Body Sculpting with Kettlebells for Women: Over 50 Total Body Exercises (Body Sculpting Bible)

I have been considering kettlebells for a while now, but wasn't sure where to start. I've heard form is paramount or else you can hurt yourself. I have been doing Jillian Michaels DVD (30 day shred etc) for a year and a half and have gotten into the best shape of my life in my late 30's. However, I think it was too much of the same and I was starting to have some shoulder discomfort. So time for something new!I bought this book and couldn't wait to get started. I just finished week 4 of the Silver Program/1st section. I came into the program in decent shape (for me), but I'm already seeing a lot more definition in my arms and legs!I have modified the over the head moves to 10 lbs to make sure I don't reinjure my shoulder and I try to rest less time between sets to keep up my cardio that I was used to. Kettlebells are FUN. They take a little bit of getting used to and practicing, but once you get it, off you go! I look forward to my workouts.I bought a 10, 15 and 20 lb kettlebell. You can start with 1 and see where you are. She recommends 15 & 20, but I started with a lower for the shoulder issues (which have not bothered me at all!) Side note: I like the Bob Harper contoured kettlebells, it's nice to have that groove for your wrist. At my local Target too and on sale after Christmas.The book is VERY detailed and explains the form well. I wish the pictures were in color, but I'm sure that would greatly increase the price of the book. I work out early in the morning, so it's not always good lighting and when I first started, I'd have to look extra hard at the photos. The first few weeks go a bit slower as you are learning the moves and flipping back and forth between pages. I would flag the next day's workout pages with sticky notes for quicker reference.I would highly recommend this book for someone who wants a fresh workout. I think it would be pretty tough if you have never worked out before, but she has recommendations for people who are not in shape. And there are 2 more levels of workout to go. So there are a lot of modifications you can make!

I am in Week 16 of the Platinum (final) part of this program. This books led me from knowing next to nothing about kettlebells to now using 3 of them 4 or more times a week. And it has been fun. When is lifting weights fun?? When the weight is a cast iron ball with a handle that you can swing around, flip around your wrist, shove up in the air while flipping it around your wrist, looking graceful all the way. I've done lots of free weights in the past, but it seems to include a lot of grunting and heaving, yet comparatively, kettlebells feels like a dance of sorts. It is graceful, and the functionality it builds into every muscle makes you actually walk better, stand better, move better.The variety in every day's workout combined with the sheer proof that I was getting stronger and reshaping my 47 year old body, made me want to workout regularly. Some weeks I got ahead with 5 workouts, and some with only 3. I just worked at the pace I could manage, and got some amazing results. I have learned that the ballistic moves with a kettlebell (ie. swings) are the best for burning fat, but the static moves (ie. press ups, lunges with passes, rack squats, Turkish get Ups etc) are better for shaping the body by building muscle. Even though this books includes all the swings (single arm, double arm, swing with step, swing cleans, snatches) almost daily, it focuses more on the static exercises. The result is body shaping, with fat loss of secondary importance. If you are watching your food intake, you will lose weight on this program, as anything with kettlebells is pretty intense, but you will firstly change shape. What's the good in just being a smaller version of your former unshapely self, when you could be a totally different shaped self - more like a model, with nice shoulders and back, nice legs, nice arms. After I finish this program I am going onto a dedicated kettlebell swinging program to lose that last bit of fat off my stomach. I couldn't be happier with the results of strength and fitness and shape I have achieved from Lorna's book however.

I have been following the first program in this book for the last 4 weeks and it has been great. I have quite a bit of gym experience and have followed several strength training programs over the past few years - all with a level of success. I had been searching for a way to stop going to the gym each day but I knew that working out at home was a risk for me - as I lose interest easily and am not as motivated as when going to a gym.The programs in this book are varied enough so that I get a full body workout - most in about 45 minutes. I love the kettlebell as a workout tool. It is simple yet challenging.In the 2 months since quitting the gym and following this program, I have not lost any conditioning - if anything, I have gained strength. This surprises me as I was not a pink dumbbell type of lifter in the gym - I was lifting some serious weight.If you're looking for a home program for strength and transformation - I don't believe you can go wrong with Lorna's program. Her descriptions and pictures are incredibly helpful. The amount of weight and number of reps seems to push just hard enough to challenge but not so much that you burn out.I started with the 8kg and 12kg kettlebell and within 6 weeks I was ordering the 16kg. For the price of this book, I have a 6 month workout program. A bargain. Two additional bonuses? I can do it in my backyard or garage and instead of spending the 45 minutes on the road going to and back from the gym

Body Sculpting with Kettlebells is well worth buying. It is well laid out, consisting of an introduction by the author, how she was introduced to the kettlebell (a little long and rather unnecessary) the health benefits she achieved and a brief history of the kettlebell.This is followed by the benefits of a kettlebell workout and how kettlebell exercise can be applied to daily living activities, from walking the dog to playing sport or even carrying grocery bags.Section 2 involves getting the most from a workout, eg diet and nutrition, programmes,fat loss, strength training,times of workouts spinal stability.Section 3 consists of warm up exercises followed by a step by step guide to the exercises with photographs and written description of how to do them safely followed by a cool down,stretching section.In Section 4 there are 3 exercise programmes, silver, gold and platinum to take you week by week over 18 weeks to a more sculpted body.The book is well designed but I would have liked a description and picture of which muscles are being used during the exercise. Having said that, the kettlebell is giving a complete workout when an exercise programme is being followed.

Very clear and informative. Photographs clearly set out how to perform the exercises. Complete workout for 6 week plan.

I have read cover to cover at least twice & am shortly going to start the exercise plan as directed in the book. I have been following some of the exercises for a few weeks & have already felt the benefits, now I just need to follow a proper plan.I also purchased a DVD for kettlecise, but honestly this book is a much better purchase & would definitely recommend to anyone wanted to start using kettlebells.

Good well written book good diagrams and info -would recommend

Excellent. Easy to follow and does what it says on the tin !