Welcome to the Get Fit Guys quick and dirty tips to slim down and shape up.

My name is Ben Greenfield and I'm the Get Fit Guy.

I've received plenty of questions about kettlebells recently.

Are kettlebells good for building muscle?

Can kettlebells be used for burning fat?

How can you safely use kettlebells? What is a good kettle building muscle? Can kettlebells be used for burning fat? How can you safely use kettlebells?

What is a good kettlebell workout? Well, today's episode will tell you everything you need to know about

kettlebells, from the fact that they are not actually a cooking or meal preparation device,

to the fact that they're actually quite good at getting you fit fast if you use them properly.

First, let's talk about what a kettlebell actually is.

A kettlebell is a cast iron weight that looks like a cannonball with a handle.

Originally, it was a tool used by Russian strongmen for training and competition,

but now multicolored, vinyl-coated kettlebells are becoming a popular

fitness device that you can find at many gyms. Kettlebell sizes range from four pounds up to about

175 pounds, but because a kettlebell is shaped differently than a dumbbell, a four-pound kettlebell

can actually feel a bit heavy and even awkward. This is because

the kettlebell's center of mass is extended farther out from your body compared to a dumbbell. So it

can be tougher to handle and maneuver, which is one reason why kettlebells can be so effective

at improving your strength, your balance, and your explosiveness. In most situations, kettlebells are used for

increasing grip strength or for performing specific movements that are designed to build strength

and endurance in your lower back, legs, or shoulders. These movements include full-body exercises

that I'll link to in the show notes, like the swing, the snatch, and the clean and jerk.

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