Customer Reviews

From Russia with Tough Love: Pavel's Kettlebell Workout for a Femme Fatale

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

When I first heard of kettlebells a couple months ago they seemed like they were for hardcore macho-man types--commandos, Green Berets, whatever. Not for me, a plump middleaged woman trying to get into shape and lose fat.

But then I found out about this book and video for women, and suddenly I knew I had to try it. I'm so glad I did!!!

Pavel's attitude is highly amusing as he milks the macho Russian drill sergeant schtick for all it's worth, but it's all tongue-in-cheek. And at the same time, he's giving priceless information and motivation about a training method that I'm sure will be huge once it catches on, because the results are so spectacular and quick and it's so physically satisfying and fun to do.

I ordered this book, the accompanying DVD, and one 15-lb. kettlebell to get started with, and I received them and started using them about a week ago. I can honestly say that this kettlebell workout is the greatest form of exercise I've ever tried.

I'd been eating a super-healthy top-quality diet for about five or six months and going to the gym and using the machines (both resistance and cardio) for about an hour to an hour and a half. Hadn't seen much in the way of results yet, despite my healthy diet and working out several times a week. I was feeling good, though.

But when I tried the kettlebell, it just ***blew away*** my gym workouts. I've been using the KB for about a week now and plan to cancel my gym membership ASAP. The KB stays in my bedroom and I use it at least once a day, sometimes twice, for up to 20 minutes at a time. It feels so good that I WANT to do it--and that means no more time-consuming trips to the gym for me.

I'm already starting to feel a difference in my body composition. According to Pavel, if you work out a lot with kettlebells you can shred up to 1% of your body fat per week, which is a LOT.

The book has a lot of pictures showing the correct form, which I like, and it explains the WHY's behind KB training, which helped me to quickly gain a basic understanding of everything KB-related without having to read the book cover-to-cover.

As for the DVD, I watched it through twice, and then started just skipping to the workout at the end, where the two women (DC and Andrea) are doing a freestyle KB workout as Pavel comments in the background. I watched that freestyle workout every day the first few days, as I did my own freestyle workouts, but now (yesterday and today), I've started just doing a freestyle workout to my favorite music instead.

I feel I don't really need the book or the DVD anymore, except for occasional reference. So, to me, I'd say the most valuable part of the three things I bought to get started (Pavel's book, DVD, and a kettlebell) was by far the kettlebell itself. You pretty much need to have either the book or the DVD, or both, to get started, however, because you need to learn the various drills, correct form, etc. The DVD physically demonstrates how to do it, whereas the book explains why and gives more detail. In my opinion you need both, although for me I think the DVD was more valuable.

These KB exercises are very different from dumbbell exercises. Way more fun, for starters! It just FEELS incredibly good to do the KB workouts. I get a flood of pleasant endorphins after only about 15 minutes, whereas it used to take me about an hour to achieve that at the gym. My flexibility has already improved a lot too--now I spring out of bed in the morning like a panther, rather than dragging myself around with morning joint pain/stiffness. After only a week of daily use!

I'm so glad I found out about working out with KBs--I know it will make a profound difference in my life and health. I'm telling everybody I know about them. I'm completely confident that I will be able to shed over 100 lbs. of body fat in a year with my kettlebell training. I'm so ready to become a FEMME FATALE!!!

Eliminating 28 pages of advertising, 41 pages of innane comments plus the dragondoor ad on each page(we got the message)would improve this book immensely. There are some really good techniques and principles of kettlebell training in this text, but it's almost a bother each time I open it to decipher the organization through the distracting clutter. Definitely needs some professional editing and it could be a respectable training manual. I will hesitate ordering any other of his works before physically seeing them in a bookstore first and verifying the layout first. Even with the great prices at amazon.com, I'm not interested in buying filler pages.

"From Russia With Tough Love" represents an evolution in Pavel's methods of teaching kettlebell techniques. "The Russian Kettlebell Challenge" was male-oriented, taught basic exercises and then said "Have at it." "From Russia with Tough Love" is designed for women, assumes that the reader is an absolute beginner, starts from ground zero, and builds an effective workout step-by-step. I recommend "From Russia with Tough Love" for anyone, male or female, who is just starting out with kettlebells.

Resistance training is entirely new to me. For that reason, an associate of Mr. Tsatsouline suggested "Tough Love" as a good starting place for me. I began by buying one (35 lb.) kettlebell and the associated video. The video is quite specifically instructional and very cleverly and efficiently arranged. Mr. Tsatsouline explains in economical detail exactly what should be done and (as importantly) exactly what must be avoided. At the same time, attractive (and very strong) female associates demonstrate, both in front view and side view how the moves are accomplished.

The way to prove whether a product is good or bad is to learn its proper use and then use it consistently, almost every day, for a long time. If you find improvement in yourself, then the product is good. Otherwise, it is a bad or worthless product. I am already getting good results. Of at least the same importance, the exercises don't hurt me (at the time I do them). I don't feel as though I am systematically injuring myself by doing the exercises (as is sometimes the case with other resistance training that I've tried---very briefly---and abandoned). Although my own personal proof of this particular pudding is not yet finished, it appears to be going very well. Apparently, this book/video combination gives very true and useful information in exercise physiology---information many of us can use very much. Realizing that we are paying for information that we can use to improve our own physical lives a lot, I have to conclude that the materials are not overpriced. Ineffective instructional materials are overpriced. This, apparently, is worth the price (and probably more), contrary to some other reviews.

I was unsure if I should purchase this book since I already have the Russian Kettlebell Challeng book. But after I purchased it, it was well worth the money. It has a lot of different drills that both men and women can perform. I am very pleased with my purchase and look forward to Pavels next book.

Pavel gives a simple straightforward workout, with emphasis on
steady progress and safe technique. I have the tape also and it
helps, but if you can only afford one, get the book. There are
excellent illustrations, comments from other kettlebell users,
and Pavel's dry wit throughout. I started this program to
strengthen my back. I am staying with it because IT IS FUN!
To quote Pavel, "Comrade Ladies, enjoy!"

My wife and I became interested in Kettlebell fitness techniques and decided we would give it a try.

I ordered this for my wife who was over the age of 60. She has always been in fair physical condition, not a fitness freak but also not a couch potato. After a couple of weeks of this exercise plan the difference in her body and sense of well being was obvious. After about six months, she shocks most 40 year old women with her energy and appearance.

There is no doubt that she has reset the clock on physical aging with this plan.

I guess I was expecting more photos, more instruction and more workouts. I wasn't expecting ads and testimonials on how great the method is. I returned this book.

Kettlebells offer unique advantages over other ways to exercise. Instead of alternating days of weight training for strength with aerobics for fat loss, you can do it in one workout, doing ballistics. Snatches, swings, cleans and jerks give you twice the exercise in half the time. There is also a remarkable carryover effect from kettlebell training onto other, seemingly non-related sports activities.

At the moment of writing this was the best book on kettlebells. The newer one, Enter the Kettlebell, is more elaborate and more hard core. This one is more suitable for the ladies, in my opinion.

I used my wife and daughter as an excuse to buy this book. This is an excellent addition to any kettlebell lifters library, more drills and routines to try. It's amazing the variety of exercises that are depicted for a kettlebell. If you are not yet a kettlebell user, buy this book and the "Russian Kettlebell Challenge" book and/or video. If you want to add some variety to your workouts, don't cheat yourself out of this.