How to Do Windmills With Kettlebells

Tone Your Middle With the Kettlebell Windmill

February 8, 2012

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by Susi May 3

Swinging kettlebells around at the gym makes me feel like a super toughie. But I do love the sassy feeling I get doing slow and controlled windmills, a move I just learned from my Equinox trainer Lauren. Like most kettlebell moves, this is a full-body exercise, but the work is at your waist, toning the obliques and stretching the sides of the torso. The shoulders and arms are worked nicely, too.

If you're a beginner, try this exercise with no weights. Once you feel familiar with the sequence, add one five-pound dumbbell into the mix, holding the weight in the hand that remains held above the head. When you're ready, progress to using a set of four-kilogram (8.8 pounds) kettlebells.

Start toning your love handles now; bikini season is right around the corner.

1 / 10

by Susi May 3

Start toning your love handles now; bikini season is right around the corner.

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3 Comments

noeXcusefitness 1 year 14 weeks

@jenniann you are right to a certain degree, doing oblique work with weights can add bulk to that area, however that more relates to direct strength based abdominal training, i.e: doing side bends with dumbbells. The windmill exercise is a more full body movement that is working a wide range of muscles aimed at improving your core stability. If you are looking for direct abdominal work that will tighten your core, without adding bulk, look at doing some planks, both normal and the side variety.

alexesq33 1 year 14 weeks

I don't think her waist is thick, I think that's just the way it may appear because she doesn't have the "tiny waist, full hips" shape, she's more up and down shape (like Cameron Diaz). Her waist is prob still about 28-30 inches :) (As an aside - I have those exact sneakers, color and all - Nike Frees - they ROCK!)

jenniann 1 year 14 weeks

interesting. Does she appear to have a thick waist? I have heard from both bodybuilders and personal trainers that using weights or medicine balls during oblique and/or ab work causes muscle build up, not a good idea if trying to slim those areas. Thoughts?