2nd Annual Kettlebell Challenge – $500 in Prizes

Happy New Year, everybody!

Are you ready for the 2nd annual kettlebell challenge? It’s a new year and it’s time to get in shape.

According to recent research from the American Council on Exercise, working out with kettlebells burns 1,200 calories per hour and:

delivers more fat-fighting and body-toning benefits than doing 30 minutes on the treadmill and 30 minutes of traditional weight lifting (Source)

In other words, working out with kettlebells is equivalent to DOUBLE the time doing weight training or cardio. Double the impact means you get results TWICE as fast.

Check Out the Before and After Photos from Last Year

Don’t believe me? Click here to check out the before and after pictures from the winners from last year’s Kettlebell challenge! The results were impressive!

Get Your Kettlebell On!

Join me and let’s get the spring back in our butts and get our bellies ready for bikini weather.

We can all help each other get in shape by doing this TOGETHER. I know I need the support. I hope you will join me!

Oh and did I mention the PRIZES? I’m giving away $500 in prizes to the winners.

Man, do you guys realize how far ahead of the game we will be by the time it’s bikini season?

So here’s how it works:

Send me your before photo and measurements.

Work out with kettlebells 3-5 times a week for 4 weeks, 20-25 minutes each time, get points, and win prizes!

Click here to enter and log your workouts.

The Kettlebell Challenge officially starts Friday January 4th and ends five weeks later on Thursday February 7th.

Note: You may not start logging workouts until Friday, Jan 4th!

Send me your after photos and measurements no later than February 14th.

Winners will be announced on Monday, February 18th.

Winners will be chosen based on final number of points AND results based on before and after photos, measurements, dress size, and weight.

Enter to Win $500 in Prizes

Four participants will win the following prizes (one prize per person):

Grand Prize: $200 Amazon Gift Certificate for anything you want. Maybe it’s that skinny pair of designer jeans you are GOING to fit into — or how about some Vibram Fivefingers or an iPod Touch to load your tunes on? Whatever you decide to get, make sure it is something that is a special treat that you love and makes you feel happy. Retail value $200
First Prize: 12 months of Audible membership – I LOVE my Audible membership! You can listen to audiobooks while you work out. (Yeah, you know you’re going to have that kettlebell DVD memorized.) Get a new audiobook every month. Retail value $150
Second Prize: FitBit One Wireless Activity & Sleep Tracker – Wear a FitBit and you can track your steps and activity. I love mine — it keeps me motivated to stay active. Retail value $100
Third Prize: $50 lululemon gift certificate Don’t you love lululemon athletic clothing? Use this gift certificate for anything on their website or in their stores. Retail value $50

Before I get into the details of how to participate, the very first thing you need to do is get your hands on a kettlebell.

What Kind of Kettlebell?

You can find kettlebells from 10 to 25 pounds (you can find heavier kettlebells, too, if you’re a guy or you’re training for the next Iron Man).

GoFit recommends that fit females begin with 15- to 20-pound Kettlebells and fit males with 25- to 35-pound Kettlebells. Women who are just getting started with an exercise program should begin with 10 pounds, while beginning men should start at 15 to 20 pounds.

You will need to get a heavier kettlebell at some point — once you’ve mastered the workout and have hit a plateau. I will probably get a 15-pound kettlebell next, and then eventually a 20-pounder.

You only need one kettlebell, not two. If you want to get two, go for it. But you really only need one to get started. (Some of the exercises they have in the DVD have you using two, but I just worked around that.)

Where to Buy a Kettlebell

You can find kettlebells at most sporting goods stores. I think I have also seen them at stores like Target.

I got mine on Amazon. If you have Amazon Prime, the shipping is free. Yes, even for a 25-pound kettlebell!

A note on Amazon Prime: I really recommend signing up for this. You pay $75 per year and shipping is free all year long. I’ve been doing this for a number of years now, and I figure that the $75 I spend pays for itself when you add up all the countless hours I’m not wasting shopping in stores. I don’t know what you think your time is worth, but say it’s worth $25 per hour. Signing up for Amazon prime PAYS FOR ITSELF in just three hours you’re NOT out there shopping. I now buy everything I can on Amazon, since I’ve already paid for the shipping and it’s more time I don’t have to shop. Click here to sign up for Amazon Prime.

Anyway, here are the GoFit kettlebells I found on Amazon. They are 10, 15, 20 and 25 pounds. (You can get heavier ones, to — just search on Amazon.

All of the GoFit kettlebells listed below include a DVD you can use to do your workouts. It is a 25-minute workout and it is the one that I use and recommend.

When I posted those last night, they were all eligible for Prime shipping. I swear! And now they’re not.

However, the ones below ARE eligible for free Prime shipping. These two, the Tone Fitness and GoFit Contoured both come with a DVD. (Note: Only SOME of the colors/sizes of the GoFit Contoured kettlebells are eligible for Prime)

Here are some more kettlebells that are eligible for free Prime shipping but do not come with DVDs:

How to Work Out With Kettlebells

I recommend getting one of the GoFit kettlebells I listed above because they come with a workout DVD. If you get a different kettlebell that does not have a DVD included, look on YouTube for kettlebell and you will find lots of workouts.

There is also a routine you can learn on the Prevention magazine website.

You can also just learn the various moves and make up your own routine. Remember, the workout is 20-25 minutes.

How to Participate in the Kettlebell Challenge

1. Enter your email address below to join my mailing list. You must be on my mailing list to qualify for prizes. If you’re already on it, you don’t need to do anything.

2. Take your before photo and send to me along with your measurements, dress size, and weight to annmarie@realfoodmedia.com.

3. Click here to enter and log your workouts.

You MUST log your workouts on Cheeseslave.com for them to be counted.

4. After the challenge is over, send me your AFTER photo along with your measurements, dress size, and weight to annmarie@realfoodmedia.com. After photo and measurements must be received no later than February 14th.

Winners will be announced on Monday, February 18th.

That’s it! See you guys this Friday!

Got Questions?

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If you have questions, please post them below in the comments.

Want to Talk About The Kettlebell Challenge?

Please post your comments below.

Photo credits: Kettlebell by andrewmalone, on Flickr and Untitled by zorbs, on Flickr
Disclosure: cmp.ly/4 and cmp.ly/5