Hidey Ho, Kettlebellers or wannabe Kettlebellers! Wanna try something challenging but fun? I decided I didn’t want to do my old standard dumbbell upper body workout on Monday, so I decided to make my own KETTLEBELL ONLY upper body workout! I included some example videos so you can see how each move is performed. At the end of the blog there is a compact, downloadable image that you can save and print for yourself if you like.
AML’s Upper Body Kettlebell Workout
Kneeling Halos
I did 10 in one direction and then switched instead of alternating like he’s doing. Doing this on your knees makes you need to stabilize your core more and throws your balance off, making this more difficult than your standard halo.
Single Arm Bench Press
These are fairly similar to a dumbbell chest press, but the way the kettlebell weight is distributed is asymmetrical, where as a dumbbell is symmetrical, so you’ll need to focus more on stability.
Single Arm Bottoms Up Press
This move is WAY harder than it looks. If you look closely you can see how wobbly my arm is. You really need to concentrate to keep your grip on the handle tight and keep the weight directly over your elbow. That’s why there’s only 5 per side. The key to this is to tense your entire body and grip the bell moderately. Move slowly and focus on keeping the kettlebell stable as you push it upwards. Try to lower at the same pace as you raise it if you can.
Single Arm Bent Over Row
This is basically the same as your standard bent over row with a dumbbell.
Upright Rows
This is, by far, the easiest exercise to learn. Use as heavy a weight as you possibly can, and try to move slowly and at the same pace in each direction. Always make sure your elbows are higher than your hands.
Half-Kneeling Single Arm Overhead Press
This one is fun because the kneeling increases your instability and requires you are more careful in engaging your core. You want the kettlebell over your kneeling leg, and press from shoulder straight up.
Biceps Curl
The key to this move is planting your elbows firmly against your ribcage. Watch how her upper arms DO NOT MOVE: the entirety of the movement is from the elbow down. Squeeze at the top.
Single Kettlebell Renegade Rows
My form is NOT PERFECT here, but I can’t locate a video of someone else doing this with a single kettlebell. Begin in a high plank with the kettlebell between your hands. Shift your weight to one side (I’m shifting too far) and perform a row with the kettlebell on the opposite side. Alternate sides.
Note: This workout is harder than it appears. I own a 20-, 30- and 40-lb kettlebell, and I didn’t use my 40-lb at all. I did the single arm bench press, bottoms up, overhead press and renegade rows with my 20-lb, and the rest with my 30-lb. Remember, the goal is to be almost at muscle failure at the end of each set, so you want to choose as heavy as you are capable, since this is a strength workout as opposed to a cardio/endurance workout. Have fun!
If you give this workout a try please come back and let me know what you think!
Walking is THE most basic form of cardio. You just need to do it quickly. I don’t mean jogging or running, just swift walking. Enough that you start to breath a little heavy. Maybe you can still hold a conversation, but it’s difficult for you. This speed will be determined by your fitness level, but you have to pay attention. If you’re not breathing a little heavy, you’re just not working hard enough. You can walk outside, on the treadmill if you have one, or even do a walking video like the ones provided by Leslie Sansone. If you  want to multitask, it’s even a good idea to step quickly in place while watching TV. You’ll be lapping everyone on the couch, amirite?!
Yes, hiking is different than walking, because of elevation changes. Climbing a steep hill, even slowly, is fantastic for cranking your heart rate up. Where I live it’s pretty flat, but on the rare occasion I do get to head north or west into the nearby mountainous regions, hiking is always on my list of things to do. You don’t need any equipment at all for a hike of a few miles, save perhaps a big bottle of water, and you get to enjoy the glory of nature, too!
If your knees are in good enough shape, climbing stairs is a great way to get the blood pumping. If you don’t have stairs in your home (I only have a single flight), perhaps you could use a public parking garage, or a shopping mall, or even your office! Sometimes when the weather is bad and I’m short on steps The Hubs and I will go to our local mall and walk there, and make a special effort to take the stairs instead of the escalators. It may only burn a handful of extra calories but every little bit helps!
You don’t even need a partner, just some good tunes and a good attitude. Grab a hairbrush, crank the music and dance like nobody’s watching! And heck, if they are watching, snag ’em and make ’em jitterbug with you! My happy song is the one that runs through my head whenever I feel like dancing… and the title is appropriate: Dancin’ with Myself by Billy Idol! If you’re feeling like you need some direction with this, try a belly dancing video or look up ballroom dancing on YouTube and learn some new moves to impress your friends!
If you haven’t gotten the hint by now, YouTube is chock full of workout videos you can do for FREE without any equipment. (How many times have I mentioned 
This one is last on the list because technically it requires something most people don’t have in their home: a large body of water. However, swimming is the LOWEST impact workout you could possibly do, because the water helps support your body weight and is great for people with poor joints. I, sadly, no longer have regular access to a swimming pool, but I used to be quite the swimmer when I was younger. Some day I’m going to snorkel in clear blue tropical waters again, but this time I’m wearing my heart rate monitor!
It’s been just over a year since I designed my very own 
A Measured Life 