold and winter is coming on. My workout session was outside on my back patio: Kettlebells, TRX, a nice run (until my calf decided to stop the run and turn it into a walk), sweat pants, thermals, and a thick beanie hat. The thought crossed my mind to move my equipment indoors, and then I said to myself: Hell No! Be tough and work out! I KNOW THE VALUE OF BEING WARM WHILE TRAINING…I even posted a blog about it! So why not be warm while in the cold, forcing the body to work harder? Sounds good! But that is not it.
Traditionally in the bodybuilding and weight lifting community, winter is the time to ‘Bulk Up!’ Time to add all that muscle mass and get big. Then when spring hits it is time to shred off all that fat and get lean again for the beach. As I thought about this concept and related it to my goals, I realized that the whole concept was a cop out and generally bullshit! (excuse me;-)
Think about it, how much muscle can you put on during the winter? Then figure out how much you will lose when dropping the body fat…pretty much a wash?
Now think a bit harder…how great can you look in your clothes during the winter if you get in shape and stay in shape? Yea, getting the idea? Forget the idea that winter means heavy clothes and jackets all the time, because we have HEAT INDOORS! How about some nice jeans and a tight shirt to reveal all your hard work? By the way…following this concept, YOU ARE READY FOR SPRING AND SUMMER AS SOON AS THEY ARIVE! All you need is a tan;-)
Don’t give up on your fitness program during the winter. Keep working towards your dream!
Now GO WORKOUT!
Brett A. Riesenhuber
©2008 Prime Physique, LLC.
Well the weather is cooling down here in Northern California…at least at night and in the mornings. Now to many, 50 degrees is not cool at all…but it is here. It will get worse as we get into the 40’s and even 30’s. People in climates with temps below this are laughing at me right now;-) Whatever!
Here’s the point. Body fat is there for a reason. The reason is to give us protection in times of cold and starvation…like winter! Well, winter is approaching quickly and your body wants the fat to stay warm and protect during the winter starvation. The body does not know that we have warm clothes and tons of food during the holidays to get fat with…the body is very similar to the way it was way back when things were not this way.
So what’s the point? Don’t eat like a pig during the winter? Well, that is too obvious to state! How about this:
The body uses fat to stay warm…so stay warm while exercising to burn fat! I say this because my San Jose Adventure Boot Camp program meets at 5:30 AM and it is 50 degrees, and will get down into the 30’s in the next few months. My campers still get warm with the great exercising we do out there. What then? Well they strip off layers to cool down. OK, that sounds logical right? Not really…the body then feels the cold and will burn less fat!
Swimmers in warm water will have more body fat than swimmers in cold water. Studies have been done! If you remember one thing, remember that.
We like nice air-conditioned places to workout…just like we want to park right in front of the damn gym so we don’t have to walk too far before we run for 30 minutes on the treadmill. Can we say stupid and lazy?!?!? Come on! Gyms should not be cold! You should park as far away from where you are going as possible (in the parking lot…let’s not get too crazy;-).
Stay warm = Burn FAT
More Activity = Burn FAT
Stay active and stay warm and you will continue to progress in your fat loss!
Now GO WORKOUT!
Brett A. Riesenhuber
©2008 Prime Physique, LLC.
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