It’s time to announce the winners of the Kettlebell Challenge. We swung kettlebells for 5 weeks. Four people will win prizes — a total of $250 worth.
OK, first of all, I just have to say, you guys ROCK.
Secondly, did I mention how much you guys totally rock?
I am so proud of you! Congratulations to everyone who attempted the challenge. Even if you did not meet the goals you set for yourself, the fact that you got started is HUGE. That’s the hardest part.
If you did not succeed, I challenge you to get back to it. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
I totally failed at the challenge. I did only completed 5 workouts. I had a very stressful month, was working a lot, and ended up getting sick from overwork. Life came in like a hurricane and totally swept aside my dreams of completing this challenge.
But when I look at these photos you are about to see, I’m so psyched and ready to get back to my kettlebell.
I was so blown away when I opened up the before and after pics. Just wait until you see (scroll down to skip ahead if you can’t stand the suspense).
The results these ladies produced in just 5 short weeks are nothing short of astounding.
I hope, after reading this post, you are all ready to start doing kettlebell work outs. I know I am!
Winners of the Kettlebell Challenge
The Prizes
In case you forgot, here are the prizes:
Four participants will win the following prizes (one prize per person):
Grand Prize: $150 Amazon Gift Certificate
First Prize: Apple iPod shuffle 2 GB
Second Prize: 3 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.) Retail value $45
Third Prize: Conair Foot Bath with Bubbles and Heat
OK so here are the winners and their before and after pictures and stats:
GRAND PRIZE WINNER: Melissa V.
Bust Before: 47
Bust After: 45.5
Inches Lost: 1.5
Waist Before: 48
Waist After: 44
Inches Lost: 4
Hips Before: 50
Hips After: 46
Inches Lost: 4
Upper Arm Before: 15.5
Upper Arm After: 15
Inches Lost: 0.5
Upper Thigh Before: 27.5
Upper Thigh After: 25.5
Inches Lost: 2
Weight Before: 259
Weight After: 246
Pounds Lost: 13
Total Workouts (Kettlebells or Cardio for 20 Minutes): 16
Average Workouts Per Week: 3
Total Points: 155
Total Inches Lost: 12
Total Pounds Lost: 13
Total Pounds & Inches: 25
FIRST PRIZE WINNER: Sarah L.
Bust Before: 44
Bust After: 43
Inches Lost: 1
Waist Before: 35
Waist After: 33
Inches Lost: 2
Hips Before: 40.5
Hips After: 39
Inches Lost: 1.5
Upper Arm Before: 13
Upper Arm After: 13
Inches Lost: 0
Upper Thigh Before: 27
Upper Thigh After: 26
Inches Lost: 1
Weight Before: 183
Weight After: 177
Pounds Lost: 6
Total Workouts (Kettlebells or Cardio for 20 Minutes): 20
Average Workouts Per Week: 5
Total Points: 150
Total Inches Lost: 5.5
Total Pounds Lost: 6
Total Pounds & Inches: 12
SECOND PRIZE WINNER: Carolyn B.
Bust Before: 35
Bust After: 34.5
Inches Lost: 0.5
Waist Before: 31.5
Waist After: 30.5
Inches Lost: 1
Hips Before: 37.5
Hips After: 36
Inches Lost: 1.5
Upper Arm Before: 11.5
Upper Arm After: 11
Inches Lost: 0.5
Upper Thigh Before: 23
Upper Thigh After: 22.5
Inches Lost: 0.5
Weight Before: 148
Weight After: 142
Pounds Lost: 6
Total Workouts (Kettlebells or Cardio for 20 Minutes): 11
Average Workouts Per Week: 2.5
Total Points: 105
Total Inches Lost: 4
Total Pounds Lost: 6
Total Pounds & Inches: 10
THIRD PRIZE WINNER: Brenda W.
Bust Before: 40
Bust After: 38.5
Inches Lost: 1.5
Waist Before: 36
Waist After: 35
Inches Lost: 1
Hips Before: 48
Hips After: 47
Inches Lost: 1
Upper Arm Before: 14
Upper Arm After: 14
Inches Lost: 0
Upper Thigh Before: 28.5
Upper Thigh After: 28
Inches Lost: 0.5
Weight Before: 204
Weight After: 199
Pounds Lost: 5
Total Workouts (Kettlebells or Cardio for 20 Minutes): 16
Average Workouts Per Week: 3
Total Points: 155
Total Inches Lost: 4
Total Pounds Lost: 5
Total Pounds & Inches: 9
Share Your Comments Below
Did you participate in the Kettlebell Challenge, yes or no?
If yes, what did you get out of it? Did you think it was easy or hard? Are you going to keep working out with kettlebells?
If no, are you ready to get started with kettlebells?
{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
beautiful job ladies!!!
Congrats to you all. Fabulous job and such inspiration! Thank you for sharing your results! xo
Congratulations to all of you, you are all aces!
YIPEEE!! Thank you for doing the contest! It is just what I needed to get back on the weight loss wagon! I have struggled with my weight since giving birth to my first born 20 years ago. I used to be a size 8. I am ready to get back on track and keep it going!
Everyone made such great improvements to their bodies! I had never tried kettlebell and it was something new and fun that got the results quicker than other workouts I have tried.
Congratulations Melissa! Wow, I’m impressed. Just a question as I’ve never done kettlebells before and am curious — did you find them hard on your joints at all? Shoulders and rotator cuffs, wrists, elbows, etc? Again, so happy for you and congratulations!
I used a 15 lb weight. I had a previous back injury that didn’t require surgery so I am normally pretty careful not to go back down that road. (herniated disk about 9 years ago). I was very careful in my movements and I highly recommend getting a beginners workout video so that you can properly learn how to use the kettlebell. I do not have any problems with my wrists/elbows/shoulders and I didn’t notice any problems with it. What you will notice is it works your lower half like no tomorrow! OH MY yes… LOL… I put my arnica homeopathic remedy to use for the first few weeks for sure!
I’m glad you mentioned your back as I also have disk issues. Great to hear that you did not have any problems with it and that’s very encouraging! I get so frustrated when I re-injure myself and have to rehab, yet really do need a good workout. No access to a pool, otherwise that would be ideal. May have to try this out and see how it goes. Thanks for your inspiring contribution!
The best advice I can offer is to take it slow. Start out with a lower weight (you can always go up when you feel your ready) and make sure your movements are controlled and slow vs fast and jerky. It’s really neat when you feel your lower half of your body controlling the kettlebell vs your arms.
I’m not sure of the extent of your back problems so you may want to check with your chiropractor or therapist before starting this sort of workout just to be safe.
Great job! Did you just do kettlebell swings or did you follow a video workout?
I followed the video work out that came with the kettlebell but I found the video annoying. …
You girls look great! I’m getting started with my kettle bell right now!!
Congratulations! i didn’t take part in the challenge but I use kettlebells at my gym. Great inspiration to get one to use at home (and more often!)
Good job, ladies! They all look great!
After looking at the before and after pics, I have to say wow! This is what the kettleball does? I have been doing my own exercises, walking and dvds with no change. Nothing is working. I’m not really overweight, but would love to firm up & lose an inch on waist and hips. Maybe I should consider a kettleball, but you said they are expensive, didn’t you?
If your on a major budget you can find them at Wal-Mart for around $10 – $20 for the plastic versions… I bought a metal one with rubber coating that was contoured and it ran around $40 with a dvd included so it wasn’t “too” expensive. It was Bob the coach from the biggest loser’s product. I do have to say that he really annoyed me on that DVD…. but the kettlebell is high quality and a great product.
Bob annoyed me on that DVD too! I’m glad I wasn’t allow in that feeling. I usually love Bob in workout videos, but not this one. I love the contoured kettlebell. I ended up using the Prevention Magazine workout. Did you use the DVD for the entire challenge?
You were all so brave to share your photos! And what great results—I’m re-inspired!
Wow! I am impressed. I started the first day, and then couldn’t walk for 4 days after that (those #$#! squats!).
Now I am definitely inspired to “get back on the horse” and try it again.
And to the person who asked about the cost – it was a $30 investment to try it out…
Wow!!! You all did great! Congrats
The results are truly amazing. I’m inspired! Congratulations!
Will you be doing a kettle bell challenge again any time? A friend told me how much he liked kettle bells and I started doing simple bodyweight exercises in addition to my regular free weights routine to prepare myself for using a 20 lb kettle bell (I was in good shape) way back in August. I then found out I was pregnant, was very nauseous for about 3 months and didn’t feel comfortable trying something new while pregnant and after barely working out at all during those 3 months.
Ok, so I’m totally getting a kettlebell now! Thanks for the inspiration!
Damn, if ever I had motivation to get back to regular belly dance practice, this is it!
Right on ladies… what a great group! I had similar circumstances to Ann Marie (I fell on the ice plus had my whole lower jaw full of amalgams removed… hard work for my body to recover from already) and just could not do the challenge. But last year I DID do my own kettlebell challenge (after reading 4 Hour Body) and I KNOW they are the stuff.
You girls have provided great inspiration and I am grateful to you… and Ann Marie, of course, because even if you couldn’t DO the challenge you were the one who got the ball rolling for others.
I know I WILL get going again with my kettlebells so I eagerly await the next challenge!
Yeah! I’m so excited!! I loved the kettlebell workouts and I plan to keep them up. I’m taking two weeks off and doing kickboxing and the elliptical to surprise my body. I also got my mirena taken out today and I’m saying NO to external hormones!!! Thanks for doing this, it was great!
Awesome job to the other winners! Fantastic job Melissa V.!!!
What kind of kettlebell workouts did you use? I want to try them out after we move!
I did the prevention magazine workout with a 15 pound kettlebell. I tried the video that came with my kettlebell, but I felt more burn with the prevention magazine workout. Here is the link: http://www.prevention.com/fitness/strength-training/exercises-kettlebells
I did kettlebell workouts on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, ran on Monday, and the elliptical on Wednesday. I had to take a week off during the challenge because I sprained my ankle. When I resumed workouts, running was replaced by the elliptical.
Good luck and have fun!
Thanks! You did such a great job!
Thank you!
Yea!! Congrats ladies!!
Congratulations to all of you winners! Wonderful jobs!
Wow Melissa V., congratulations and thanks for sharing your photos!! I am amazed you got these results just doing 3 workouts a week!! May I ask, did you follow a particular eating plan??? Did you do any other exercise???
I had no specific eating plan…. I just try to eat more fruits and veggies. I tried cutting as much processed junk as possible. I cut my pop intake to nearly zero (my big vice that I know is awful for me) I worked out more than I logged in. I kept forgetting to go and click that I had worked out or I would intend on logging it in and then before I knew it I was after midnight.
I used the kettlebells and also went to the gym and used an eliptical or treadmill. I still flubbed it up on my eating and I feel I could have done better if I really stuck to eating better however I am happy and was surprised by the results I got. I think it had alot to do with the kettlebells… No way would I have gotten that just from walking on the treadmill. It has motivated me to stick with it and keep at it.
I honestly didn’t think I did as well as I did until I measured myself and weighed myself and took pictures. I knew my clothes were not fitting as tight (I was busting out of my work pants before) but I didn’t think it was that big of a change until I recorded the numbers and saw the before and after pictures. I was really surprised at how much my “rolls” had gone down! I hate looking at those pictures but that is also a motivator. I have lots of work left to do (as you can see) but I am working at it.
You did great, Melissa! Really awesome! You should be so proud!!!
Will you be doing another kettlebell challenge?
Very inspitrational pictures ladies. I bet you all feel wonderful about yourselves.
Keep up the fantastic work.
I’m sure your results far outway the ‘effort’
Thanks for the challenge. I have done KB workouts every other day- did the Prevention Magazine workout. I didn’t lose much weight (2 pounds), and I’m not sure on inches- not too much anyway. But, I do feel stronger and I know my tummy is flatter. I will keep it up forsure! I am just graduating to the 20 lb weight, started at the 15 lb. Thanks to all who shared photos- way to go!!
I would like to share my favorite kettlebell workout dvd by Lauren Brooks:
http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Conditioning-Kettlebells-Lauren-Brooks/dp/B001PO7J9A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331587365&sr=8-1
She has a 12 minute workout that is a great place to start and doable for even beginners, plus a couple longer length workouts.
Lauren DOES recommend that pregnant women continue their kb workouts (with caveats, I’m sure) and has a separate dvd just for you called Baby Bells!
These dvds are more pricey than some but what makes it so worth it for me is I always feel like I can get in a workout now, never intimidated about time or ability. That in itself is worth its weight in gold to me!
Yes I did it last year. I did not lose any weight, but I will do it again just to get in to a routine.
I have a kettlebell this time, although I haven’t used it in a while, but I hope to do the challenge too. I wanted to share this video on proper form for the kettlebell swing that I found really useful when I got my kettlebell. Form is everything.
http://www.joshhilliscoachingclub.com/kettlebellswingv.html
Do you follow a specific kettle bell routine?
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