Kettlebell Strength and Conditioning

Biggest Loser Contestants Statistics

Kristen Graves

Age: 32

Height: 5'-3"

Weight Loss Mantra: Find the courage, find the pride!

Goal Item: Run London Marathon on April 23 and have a baby shortly thereafter.

Hometown: Chicago IL

Occupation: Radio Advertising Sales

Quote: If they can do it, I can do it!

Weight Tracker

Week 1: - 10.2 pounds
Week 2: - 3 pounds
Week 3: -.2 pounds
Week 4: -7.6 pounds
Week 5: -4 pounds
Week 6: -9 pounds

Heaviest Weight: 223
Current Weight: 187
Total Pounds Lost: 34
Total Inches Lost: 13-1/2 inches
Total Percentage of Weight Lost: 15.03%

Bio:
Have a music industry background and met my husband while we were both on tour with the Goo Goo Dolls. Moved to CA to be with him and get married. Obsessed with Marathons — I think it's like facing down the devil himself! And I'm much stronger than I look!

New job, new home, new marriage

In October of 2004, Kristen Graves got married, moved from her hometown of Chicago to San Diego, CA and started a brand new career. "Absolutely nothing was familiar or comfortable," Graves says. "I was overwhelmed on every level and ate for comfort." In addition, exercising wasn't a priority as Kristen focused on her new marriage, new job, and new home. She gained over 40 pounds in just over a year.

The Tipping Point

Kristen's frustration with her unhealthy lifestyle grew, but it was a shopping trip to Nordstrom that was the final push she needed. "I was too big for the size 16's and I had to make my way to the Plus sizes," she recalls. "There were big tears in front of the salesperson."

The Transformation

In October of 2005 Graves heard about the "San Diego's Biggest Loser" contest; a scaled-down version of the national hit show being hosted by the local NBC network. Sarah Lurie, owner of Iron Core kettlebell studio, partnered with the station and provided 6 weeks of kettlebell training for the contestants.

The Workout

Kristen was selected as a contestant for the show and she immediately began working out at Iron Core 4 times a week. She quickly mastered the dynamic kettlebell exercises and saw pounds and inches shed quickly, losing over 10 pounds and 3 and 1/2 inches in her waist in her first week of training. The Iron Core Kettlebell program is a circuit workout that combines cardiovascular and weight training, and hits all the muscles groups with each exercise. The movements are very dynamic, which keeps the heart rate in the fat burning zone throughout the workout, with a typical Iron Core circuit lasting 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Today

Kristen came in a close second in the "San Diego's Biggest Loser" contest, losing 33.5 pounds and 13.5 waist inches and over 15% of her body fat in just 6 weeks. Since the contest ended Graves has kept up her consistent kettlebell training and continues to lose weight.

Kristen finds it hard to pick just one way that her life has improved since she began training at Iron Core. "I feel strong and lean and so much more confident. Kettlebells has made me look different, but more importantly, I feel different. I walk into a room now and think "I'm just as strong as them."