Fitness trends come and go every year, so the newest developments can be hard to stay on top of. Thankfully, we all seem to be becoming more fitness-conscious as a society, as we begin to place more value on our personal health. Whether you need to get back in shape this year, or are just looking to maintain, here are some of the recent trends we’ve noticed in physical fitness, and how you can get on-board with them:
Obstacle Course / CrossFit Training — the popularity of obstacle course races like Tough Mudder and general boredom with gym machines have recently driven many people into alternative training methods. The CrossFit trend grew in 2014 and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down in 2015, which means that it is no longer considered unusual to have to swing ropes, roll giant tires around, and climb obstacle walls when you go to the gym.
One of the main reasons this trend has succeeded, aside from being a ton of fun, is that many people are seeing great results. By utilizing exercises that use every muscle in the body, CrossFit and obstacle courses really challenge the bodies of participants. If you decide to try these workouts out, be on the lookout for injuries, which tend to occur more frequently with some of these high-impact exercises.
Fitness Tracking Apps — the health app field has been booming for a couple of years now, and it seems like apps exist for everything, from tracking the daily calories you eat, to the miles you run, to the quality of your sleep. The difference in 2015 comes from the available integration options of wearable technology (Apple Watch, FitBit, and others) with your mobile device, giving you complete and instantaneous (no more connecting your band to the computer via USB) information on the quality of your workouts and your progress over time.
Streaming Workouts — the Internet version of fitness tapes/DVDs, these workout videos are increasing in popularity because they have grown to fit almost any niche you can think of. Interested in workout videos you can do with your partner? Or ones that specifically made for people with knee problems? Chances are there’s a website that can stream exactly what you need to your computer, tablet, or phone.
Group Personal Training — always wanted to have the education and flexibility of working out with a personal trainer, but can’t justify the cost? You’re in luck, because personal training in small groups (think: 2-5 people) is taking off as a valid alternative. This method gives you more personal attention than you can get in a large workout class, but at a lower cost than having a personal trainer just for yourself.
And remember, if you’re hitting your workout goals but still aren’t able to get the results you need, call St. Charles Plastic Surgery for a consultation on how a plastic surgery procedure might be able to help you get results!
