Editorial Review
For the Woman Who Wants it all:
Look Way Younger than Your Age
Have a Lean, Graceful, Athletic-Looking Body
Feel Amazing, Feel Vigorous, Feel Beautiful
Have More Energy and More Strength to
Get More Done in Your Day
In Russia, kettlebells have long been revered as the fitness-tool of choice for Olympic athletes, elite special forces and martial artists. The kettlebell’s ballistic movement challenges the body to achieve an unparalleled level of physical conditioning and overall strength.
But until now, the astonishing benefits of the Russian kettlebell have been unavailable to all but a few women. Kettlebells have mostly been the sacred preserve of the male professional athlete, the military and other hardcore types. That’s about to change, as Russian fitness expert and best selling author Pavel, delivers the first-ever kettlebell program for women.
It’s wild, but women really can have it all when they access the magical power of Russian kettlebells. Pavel’s uncompromising workouts give across-the-board, simultaneous, spectacular and immediate results for all aspects of physical fitness: strength, speed, endurance, fat-burning, you name it. Kettlebells deliver any and everything a woman could want—if she wants to be in the best-shape-ever of her life.
And one handy, super-simple tool—finally available in woman-friendly sizes—does it all. No bulky, expensive machines. No complicated gizmos. No time-devouring trips to the gym.
Just some of what From Russia with Tough Love reveals:
- How the Snatch eliminates cellulite, firms your butt, and gives you the cardio-ride of a lifetime
- How to get as strong as you want, without bulking up
- How the Swing melts your fat and blasts your hips ‘n thighs
- The real secret to great muscle tone
- How to supercharge your heart and lungs without aerobics
- How to shrink your waist with the Power Breathing Crunch
- How the Deck Squat makes you super flexible
- An incredible exercise to tone your arms and shoulders
- The cardio and fat-burning powers of the Clean-and Press
- The Overhead Squat for explosive leg strength
- How to think yourself stronger—yes, really!
- The queen of situps—for those who can hack it
- Cool combination exercises that deliver an unbelievable muscular and cardiovascular workout in zero time
- An unreal drill for a powerful and flexible waist, back, and hips
- How to perform multiple mini-sessions for fast-lane fitness
Into sports? Jump higher. Leap further. Kick faster. Hit harder. Throw harder. Run with newfound speed. Swim with greater power. Endure longer. Wow!
Working hard? Handle stress with ridiculous ease. Blaze thru tasks in half the time. Radiate confidence. Knock ‘em dead with your energy and enthusiasm.
Can’t keep up with your kids? Not any more! They won’t know what hit them.
Just wanna have fun? Feel super-relaxed from the endorphin-rush of your life, dance all night and feel finer-than-fine the next morning…and the next…and the next.
Got attitude? Huh! Then try Pavel’s patented Russian Kettlebell workouts. Now, that's attitude!
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Customer Reviews
Go Pavel! 
2008-07-26
After buying my GoFit 10# kettlebell package, I decided I needed more information about kettlebells, so I ordered this book by Paval. I recomment any books he has in print about working out. This books is NOT for sissy, wimpy women who want to lift 'cute' little pink or blue matched dumbbells, or wear coordinated workout wear to look good for others and guys. He is serious, does NOT talk down to you. You, the reader will take him and his philsophy about kettlebells seriously, or get rid of the book!
Compact book with complete workouts with Russian Kettlebells 
2008-06-04
This is a compact book with complete workouts for women who wish to use Russian Kettlebells. Kettlebells are an old style of weight lifting equipment; a cannonball with a handle. The ball and handle resemble carrying a cauldron or kettle, hence the name. In Russian, the word is "girya" meaning a grain weight and the units come in "poods" or 36 pounds (40 Russian "funts.") The book is geared to women, but actually, adding weight (full "pood" or 36 pounds), a guy could use this book with no embarrassment whatsoever. If you are curious what kettlebell workouts look like, go to Youtube and check out at least one double-arm swing workout by a woman who is flipping an 88-lb kettlebell as if it were a little bathmat being shook out. Impressive. You can also see some of the other moves, like the Turkish get-up.
The kettlebell, being centered on a handle, requires steadying by muscles to be lifted as it shifts the center of gravity through the motion. For example, as you do an overhead press, it moves from the side of your shoulder to overhead but the center of gravity is now on your forearm. This unbalanced weight makes the lifter use many of the smaller, deeper muscles to move the weight. The kettlebell is said to combine aerobics with weightlifting, so can become a time-efficient and effective way to work out with minimum space and equipment. This is one of those old-fashioned strongman methods that is in contrast to muscle isolation and working to muscle failure. This method relies on involving many more muscles and building strength with deadlifts, cleans, clean-and-snatch and other traditional strong lifting techniques that have fallen by the wayside along with Indian Clubs (which are also making a comeback.)
The workouts start with "box squats" where you hold a weight (women are recommended to start with a 1/2 pood or 16 lbs.) The move is to sit down with the weight in front in both hands, lightly on a raised aerobic step bench or a box, rock back quickly (you don't really sit) and then raise up again using the large muscles of the leg.
There is a sequence of exercises starting with the box squats, "good morning" bends, then moving to one arm deadlifts, up to "Turkish getups" (not caftan pants but getting up from a supine position with the kettlebell elevated on one art the whole time--the old strongman's lift a woman from a lying position all the way to over his head.) And then the dragon walk, a Qigong-inspired tough sort of walking lunge with or without weights. There is also a power breathing method and improved sit-ups, said to be much tougher and more effective than crunches.
There is some slight diet information (not really much) and a list of supplements used by one of the kettlebell expert women.
The book is rather thin and there are lots of testimonials to the effectiveness of this unusual weight exercise, and a hefty advertising section in the back, where you can order other books by Tsatsouline or kettlebells and "the Pavelizer"--an aid to doing ab work. This makes the book seem very slim--but....the paper stock is excellent quality and there are abundant, well-printed black-and-white photos, showing proper form and bad form. So this is a very compact, get-the-job-done book that has a lot packed into it. If you are a woman who uses weights to exercise, this book has some very excellent progressive workouts from medium-easy to very, very tough indeed.
Recommended for anyone who wants a new, interesting and efficient workout.
The only exercise worth doing... 2008-04-15
The only exercise worth doing is any excercise that includes a kettlebell. Pavel and his femme fatal lady friends have really hit the mark here! The exercises are easy to do once you know the proper form and they work, without making you so sore you can't move the next day. Try it, you've nothing to lose.
from Russia with lots of advertising 
2007-11-03
I guess I was expecting more photos, more instruction and more workouts. I wasn't expecting ads and testimonials on how great the method is. I returned this book.
Drop the years 2007-07-23
My wife and I became interested in Kettlebell fitness techniques and decided we would give it a try.
I ordered this for my wife who was over the age of 60. She has always been in fair physical condition, not a fitness freak but also not a couch potato. After a couple of weeks of this exercise plan the difference in her body and sense of well being was obvious. After about six months, she shocks most 40 year old women with her energy and appearance.
There is no doubt that she has reset the clock on physical aging with this plan.
too much ,too much 
2007-05-14
For the Woman Who Wants it all:
Look Way Younger than Your Age
Have a Lean, Graceful, Athletic-Looking Body
Feel Amazing, Feel Vigorous, Feel Beautiful
Have More Energy and More Strength to
Get More Done in Your Day
In Russia, kettlebells have long been revered as the fitness-tool of choice for Olympic athletes, elite special forces and martial artists. The kettlebell’s ballistic movement challenges the body to achieve an unparalleled level of physical conditioning and overall strength.
But until now, the astonishing benefits of the Russian kettlebell have been unavailable to all but a few women. Kettlebells have mostly been the sacred preserve of the male professional athlete, the military and other hardcore types. That’s about to change, as Russian fitness expert and best selling author Pavel, delivers the first-ever kettlebell program for women.
It’s wild, but women really can have it all when they access the magical power of Russian kettlebells. Pavel’s uncompromising workouts give across-the-board, simultaneous, spectacular and immediate results for all aspects of physical fitness: strength, speed, endurance, fat-burning, you name it. Kettlebells deliver any and everything a woman could want—if she wants to be in the best-shape-ever of her life.
And one handy, super-simple tool—finally available in woman-friendly sizes—does it all. No bulky, expensive machines. No complicated gizmos. No time-devouring trips to the gym.
Just some of what From Russia with Tough Love reveals:
- How the Snatch eliminates cellulite, firms your butt, and gives you the cardio-ride of a lifetime
- How to get as strong as you want, without bulking up
- How the Swing melts your fat and blasts your hips ‘n thighs
- The real secret to great muscle tone
- How to supercharge your heart and lungs without aerobics
- How to shrink your waist with the Power Breathing Crunch
- How the Deck Squat makes you super flexible
- An incredible exercise to tone your arms and shoulders
- The cardio and fat-burning powers of the Clean-and Press
- The Overhead Squat for explosive leg strength
- How to think yourself stronger—yes, really!
- The queen of situps—for those who can hack it
- Cool combination exercises that deliver an unbelievable muscular and cardiovascular workout in zero time
- An unreal drill for a powerful and flexible waist, back, and hips
- How to perform multiple mini-sessions for fast-lane fitness
Into sports? Jump higher. Leap further. Kick faster. Hit harder. Throw harder. Run with newfound speed. Swim with greater power. Endure longer. Wow!
Working hard? Handle stress with ridiculous ease. Blaze thru tasks in half the time. Radiate confidence. Knock ‘em dead with your energy and enthusiasm.
Can’t keep up with your kids? Not any more! They won’t know what hit them.
Just wanna have fun? Feel super-relaxed from the endorphin-rush of your life, dance all night and feel finer-than-fine the next morning…and the next…and the next.
Got attitude? Huh! Then try Pavel’s patented Russian Kettlebell workouts. Now, that's attitude!
Kettlebells rule 2007-02-16
Kettlebells offer unique advantages over other ways to exercise. Instead of alternating days of weight training for strength with aerobics for fat loss, you can do it in one workout, doing ballistics. Snatches, swings, cleans and jerks give you twice the exercise in half the time. There is also a remarkable carryover effect from kettlebell training onto other, seemingly non-related sports activities.
At the moment of writing this was the best book on kettlebells. The newer one, Enter the Kettlebell, is more elaborate and more hard core. This one is more suitable for the ladies, in my opinion.
Best workout ever! 2005-08-02
When I first heard of kettlebells a couple months ago they seemed like they were for hardcore macho-man types--commandos, Green Berets, whatever. Not for me, a plump middleaged woman trying to get into shape and lose fat.
But then I found out about this book and video for women, and suddenly I knew I had to try it. I'm so glad I did!!!
Pavel's attitude is highly amusing as he milks the macho Russian drill sergeant schtick for all it's worth, but it's all tongue-in-cheek. And at the same time, he's giving priceless information and motivation about a training method that I'm sure will be huge once it catches on, because the results are so spectacular and quick and it's so physically satisfying and fun to do.
I ordered this book, the accompanying DVD, and one 15-lb. kettlebell to get started with, and I received them and started using them about a week ago. I can honestly say that this kettlebell workout is the greatest form of exercise I've ever tried.
I'd been eating a super-healthy top-quality diet for about five or six months and going to the gym and using the machines (both resistance and cardio) for about an hour to an hour and a half. Hadn't seen much in the way of results yet, despite my healthy diet and working out several times a week. I was feeling good, though.
But when I tried the kettlebell, it just ***blew away*** my gym workouts. I've been using the KB for about a week now and plan to cancel my gym membership ASAP. The KB stays in my bedroom and I use it at least once a day, sometimes twice, for up to 20 minutes at a time. It feels so good that I WANT to do it--and that means no more time-consuming trips to the gym for me.
I'm already starting to feel a difference in my body composition. According to Pavel, if you work out a lot with kettlebells you can shred up to 1% of your body fat per week, which is a LOT.
The book has a lot of pictures showing the correct form, which I like, and it explains the WHY's behind KB training, which helped me to quickly gain a basic understanding of everything KB-related without having to read the book cover-to-cover.
As for the DVD, I watched it through twice, and then started just skipping to the workout at the end, where the two women (DC and Andrea) are doing a freestyle KB workout as Pavel comments in the background. I watched that freestyle workout every day the first few days, as I did my own freestyle workouts, but now (yesterday and today), I've started just doing a freestyle workout to my favorite music instead.
I feel I don't really need the book or the DVD anymore, except for occasional reference. So, to me, I'd say the most valuable part of the three things I bought to get started (Pavel's book, DVD, and a kettlebell) was by far the kettlebell itself. You pretty much need to have either the book or the DVD, or both, to get started, however, because you need to learn the various drills, correct form, etc. The DVD physically demonstrates how to do it, whereas the book explains why and gives more detail. In my opinion you need both, although for me I think the DVD was more valuable.
These KB exercises are very different from dumbbell exercises. Way more fun, for starters! It just FEELS incredibly good to do the KB workouts. I get a flood of pleasant endorphins after only about 15 minutes, whereas it used to take me about an hour to achieve that at the gym. My flexibility has already improved a lot too--now I spring out of bed in the morning like a panther, rather than dragging myself around with morning joint pain/stiffness. After only a week of daily use!
I'm so glad I found out about working out with KBs--I know it will make a profound difference in my life and health. I'm telling everybody I know about them. I'm completely confident that I will be able to shed over 100 lbs. of body fat in a year with my kettlebell training. I'm so ready to become a FEMME FATALE!!!
An Evolution In Method 2005-07-28
"From Russia With Tough Love" represents an evolution in Pavel's methods of teaching kettlebell techniques. "The Russian Kettlebell Challenge" was male-oriented, taught basic exercises and then said "Have at it." "From Russia with Tough Love" is designed for women, assumes that the reader is an absolute beginner, starts from ground zero, and builds an effective workout step-by-step. I recommend "From Russia with Tough Love" for anyone, male or female, who is just starting out with kettlebells.
If you can get through the clutter... 2004-09-18
Eliminating 28 pages of advertising, 41 pages of innane comments plus the dragondoor ad on each page(we got the message)would improve this book immensely. There are some really good techniques and principles of kettlebell training in this text, but it's almost a bother each time I open it to decipher the organization through the distracting clutter. Definitely needs some professional editing and it could be a respectable training manual. I will hesitate ordering any other of his works before physically seeing them in a bookstore first and verifying the layout first. Even with the great prices at amazon.com, I'm not interested in buying filler pages.
