Kettlebell Practice & the Magic Potion
No workout yesterday. In fact, most of the day was spent horizontal trying to find relief from a headache which wouldn’t pass. This morning it’s mostly gone, so I’m back to the routine.
Today I did the Upper Body Workout from Elise. Here’s how I do it: 5-10 Get Up Propers, 5-10 1 Arm Bent Rows, 5-10 Clean & Press, 10 Single Hand Swings. Then switch sides. Rest after doing both sides, then repeat. I made it through 4 times. Each time through, I did 9 Get Up Propers and 9 Clean & Presses, and 10 of the other two exercises. That’s about the same as the last time I did the same workout, so I’m satisfied. I didn’t feel like wearing the heart rate monitor so no fun data, but I know that the practice was about 30 minutes.
I only did one tag-on exercise for fun today. On each side, I did one snatch with the 8kg into a windmill. Sort of. I think I need to practice that one when I’m fresh. Thanks for the idea, Jeremy. 
My hands are starting to feel better after the major burning from too many kettlebell snatches the other day. I’ve been using Corn Huskers Lotion frequently, and it’s working its magic. If you kettlebell and don’t use the Corn Huskers, RUN out and buy some. That may be more difficult than it seems, though. Around here it’s onlycarried in unexpected places. I found mine at the grocery store and the CVS after searching walmart, target, kmart and pretty much every other place I could think of. There are some online sources that have it, if you are desperate, though.
Sandy Sommer, RKC, suggested the Corn Huskers. He also pointed me to this article for more help with hand care. If you haven’t seen it before, it’s by Dave Whitley, Senior RKC. If you have other hand care tips or practices, let me know. It obviously is a process for your hands to adapt to frequent use of the kettlebell. Especially if you’re like me, and used to wear gloves to lift at the gym. I’m strangely proud of the callouses I have now!
My top tip for hand care is a Body Shop product – can you get that in the states? It’s their hemp hand cream, very thick and nourishing and if you put it on at bed time it works its magic overnight. I still have plenty calluses, but it stops them totally drying out and ripping off.
I’m proud of my calluses too! Developing some new ones lately, long narrow ones just below and parallel to my ‘heart lines’ (the top lines on the palm). I’ve also come to love that burning sensation after a heavy workout…pain is good!
Nancy.
We do have the Body Shop. I’ll have to check out the hemp hand cream!!
Girl, by your comments, I am really sensing you need to consider RKC!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unfortunately RKC only makes it to Europe once a year or so! The OH may well do it one day, but then it’s tax-deductable for him! Maybe that means I need to switch careers….
Maybe it does, Nancy!! If not, do it for yourself! It’s not as expensive if you register really early. Just a thought.
Hey Sarah!
I had no idea that kettlebells tear up your hands so much…since I’ve only messed around with them a little, I have no experience with that.hand issues, etc.
Dumb question #1: Is it uncool to wear lifting gloves? I know a lot of hardcore purists shun the idea of using gloves when doing exercises like deadlifts. But I never see anyone using gloves with kettlebells. Obviously, there must be a good reason…(I’m sure I’m going to hear it soon!)
Just thought I’d ask…
Thanks Sarah! Have a terrific weekend!!!
-Fred
Hey Fred! That is an excellent question!! I actually had to do a little research as I had filed the glove issue away in my brain under “no, never do that.” I found that there is some controversy about glove wearing and kettlebells.
Some folks just don’t want to deal with the callouses or the discomfort from the friction of the bell moving through their hands. Those in this group probably don’t have an interest in a certification or any type of competition. For them, it is acceptable to wear gloves. However, what they are missing out on by wearing the gloves is the development of incredible hand strength. Most of us who use kettlebells are doing so at least in part because we want to increase our functional strength. Glove wearing would be somewhat inconsistent with that purpose. However, better to wear gloves and continue to use kettlebells than to abandon kettlebells altogether if hand discomfort & callouses become a make or break situation.
For those who do have an interest in pursuing a certification or who participate in girevoy sport, gloves are not recommended. They are not permitted at the certs/competitions. They probably also inhibit some of the movements. I would think that the fluidity of the swing would be changed for the worse by the use of gloves. Some movement patterns, like the swing to clean might even be more difficult with grippy fabric in the hand.
It seems to boil down to this – if you willing to tolerate the callouses developing for several months, and don’t mind some minimal hand care to maintain them, you’ll be rewarded with a stronger grip. If you would rather not have to deal with the callouses, wearing the gloves will mostly free you from them, but will limit one aspect of your strength development from the kettlebells. I don’t think there is a right answer — it depends on the goals of the individual.
Those who are more knowledgeable and experienced — PLEASE chime in and let Fred and me know of any other points to consider about glove wearing.
Dave Whitley had a video on this yesterday.
But, the gloves bunch up at the same place you’d build callouses, and causes other problems because of it. It pinches and tears.
If you’ve got too much friction from the bell, and it’s not from chalk, then most likely you’re holding the bell too tight.
Thanks so much, Chris! Those videos helped immensely!!
This is a great discussion! Since I am pursuing certification as a goal I haven’t been wearing gloves, and while my technique still leaves much to be desired I’ve experienced tremendous improvements in grip strength that carry over to the other workouts I do. I no longer need to use straps when I deadlift, and I’m very pleased about that.
Laura, thanks for the input! There’s proof that grip strength does improve from kettlebell use! Makes me want to go try barbell DLs. My deadlifts were never heavy enough for me to consider going to straps. I did resort to a mixed grip for help though, and it would be neat to see if I still needed to do that. Or maybe I’ll just go open a jar of pickles!
Thanks Sarah, Chris and Laura! I had a feeling the answer would be something along those lines…makes perfect sense! I use gloves with heavier DB work,(bench and rows), but not with deadlifts. I can see how they could mess up KB swings, snatches, etc. Great response, folks! VERY much appreciated!
-Fred
You rock, Fred. Thanks for asking an excellent question!!
I aim not to wear gloves when I use kettlebells, not because I am aiming for any kind of certification, but because I kind of regard using kettlebells as very much a “basic”, almost spartan, type of exercise. No airs or graces, no frills, no pretension, just you and a big lump of metal, and the simpler the better. Having said that, my hands are not tough enough (yet) to withstand the amount of exercise, kettlebell or otherwise, that I do and I do sometimes resort to wearing gloves, even on occasion my slightly padded cycling gloves, to “get me through” the week of exercise.
Q. Does this make me less of a kettlebell enthusiast, or less “hard-core” (hate that phrase), than someone who never wears gloves?
A. Don’t care
If my hands hurt and I want to swing some steel, I’ll wear gloves, if they don’t, I won’t. I’ll try and refine my technique and treat my hands to minimise the times when I feel I need to wear gloves, but I won’t lose any sleep over whether it’s “the right way” or “the wrong way” 
Dave, excellent comments! I agree. I would rather do what I need to do if it means I still get to continue on with my kettlebell practice. Down the road I’d be able to ditch whatever “crutch” I used temporarily. But at least I wouldn’t have to miss a work out. I see how easy it might be to get dependent on said crutch, though. It’s a fine line to walk.
One last thought, Sarah: I always use a mixed grip when doing deads…and I switch the hand positions at the beginning of each new set. This way you give your biceps additional work (the side with the hand facing away from you. I never do ‘curls’ anymore…Much more efficient to do chin-ups or mixed grip deads! (You hit a lot mre muscles with them instead of ‘curls’)
Also makes me smile when I see folks walking over to the DB rack and “doing a couple sets of curls”. [Said in a very macho voice]
Now all I need are a pair of coooool ‘Chucks’ like Laura’s…only in a different color!
-F.
Very good advice, Fred! Thanks!
I must have missed a picture of Laura’s Chucks! Are they pink?
You definitely need some Chucks, Fred. It’s a must.
Bubblegum pink.
[I have a pair of black Feiyue shoes that I do deads in...a lot like Chucks but less expensive...highly recommend them..I use them for outside Tai Chi practice as well! Here's a link to them: http://www.martialartsmart.net/4535k.html ]
Stylin’!!!!!!!!
-F.