Each year, the American College of Sports Medicine rolls out its list of top trends in the fitness industry. And after surveying more than 1,500 fitness professionals, they’ve come up with a list of the 20 latest and greatest areas generating buzz. Here are four of the hottest movements in the fitness world and more on how you can take on the trends yourself!
Functional fitness- More and more people are engaging in functional fitness – that is, giving a means to the end of your workout. So instead of burning off your breakfast with a treadmill session, you’re blasting calories by walking to the store. Or you’re using your own body weight to get a better workout in with less gear in less time. Functional fitness is ideal for multi-taskers – no wonder it’s such a hit with celebs! (Click for celebrity secrets to stay fit.)
Keeping kids fit- It’s no secret that today’s kids are heavier than ever. In fact, about 15 percent of children ages 2 to 19 are considered obese, according to the National Center for Health Statistics at the CDC. If you have kids, you can keep them happy, healthy and fit by serving up wholesome (but tasty!) meals and encouraging them to stay active. (Tips to get fit with your kids.)
Personal training- Inspired by such shows as The Biggest Loser, personal trainers are more popular than ever. As an increasing number of people are looking to get fit, they’re turning to trainers for personalized – and often more intense – workouts. With a trainer, you’ll not only zero in on your problem areas, you’ll also have no excuse when it comes to skipping the gym. Want to know if you’d work well with a personal trainer? Take this fitness quiz to find out.
Strength training- It’s not just meatheads and men pumping iron in the weight room these days: Many women are using weights to tone up and trim down. And if you’re in your 30’s or beyond, there’s no better time than now to get started on a weight-lifting regime. Experts say women over 30 who lift weights may delay the muscle deterioration that comes along with age and menopause. (Here are some tips get lifting.)
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