In Fitness And In Health

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How To Build Serious Muscle With Kettlebells

11 min readMar 8, 2025

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Women with a hat and holding a kettlebell

Many fitness enthusiasts scoff at the notion that kettlebells can be used for serious muscle building. And for good reason. Most traditional muscle-building advice centers around barbells, dumbbells, and machines. Meanwhile, kettlebells are often relegated to the “cardio” or “functional fitness” category.

Yet here I stand, living proof that kettlebells can transform your physique. I’ve transformed from being severely underweight to carrying a healthy amount of muscle, and I have never used barbells, dumbbells, or machines.

I have just used kettlebells consistently, with an evolving understanding of how to apply the principles of hypertrophy to these versatile tools.

This isn’t just anecdotal evidence. The science behind muscle growth remains the same regardless of the implement you use — what changes is how you apply these principles.

Understanding Muscle Growth: The Science Behind the Steel

side-by-side comparison of skinny versus muscular girl
From skinny to strong with Kettlebells. Pictures by Christin Linke and Nicole Linke

If you want to build muscle with kettlebells, you need to understand the main principles of…

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In Fitness And In Health
In Fitness And In Health

Published in In Fitness And In Health

Medium’s largest collection of science-based and experience-backed insights for a fitter, healthier, and happier you.

Nicole Linke
Nicole Linke

Written by Nicole Linke

Ultrarunning And Kettlebell Coach | Science Geek | Newsletter: https://www.nicolelinke.com/newsletter-sign-up

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