Bristol Kettlebell club member profile – Claire Siggery
I started in September 2011.
What attracted you to kettlebell training?
Over the last 3 years I had tried going to the gym and I had also done a couple of half marathons. I didn’t do them because I enjoyed running, I did them purely to have a goal. I’ve never been particularly sporty and in the past had always looked for quick fixes. I was initially attracted to Kettlebells because I thought it looked varied and my main concern (at the time) was to lose weight.
Some say it’s really tough, is it?
All I would say is that the one thing that I have realised is that you don’t get results if you don’t push yourself. Pete won’t shout at you to try harder, but is encouraging to get the best from you. At the same time, especially initially, you’ve got to work at your own pace. You won’t ever be forced to do something you can’t physically do. You’re encouraged to do quality exercise over quantity of reps. You will work harder than in any self-lead workout you’ve ever done, but you feel amazing after!
What other types of fitness have/do you enjoy?
Not a lot! I run for necessity when I’ve got a place in a 10k or half marathon, but if i’m honest I get bored. I cycle – to the pub and I walk pretty much everywhere.
When I started my resounding memory is trying to do the ‘Turkish get up’ for the first time. I couldn’t even hold a 6k bell over my head for the duration of the exercise – so I had to do it without! I’m still not on a heavy weight, but I now work with an 8k for that exercise. I’ve also lost about half a stone and with Pete’s nutritional advice, even when I had a break from illness and a holiday, I kept it off. It completely changes your outlook on fitness and health.
You feel leaner, fitter, stronger. Best of all, on the days you train you sleep like a baby, waking up feeling energised – if not a little achy in the early days!
I was so focused on weight loss initially, but after a few session you soon realise that it’s about being healthy and not skinny. I’m definitely not skinny and I’m much happier about the shape of my body and it feels good that I’m doing things the correct way and not by starving myself which clearly does not work!
I use 8k for turkish get ups and presses. Then for the other exercises and swings i’ll use anything from a 10-16k… i’m normally the one with 3 or 4 bells by my feet!
I want to get my upper body strength up, so I can press a larger weight. Also, I would like to start swinging with larger weights.
Words from Pete – Usually when on holiday we tend to over eat and put on half a stone, in Claire’s case (and many of my other clients) she had her holiday and avoided this situation altogether. This is because her metabolic rate is now higher than what it used to be, so she naturally burns more calories at rest than previously. This is a major benefit of kettlebell training and can’t be touched by other forms of training. The fat loss battle will happen much easier when the metabolism high all the time. Claire took time out recently to complete the Bath half, I am glad to see her back in the sessions getting stronger and working hard.
If you would like to get involved with the club click here and sign up to the intro class.
