Sunday, April 27, 2008 | Life, Health + Fitness
SP Iron Woman

Is an old Russian weight-lifting technique a gimmick or the real deal?

 

Courtesy of Condition
Delaine Ross of Condition

WHAT: Condition Kettlebells
WHERE: 659 Auburn Ave.
HOW MUCH? Classes start at $85 per month
CONTACT: 404-380-1111. www.gymcondition.com.
FITNESS FACTOR: 4 stars
FUN FACTOR: 3 stars



By Colleen Oakley

I’m always wary of a gimmick— those infomercials promising the perfect “beach body” or “flat abs in 20 days” if you just buy their product for four easy payments of $39.99. So five years ago, when I was editor of Women’s Health & Fitness magazine and I first heard about kettlebells—an old Russian weight-training technique that can burn up to 900 calories in 45 minutes—the gimmick “bell” warning in my head went off and I never dug any deeper into what it was.
That’s why, when a reader wrote in to gush about Condition, the new kettlebell gym in Atlanta, and challenged me to try it, I knew I had to do it.

Condition is owned and operated by Delaine Ross, the only female certified in kettlebell training in Georgia. That fact impressed me, but what impressed me more (and also made me want to vom a little bit) was her body—it didn’t appear to have an ounce of fat on it. As we were stretching to get ready for class, one of the students whispered to me, “She does fitness competitions and only uses kettlebells to train for them.”

That was all I needed to hear. Gimmick or not—give me some kettlebells. I’m ready to burn calories and look like her.

We all went to the back of the room to grab our kettlebells—cast iron weights in the shape of cannonballs with a handle. I chose a 18-pounder, as it was the same weight Delaine had given me quick 10-minute lesson on before class (new students are typically asked to take a beginner’s workshop to learn proper form and technique, but Delaine was kind enough to condense it for me) and I partnered up with a man who, judging by his biceps, was a regular patron of the gym.

Delaine then led us through a series of moves with the bells—squats, mountain climbers, rows, lifts—all of them completely different than what you’re used to with regular weights. I could feel the different muscles in my body working, and the sweat on my brow confirmed how difficult it was.

The 45-minute class flew by and during the stretching/recovery portion, I was a believer. If I hadn’t burned 900 calories, I was close to it. I looked around the room at the regular kettlebell users and they all resembled the instructor—defined arms, flat tummies.

If Condition ever did decide to create an infomercial, they have plenty of people that could star in it—and that’s no gimmick. SP

Colleen Oakley is a freelance writer in Atlanta and the former editor of Women’s Health & Fitness magazine. Got a fitness challenge for her? E-mail her at colleen@sundaypaper.com.