Dishonourable Cardio - VS - Kettlebells

[Zartan]

I got a 16 kg and ETK and I started doing those workouts and interval running on the variety days, and I switched my diet

I got myself seriously overtrained. Trying to do too much new all at once. Very stupid of me.

I dropped the running, and did ETK only, my diet is high protein and and vegetables. I lost about 20 lbs.

So yes, to answer your question, you will lose weight using only kettlebells if you follow a SENSIBLE diet. I'm using an ab wheel as well, and now in my mid 30s I'm starting to get a six pack again.

[JeffC]

There are some interesting responses here that have got me thinking about what I am doing. I've lost about 20 lbs since the start of the year just doing ETK PM but have tapered off to about 185 lbs during the post two months and not lost anything but am still getting a little stronger so think muscle is replacing some fat.The other thing I do starting in late March when it gets a bit warmer (and day light savings time kicks in) is bike to work about 3 days per week. It is an hour each way and plenty tough with hills on the way back. It takes only a few more minutes as any other way of commuting and surely burns off a lot of calories. I find myself having to cut back to one swing day some weeks though. Since I've started biking again in mid March I have not lost much weight, largely because my appetitie goes through the roof.My point would be if you can do "dishonorable" aerobics in the context of your day to day routine such as biking to work (yes even in spandex bike shorts), vigorous yard work as opposed to hiring a gardener, brisk walk/job with your dog/baby etc., walk to work, then by all means do it and do not overlook that as a source of conditioning. On the other hand, driving to the gym to be on the treadmill or elliptical is not my thing.

[WxHerk]

I recently read where Alwyn Cosgrove said that running on a treadmill can create imbalances since it "switches the hamstrings off" due to the moving treadmill eliminating the need for one to pull through the stride. I can see, however, where putting a treadmill on a steep incline would force one to use the hamstrings to keep up.

[Stephen]

I second that about treadmills. Apparently females have a very high chance of incurring a knee injury from the thousands of poorly performed reps completed on a treadmill by a dedicated treadmill using personage. Because it pulls through for the user it switches the posterior side of the body off. Craziness.

[mream]

I'm giving up my long runs, too. I thought they were burning calories (which they definitely do), but I want to burn FAT. I'm going to do more interval work instead, in addition to rigorous KB work.

Get a bodyfat caliper. That's a better gauge than just weight.

[resrie]

Not sure if the females / knee thing is just a treadmill issue. Knee issues are epidemic in college and professional-level women's athletics in sports such as soccer. I see many female athletes at the collegiate level here that have knee (and ankle) injuries, and they don't run on treadmills, they train outside and run hills / sprints / LSD / omnidirectional movement.

I think it's more to do with physical culture--not training the posterior chain appropriately--and the sad state of training female athletics in general than treadmills per se.

Here our club sports team does the PEP protocol for dynamics to reduce the injury rate of ACL tears:

Santa Monica Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group

Check that out if you are training female athletes at the high school, college, or even professional level...

[pull_man54]

This is an interesting thread and here is my weak dollar 2 cents:

1. Forget about "dieting" and start thinking "nutrition". This is important and gets more so as you get older. Clean up the stuff you put into your mouth and eat to live, not live to eat. There are many rational nutrition plans. Find one that works for you and that you can maintain with minimal "pain". Right now the low carb plan is working for me.

2. I truly believe that there is a place for LSD training in a good all around fitness program. HIIT done everyday is a sure formula for burnout. I prefer doing a nice slow run or swim the day after a very intense kb. w/o. I find it also helps my recovery.

[mrwhy]

Originally Posted by bellhead

The next part of my training includes trying to drop as much body fat as possible. This next stage lasts 8 weeks.

Up to now, I have incorporated traditional cardio into my KB routines to shed the weight. However, it's there only because it's what I've always done. It tends to be running on a treadmill ( intervals ) or stationary biking.

My question is this - has anyone swapped their traditional cardio for KB swings or snatches and got better results?

I would love to replace the cardio with the KB's but I'm worried that I will be missing out.

Finally, I normally do 15 minutes of tough intervals and then 15 mins jogging for the cardio part. If I was to replace with KB's would it be best to still do 30 minutes?
Thanks

Bell - Has what you "normally" done worked for you? In other words, have you been satsified with the results of your 15 minute intervals/15 minute jogging routine? If yes, then stick to the plan. If not, drop it.

Second, you say that you would like to replace your cardio but you are afraid of missing out. What is it that you are afraid of missing out on?

There are many good, solid programs that focus on shedding bodyfat. Dave Whitley has an excellent one here in the articles section. Alwyn Cosgrove has a great one called complexes for fat loss (or something like that.) There is one by Charles Staley called EDT for Fat Loss that is also solid.

Good luck with your fat loss. Remember that the number one thing here is your nutrition. Depending on how you have been eating, simply cleaning up your diet will be a major step.

[DrJAG2]

Originally Posted by pull_man54

2. I truly believe that there is a place for LSD training in a good all around fitness program. HIIT done everyday is a sure formula for burnout. I prefer doing a nice slow run or swim the day after a very intense kb. w/o. I find it also helps my recovery.

I love a nice, long relaxing swim on a weekend afternoon. It seems to really finish (or start) the week off right. Even better during the Summer when I can swim outside. I think it's as good for you mentally as physically. I wrote my entire dissertation in my head swimming several times a week back in the day. It really clears the mind.

[JofoSwingin]

Originally Posted by DrJAG2

I love a nice, long relaxing swim on a weekend afternoon. It seems to really finish (or start) the week off right. Even better during the Summer when I can swim outside. I think it's as good for you mentally as physically. I wrote my entire dissertation in my head swimming several times a week back in the day. It really clears the mind.

I used to swim a lot and am getting back in the pool training for a sprint-distance triathlon in August. One thing I'm noticing is swimming really ramps up my appetite! I've been doing KBs for about 4 months and have been able to keep my eating in check (and have lost 25+ pounds, woot!). But on days when I swim before work (about 1600 yds of medium intensity intervals) I am ridiculously hungry all day. I never noticed when I used to swim because I never really paid much attention to what I ate.

I've read that on average, swimmers tend to have quite a bit more bodyfat than other elite athletes and I wonder if that has anything to do with it. Gah, all I know is after this tri, I'm going back to KBs and the erg only. I love counting tiles, but the hunger is killing me.

On another note, I have a bet with a buddy of mine that I can beat my last triathlon time by 10% by training only with KBs, swimming, and rowing. No running or cycling except for a 2-week "taper" (taper up? haha) right before the event to get the neurons firing. I'm pretty sure he's gonna lose this bet.