Rise and shine! It’s Day 4 of the Kettlebell Challenge!
Are you swinging your kettlebell yet? So far we’ve had 68 people sign up and over 50 people have sent me their before photos and measurements.
Want to learn how you can enter for a chance to win? I’m giving away $500 in prizes. click here to visit the Kettlebell Challenge page and learn all about it.
Send Your Measurements and Before Photos
If you want to join us in the Kettlebell Challenge, and you have not yet sent me your before photos and measurements, please do. Click here to read how to do that.
Nobody likes to post their Fatty McFat Fat pictures up on the internet. I can think of about 10,000 other things I’d rather do.
But there’s a thing — it’s called ACCOUNTABILITY. When you put yourself out there, you are accountable. And this makes it harder to quit!
Starting anything new is difficult, and exercise is not fun, especially when you’re out of shape and it hurts.
But it gets easier as you go along and you’ll be glad once you’ve done it!
Now, I will not your photos unless and until you also send me your AFTER photos after the challenge is over — and only if you win.
And you’re welcome to crop off your head if you choose.
My Before Photos
I am posting my before photos in a show of solidarity.
I have always been thin but since I had a baby in 2007, I have carried a little extra weight around my middle.
I think I’m about 15-20 pounds overweight (but I’m not sure — see below).
My Weight and Measurements
I have no idea what I weigh or what my measurements are. I’m currently in Las Vegas on business.
Yes, I brought my kettlebell and my kettlebell DVD. I’m about to do my second workout of the challenge this morning.
I will ask the hotel if they have a scale in the gym so I can weigh myself, and I will drive to a drugstore TODAY so I can pick up a tape measure.
I’ll update this post with my weight and measurements when I get the info.
My Objective for the Kettlebell Challenge
I am doing this kettlebell challenge to get in shape. My work is extremely sedentary. The company I run is extremely demanding and I spend, on average, 12-16 hours per day on a computer and/or sitting at a desk doing conference calls. I just never seem to find the time to break away for a session at the gym. (That’s one of the reasons I love kettlebells. You just have to find 20-25 minutes and pop in a DVD. There really is no excuse!)
I get winded going up a flight of stairs and it’s hard for me to carry my 50-pound 5-year-old. I want to change this. I want to be stronger and have more energy and stamina.
If my extra tummy fat starts to melt away in this process, that’s fabulous. If I lose a dress size and have to buy some new jeans, that’s wonderful. But this is not my primary aim.
My main goal is to build muscle and get in better shape. (And if you have more muscle on your frame, your metabolism improves and you can eat more. Which is always a bonus in my book.)
I am NOT dieting when I do this Kettlebell Challenge. I don’t believe in dieting and I’m committed to never dieting again. Dieting SUCKS and I don’t believe in counting calories or carbs. Life is too short to be in a hate-hate relationship with food.
I will be watching my intake of food. In other words, not overeating.
If I finish the kettlebell challenge (minimum of 3 workouts per week for 5 weeks), I am going to buy myself a pair of Vibram 5 Fingers, something I’ve been wanting for a long time. Maybe I’ll also take myself out to a nice dinner at one of my favorite restaurants.
Think about what you will do to reward yourself when you complete the challenge.
Log Your Workouts in the Kettlebell Challenge
Here’s the widget so you can log your workouts:
Mandatory Entry – Sign Up for My Mailing List
How to Log Workouts
Remember to log your workouts every time you do them. I’ve read that it’s best to do kettlebells every other day, not every day. Although you can work out as often as you like.
Winners will be chosen based on RESULTS (weight and inches lost, before and after photos), not the number of times you work out.
Please note — you can only log your workouts ONCE PER DAY. So you must come back to this page to log your workouts on the days that you do them.
Click here to read the rules of the Kettlebell Challenge.
How’s It Going?
Please post your comments below. I want to hear how it’s going for you!
I’ll post regular challenge posts every week so we can ask questions, vent, and share.
Photo credits: Kettlebell by andrewmalone, on Flickr and Untitled by zorbs, on Flickr
Disclosure: cmp.ly/4 and cmp.ly/5
{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you for doing this challenge. I need it! I didn’t workout yesterday as I had a horrible day and probably wouldn’t today either if it weren’t for the accountability. So thank you for being my motivation.
My husband and I have the vibrim 5 finger shoes. My husband wears them everywhere and says he cannot wear regular shoes anymore (they hurt). He has some nodules in the inside arch of his foot and since getting the shoes, he no longer has issues with discomfort from those nodules. He recently bought a pair of shoes with the footless technology that look like dress shoes. He loves those too.
I use mine specifically for running. I love them for working muscles that normal running shoes don’t.
Good luck. I am hoping you reach your goal. The shoes are awesome!!!
What kettlebell workout do you do?
I am using the Iron Core Kettlebell DVD with Sarah Lurie.
I might try the fitness blender one today or one on YouTube
http://www.fitnessblender.com/
The fitness blender one is too long — 45 minutes so I may just do half of it.
I was going to to my 3rd workout in as many days today but I can barely walk! Today will have to be a skip day or maybe do some light yoga.
How about squat down and pick something up? Can you do that? Lol, I am with you girl! I have been working out with kettlebells for a couple years now BUT I get distracted by life and for one reason or another I stop my workouts for a time. All that to say: it hurts when you start working those muscles you’ve been ignoring and kettlebells do an excellent job of working muscles that apparently don’t get much use in an average day. And every time I get distracted it means yet another opportunity to start again, and feel the burn! My inner thighs are singing the blues right now! You might want to stick to an every-other-day schedule to allow for muscle repair. I am planning to do that but on the off days I’ll do a stretching routine that I love.
Just sent in my photos and measurements! So excited. Yesterday I did the Jillian Micheal’s Kettle Bell DVD and today I am going to try the http://www.fitnessblender.com/ beginner kettle bell workout that someone had suggested in a comment in the previous kettle challenge post. Its on YouTube so I’m going to use the new apple TV I got for Christmas to watch it!
I love my Vibram 5 Fingers shoes! My legs and feet are so much stronger, and have more muscle than when I wore “normal” running shoes. Also, I do not experience arch pain any more since using them. It is my goal to be able to run a whole marathon in them, however, I am up to 5 miles while wearing them, so I am satisfied for now.
I think they are a great reward for finishing!
I can’t wait to get them!
Another thing I wanted to mention was that I do not wear them for just running. I wear them for everyday use as well, because I am so addicted to them! They are so stinking comfortable once your feet adopt to them…
Doing 2 workouts in a row was most definitely a mistake for me! Too sore to do anything the past 2 days. I even soaked in Epsom salts to try to feel a bit better (works, BTW!) I am going to move into an every other day kettlebell groove and try to hit the gym for light runs on the treadmill on the off days. Fingers crossed!
Good job! You’ll get less sore the more you do it.
So nothing has changed..still can not log workouts…so do I stop trying to log them in forget competing in this challenge?
@Lissa
Are you clicking on the ENTER TO WIN tab? If you are clicked on RECENT ACTIVITY you can’t enter.
Please tell me what error messages you are getting so I can help you.
Same as it has been since day one
RECENT ACTIVITY HI, LISSA
Recent_Activity_is_on_vacation.+1
We’re_cooking_up_something_awesome…+1
…to_replace_it….Stay_tuned!!!+1
Ann Marie, I do not get the Rafflecopter… I clicked on “recent activity” because that sounded like possibly where we’re supposed to log out workouts, but it said again “recent activity is on vacation,” which is what it said on Friday when I tried to log my first workout. (So I was unable to log it properly.) I thought that meant it wasn’t working. Hmmm. So I clicked on “Enter to win” and I *think* it logged my workout. As you know I’m already subscribed and I already Like you on Facebook. Sorry to be a pain, but Rafflecopter is not self-evident to me.
Anyway, I did another 20-minute workout today. Yay me! I actually took my photos but haven’t figured out how to upload them to my computer, so I’ll try to mail them directly from my phone. Thanks!
@Jeanmarie
Yes they changed the Rafflecopter widget for some reason. I was confused by it too.
Just click the ENTER to WIN tab and then click the 10 point button to log your workouts.
OK, good, I guess I was on the right track after all. Thanks!
Just sent in my measurements and before photos. Not happy about where I ended up at but really glad for this to motivate me to keep it up, especially when I am so sore today. Got my second workout in anyways and motivated to keep moving forward.
Great job, Celeste!
I’ve done 1.5 workouts so far.
Last night it was late and I was SO tired but I got in half a workout! Today I”m going to do 1.5 workouts!
Hi!
I know you’re super busy, but I just wanted to make sure you’ve received my email with measurements and pic. Thanks!!
Yes, I received it – thanks!
I was wondering the same thing as Ruthie. I forgot to send my stats with the photos so when I sent the e-mail with the stats I asked the same question: did you get my e-mail with the photos?
@Bebe
Yep, just checked and I got ‘em!
You GO, girl!
Unfortunately, I’m having severe lower back pain. I couldn’t walk yesterday and just managed a modified version of a kettlebell workout today (I can’t bend over). I just got my period (had a baby nine months ago) for the first time since becoming pregnant and I think that’s what is causing this back pain.
Seeing a massage therapist Friday. Hopefully I can fully commit soon!
@Kim Hang in there! I hope you feel better SOON!
I did this (free) workout today:
http://www.fitnessblender.com/v/exercise-detail/Kettlebell-til-you-Drop-Total-Body-Kettlebell-Workout-Video/dv/
It was pretty good!
I did 30 minutes because yesterday I only did 10 minutes — so I logged one yesterday and one today.
Let’s see how my muscles feel tomorrow! Gonna try to work out again in the morning.
By the way I still do not have a tape measure nor do I have a scale
Have not been able to weigh or measure myself.
I’ll do it by the end of this week!
So, as of yesterday, I had done 2 workouts, but had only logged one. So, I logged another one, but when I look at the widget this morning, it only has 20 pts. down for me, 10 for FB and 10 for the newsletter. It says Hi Ruthie, so I know I’m logged in. I plan to do another workout today, so then the widget will be 2 behind what I’ve actually completed. Has anyone else come across this, that it won’t keep in memory your logged workout from 1 day to the next? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!
I tried this workout today and really liked it .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkXw9hB0Zpo
I have some issues with my knees (figure skating injuries in my youth coming back to haunt me) and was not able to do the Turkish ones, otherwise, I liked the variety.
hmmm.. Was reading someone’s comment about the widget not recording right so I looked at my totals and it only shows 30 for me. I did the 20 points for the facebook and newsletter plus 4 workouts.
I worked out again today, Thursday the 10th, woohoo! I am purposely keeping the time low, just 20 minutes each time, to convince myself that it is no big deal to do a workout. (I’m also a fan of the idea of short, intensive weight-training sessions.) I have a history of starting workout programs, going whole hog at first, only to peter out after the initial flush of enthusiasm is replaced by daily time pressures and stress. Pretty much what happened last year! I’m sure *nobody else* has ever had this happen, right? Hah!
So, thanks for giving us the structure of the Kettlebell Challenge to help us out!