When you're trying to live a healthier life, it's important to find a form of exercise that you love.  I've never been a fan of running. I do enjoy weight training, but last year, I was fortunate enough to stumble across something that would become a fitness passion for me -- kettlebells!

Thanks to shows like The Biggest Loser, and knock-off products being sold in local stores, more and more people have at least heard about kettlebell training, but I still come across people who say, "kettle what?” This gives me the perfect opportunity to share my passion, and perhaps you'll decide you might enjoy training with them as well! 

What are kettlebells?

According to Wikipedia, a kettlebell is a traditional Russian cast-iron weight looking somewhat like a cannonball with a handle. They’ve been around for decades, but are now gaining popularity in Europe and the U.S.

How do kettlebells work?
Most kettlebell exercises are based on the concept of functional movement. Functional training involves the entire body in the movement, engaging the core and giving you a total body workout. Because your entire body is engaged in the workout, you can hit more muscle groups in a shorter period of time, giving you a quick and efficient workout - much faster and better than working out on the Cybex isolation machines.  Kettlebells build strength and stability, giving you a great workout in a short, efficient burst of activity. My trainer likes to call them a "portable gym.”

Who can benefit from training with kettlebells?
Although kettlebells got their start as an exercise tool for muscle-bound Russian strongmen, don't be fooled! Women, many of whom are too intimidated by free weights, have been catching the kettlebell craze, as they get frustrated with a lack of results from their cardio-focused workouts. But kettlebells are for everyone! They can provide a fantastic workout for a wide range of people at different levels of fitness, including:

• Men
• Women
• People looking to lose fat
• People looking to build muscle
• Bodybuilders
• Military/Firefighters/Police

So you can see that they can really do something for everyone, even people at the early stages of their fitness journey. You can use them for building strength, or do quick ballistic movements like a basic kettlebell swing, or the more advanced kettlebell snatch in a circuit format as a replacement for traditional cardio. It’s quick, fun, and fat-blasting!

What kind of results might you get from Kettlebells?
Well, my personal experience was that my legs and rear end got firmer and tighter. I lost body fat and, when I started working on more advanced moves, developed more shapely and muscular arms (Jennifer Aniston - eat your heart you!).  I also know, two women who started working with our trainer last year.  After six weeks of kettlebell training, with no other fitness or nutritional changes, they had each gone down one pants size!

Then there’s the cardio benefits. Before I started training with kettlebells, I went for a 2.5 mile run, and it took me 25:30 to finish. After two months of kettlebell training, I went for another run - first run of more than one mile since my last 2.5 mile run.  I ran at a pace that felt easy, and when I finished the 2.5 miles, it had taken me 24:30. I shaved a minute off my time, without sport-specific training or even pushing myself. With stronger legs and a body trained to use oxygen more efficiently during my killerkettlebellcircuits, I was able to gain benefits in an entirely different form of exercise.

There are dozens of amazing kettlebell success stories on the Dragon Door site, here.

How can I get started?
If you think kettlebells might be something you want to try, then you’ll want to know how to get started. The basic movement is the two-hand kettlebell swing, and it’s what you’ll want to learn first. While I did start with the swing based on videos I watched, I have since found there is no replacement for in-person training with a professional. You certainly can start with DVDs or books, but even one session with a trainer could get you doing a proper swing in no time. I’ve also seen people work without a trainer and get too ambitious, trying advanced moves without being able to check their form. This can lead to injury, so please train safely!

If you do go with a trainer, choose one who is specifically certified to trainkettlebells. Any trainer will not do. For instance, there are many great trainers I respect, like Jillian Michaels and Rachel Cosgrove, whose videos or books don't provide proper kettlebell instruction.  In order to learn the movements properly, I recommend you look for a trainer certified by an internationally-recognized kettlebell organization, such as RKC, AKC, or IKFF.  Personally, I train with a trainer certified as having completed the Russian Kettlebell Challenge, or RKC for short. I am fortunate enough to live in an area where there are many excellent certified trainers, but if you don't live near Philly, you can find a RKC certified trainer in your area by checking here.

Liz Muirhead is a working mom of two kids and the author of Looking Good (for a mom), a blog about health, nutrition, and fitness. Visit her at www.lookinggoodmom.com

As a frequent visitor to the internet, I'm constantly seeing ads stating that there's "one simple rule.” A mom has learned one simple rule to white teeth (and not from her dentist). Another woman has learned one simple rule to a flat belly. And yet another woman has learned one simple rule to eliminating wrinkles! It's amazing. And, it's a crock. But then, as a savvy person, you knew that already.

However, when it comes to being healthy, everything can be boiled down to just one simple rule. No, really! In the case, the rule isn't what you eat, or how often you move, or about drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water. The rule is all about habits.

That's right, it's not some temporary low-carb diet, or lemon cleanse, or even some intense 12-week workout program that will whip you into shape no matter what you eat!

Bad habits – eliminating them

So what bad habits you do you have? Taking bites of your children's unfinished food? Eating junk while deciding what to make for dinner? How about sneaking sweets late at night when no one is watching or judging you? Is it your 40 ounce soda you get every day that you just can't seem to live without? Did I get yours yet?

Here's the thing. Bad habits are tough. You've trained your body and mind to expect them, and sometimes you do them without even realizing what's happening. You need to make a decision to stop them now. Don't go all at once – it will be too challenging. Pick just one habit and work on it. If you're a plate cleaner after your kids are done eating, work on scraping their leftovers into the trash instead. Snacking before dinner? Replace the junk with carrot sticks.  Late night eater? Drink a large glass of water before bed instead. If you're a soda drinker, cut back on your daily indulgence and swap in a large water or unsweetened tea instead. Or if you can't deal with that, shrink the size.

The first day will be tough. The first week will too. And if you slip, that's okay. Recommit to your decision to eliminate this habit, and start again. But it will get easier. After three weeks of consistent effort to eliminating your chosen bad habit, it should be gone. Then it's time to celebrate by choosing the next bad habit on your list and targeting it for elimination. Even if you aren't yet ready to start eating healthier foods and exercising, eliminating your bad habits will start you on the right road for a healthier life.