How can I use kettlebell and dumbell training at home to minimize time in the gym?

Question

I am motivated to do a bit of strength training to increase general fitness and health and fighting the sitting disease I contract at work. Looking muscular or being very strong holds little interest to me. I am looking for a minimum effort solution.

Most strength programs prescribe training 2 sets of each exercise 3 times a week. Even with only 3 exercises: deadlift, squat and press this can take about 45 minutes due to long pauses between sets.

My problem with this is that I find it boring. Especially the breaks between sets. Also I dislike planning and schedules and monitoring progress.

I am therefore considering replacing parts or the whole program with kettlebell and dumbell exercises at home (unfortunately I do not have space for a barbell at home). This way I can do something interesting between sets. More specifically I am considering doing swing, getup and goblet squats since I consider these to be equivalents to the deadlift, press and squat.

As for the planning I was considering doing e.g. one set of each everyday after work. That way it would be routine and nothing to think about. This would also eliminate the pause altogether. I think I could manage to do this using only 15 minutes. The amount of training would stay the same but the rest period would be shorter. Earlier I would think that would be a bad idea. But then I read about Greasing the Groove (GTG). Following this method one can train several times a day as long as one only do 50% of max number of reps in each set.

I am also considering a hybrid approach: I go to the gym once a week and do heavy lifts. The rest of the time I workout lighter at home with the kettlebell and dumbell. One big drawback of kettlebell is clearly the difficulty in doing progressive overloads. This is easier with the dumbell(s).

Any ideas on how I can combine these forms of training to get decent strength training with little effort so that I do not loose my motivation?

Answer 1

Try having a look at Pavel's Simple and Sinister program (can't remember if it's free or not).

Essentially, it's a swing and Turkish get up based program that uses goblet squats as part of the warm up.

From memory, the rest periods are based on how you feel, so if you get through your first set of swings and only feel lightly out of breath, then go do the second on. Pavel also recommends keeping moving during rest periods, by walking, jumping rope or shadow boxing to keep yourself moving, that should stave off some of the boredom :)

Once I got used to it, I think it took me about 20 minutes to get through the routine every evening after work. Because it uses a sub-maximal load with increased training frequency (every day, or every other day), there is an element of greasing the groove to it, especially with the Turkish get ups.

Answer 2

You say you are only looking for general fitness and not interested in strength, but then you say you are looking for a decent strength solution. To me, that is a bit contradictory, I am not saying you need to turn into a meathead in order to strength train, but it does require a certain amount of commitment and effort.

I get it, you don't want to spend all of your free time in the gym, I'm there too; a full time job and three kids leaves little extra free time. With that said, there are ways to make it work. I am a fan of kettlebells, they are great strength and conditioning tools.

Using kettlebells, you could do Every Minute on the Minute (EMOM) workouts. Just focus on one exercise and do a set amount of reps each minute. Be realistic in the number of reps you choose, it should be fairly easy to begin with. If you were doing swings, I might start out with 10 min and 10-15 reps. Starting out, it, you probably want it to take about 15-25 seconds to complete the reps. As you get more fit, you can increase reps and/or time.

You may also want to consider mixing it up with Tabata.

Also, you really don't even have to use weights, bodyweight fitness can probably get you the results you want, without spending money on equipment or memberships.

I hope this helps, and that you find what you are looking for.

Answer 3

As you noted:

One big drawback of kettlebell is clearly the difficulty in doing progressive overloads. This is easier with the dumbbell(s).

In order to continue to train for greater strength, you must apply progressively-greater stresses to your muscles. Exercises with plate-loaded barbells are ideal for this purpose, as you probably know. Without these, your strength training progress will cease, and probably will regress.

Answer 4

You can use an adjustable dumbbell (up to 100lbs or more) and then do unilateral exercises with it. One legged SLDL, Bulgarian split -or goblet- squats, OHP, and one arm row. With those exercises you cover the most important movement patterns (except vertical pulling, you need a pullup bar for that one but its not necessary)