How Kettlebells Rebuilt My Body and Mind

From Cardio Compromise to Strength Empowerment

I didn’t buy my first pair of kettlebells to build muscle. Quite the opposite. When I hit the “buy now” button on that fateful day in 2015, I hoped those oddly shaped cannonballs with handles would live up to the promise of delivering a great cardio workout. Two years prior, I had quit running because I was tired of the constant niggles and injuries. I tried biking and hiking as replacements but didn’t enjoy either. Biking seemed too gear-intensive, and hiking was too boring.

However, I was desperate to lose the unwanted fat I had gained after I recovered from spending most of my 20s severely underweight. When I stumbled upon kettlebell training and the promise of a “more effective fat-burning workout than running,” I was immediately intrigued. What sealed the deal was realizing I could do these workouts from the comfort of my home — a crucial factor since my social anxiety made gym environments feel impossible to navigate.

I never imagined these simple cast iron weights would transform my physique and rebuild my relationship with my body. I am living proof that building muscle with kettlebells is possible — a fact many in the fitness industry still question.