A great session with an RKC

There aren't really any RKC trainers locally here in the Niagara Region.  There are some trainers from other certifications, but as far as I'm concerned Dragon Door is the absolute top of the line when it comes to kettlebell training for fitness and since I want to eventually certify with them I want to stick with consistent methods when I seek coaching.  I've trained with Dave Whitley (Master RKC)  and Matt McBryde (RKC) but they're based in Nashville, TN and I can't very easily stop by their place for a form check every few months!  This is why I leaped at an opportunity that recently presented itself on the dragondoor.com forums.  An RKC who is headed from his home in New Zealand (!) to Minnesota to take the RKC Level 2 course stopped by my neck of the woods and was in need of some kettlebells to train with for a bit before heading up to the course.  I volunteered mine and yesterday I went with a friend to drop them off in Beamsville.  We then proceeded to train for well over an hour with Mike Capper, RKC who was extremely helpful to both of us.  On more than one occasion Mike absolutely wowed us with how quickly he was able to spot what we were doing wrong and give us extremely helpful advice on how to improve. That ability (and willingness) to help others is exactly why I am so interested in getting myself certified.  I hope to be able to meet up with Mike later this week before he heads off to finish his journey to St. Paul.

The importance of goals

I think that when it comes to fat loss or fitness, goals are extremely important.  I had been unhappy with my weight and body composition for a very long time, and definitely wanted to do something about it, but I never really did.  Goals should be specific, and they need to be measurable.  Right now my two main goals related to fitness are 1) to be able to do five strict pull-ups or chin-ups.  This is a requirement for the HKC course I hope to attend later this year. 2) I would like to lose another 21lbs by September 11th.  That is the date of the course, and while there is no weight requirement, every pound I lose in goal 2 makes it easier to accomplish goal 1.  Note that both are very easily measured - I either will or will not pull my chin up and over a bar five times in a row; the scale either will or will not read 212lbs on that day in September.  There's nothing subjective about them like there could be about something like fitting into a certain pair of pants or looking good on the beach.
Do you have any specific and measurable fitness or weight loss goals?  Has setting such a goal in the past helped you on your path to health and fitness?

Why Kettlebells?

I have been a fan of kettlebells for a long time.  They've become quite popular these days, featured on major weight loss TV shows and even earning themselves a book in the "...for Dummies" series (which is apparently very well done).  I think I've had one since about 2004.  I got my red Superhero Strength 16kg kettlebell and immediately loved it.  It was heavy and it was different - nobody else I knew had one or had ever even mentioned one.  I had read Pavel Tsatsouline's Russian Kettlebell Challenge book, and believed that I was holding the world's most powerful exercise tool.  Over 6 years later I still love them.  On several occasions I have taken long breaks from using mine, and subsequently gained large amounts of weight!  At this point I cannot see myself ever stopping again.  I believe that to be true even though I have a very busy schedule, with a wife and two kids as well as a full time job and a part time business on the side.  Only time will show for sure, so in the meantime I will live, train and blog, I guess.

From fat guy to......

This blog will attempt to chronicle my journey from generally out of shape fat guy to becoming a certified kettlebell trainer.  This has already seen me drop over 80lbs in the past 4 years, about 45 of which have come off since September of '09 when I rededicated myself to regular kettlebell training.  I have learned a lot about weight loss over the past ten months, and I hope to be able to share some of that with you as I blog my way towards becoming a trainer.