Bob Harper Contour Kettlebell and Training DVD Review

Kristen Seymour

Earlier this year, Bob Harper partnered with GoFit to create the Bob Harper contour kettlebell (sizes range from 7 to 25 pounds). And with the contour kettlebell comes the "Bob Harper Kettlebell Basics Body Shred Workout" DVD.

The 30-minute video features Harper and an assistant, whom he puts through various kettlebell exercises, providing instruction and tips on form along the way. Harper also includes a warm-up and cooldown, so the workout itself is probably closer to 20 or 25 minutes.

Fans of "The Biggest Loser" will already be familiar with Harper's signature style of coaching, and many of us know that Harper loves the kettlebell. But I was curious to see whether that would equate to a tough kettlebell workout.

Level of Difficulty
Beginner -- just make sure to start with a lighter kettlebell if you're a true beginner!

Next-Day Soreness
Major in the quads. There's been an embarrassing amount of moaning going on over here; although, if I'm being honest, I ran for another 45 minutes after the DVD, so some of the pain could be attributed to the run.

Who's It For?
Fans of Harper, of course, and those who are interested in using kettlebells and are seeking solid instruction.


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Likes
Harper does a surprisingly solid job of giving a lot of instruction without sacrificing a tough workout. He goes through some of the moves without holding the weight just to get form down, and he's very descriptive in how the kettlebell should be held and moved. Even with all the in-depth instruction, however, my quads were quivering halfway through!

Dislikes
I know that this is designed to just be an intro and basic workout, but I would have really loved a second workout or an option to exercise longer than 30 minutes (including warm-up and cooldown). Though it was a solid strength routine and got my heart rate up, I ended up going for a fairly long run afterward to burn off the rest of my energy. Experienced exercisers probably won't want to rely on just this for a full workout.

The one other thing I should point out is that there are no modifications offered for using a hand weight -- understandable, considering the DVD comes with a kettlebell, but worth noting since so many other kettlebell DVDs do offer modifications.

Bottom Line
I really liked how well the kettlebell moves were explained -- there are a few moves I've struggled with in the past, and I really got the hang of them here. And I definitely liked the contour kettlebell -- it made some of the moves, like cleans, about a million times more comfortable. Harper is encouraging and positive without being pushy, which makes this a really good choice for those who are just getting started. Permalink | Email this | Commentsdiet diet and weight loss weight loss diet