I get asked this question ALL THE TIME.
And, my answer is consistently, “only if you want them to.”
Kettlebells (affiliate link) are weight, and they add load, but that is it. KBs have no superpowers — so for women to bulk up using kettlebells, they have to work at it.
I talk here about how there are three different types of strength: strength for strength, strength for size, and strength for sport. And, you train each skill differently.
If you are like most of my clients, you are probably interested in strength for sport — which is the appropriate amount of strength to excel at whatever sports you are interested in. Your need for strength might be playing in a rec league, it might be cycling or running, or it might just be running after your kids!
So, if you’ve been intrigued by those cannonballs with handles, but have been too worried about losing your girlish figure, there is no need. Check out these kettelbell instructors and tell me if you are still worried: Sara Cheatham, Delaine Ross, and Yoana Snideman. Then, call or email me to get started!
The Caveat…
I’m going to caveat this, because I’ve read many a post on various weight loss forums about how they are the poster is the exception to the rule, and they can’t train with weights because they bulk up. You might — very temporarily. You may gain a small amount of visible mass until your body adjusts. But, within a week or two your body will adapt, your newly developed muscles will make your body a more efficient fat-burning machine.
About Jen Waak
So many frustrated men would love to find the secret of ‘bulking up’ that it’s amusing to think that women worry about it. I guess the ultra-large female bodybuilders of the early 1990s have scared a generation of women into thinking that they’ll get huge if they touch a weight. Thankfully, kettlebells are well-suited to anyone’s goals; it’s all in how you use them!