Start 2020 Right and Find Out What’s Trending.

The below list of fitness trends look great and exciting but if you are new to exercising or it’s been a while since you have stepped into a gym, there are some important factors to consider in having a successful 2020. I’ll explain below why the top three trends will lead you a stray on your goal pursuits if you are new to exercise.

According to the Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2020, done by the American College of Sports Medicine, the top 10 fitness trends are:

Wearable technology: Includes fitness trackers, smart health watches, heart rate monitors and GPS tracking devices.

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT): HIIT involves short bursts of activity followed by a short period of rest or recovery. Despite concerns expressed by some fitness professionals, these 30-minute or less sessions continue to be a popular form of exercise around the world.

Group training: Group exercise instructors teach, lead and motivate individuals through intentionally designed, larger, in-person group movement classes of more than five participants. Group programs are designed to be motivational and effective for people at different fitness levels, with instructors using leadership techniques that help individuals achieve fitness goals.

Training with free weights: Instructors focus on teaching proper form for exercises using barbells, kettle bells, dumbbells and/or medicine balls. Resistance progressively increases as correct form is accomplished. Training with free weights debuts at no. 4 in 2020.

Personal Training: The popularity of one-on-one training continues to increase as it becomes more accessible online, in clubs, at home and in work-site fitness facilities. Personal training includes fitness testing and goal setting with the trainer working one on one with a client to prescribe workouts specific to individual needs and goals.

Exercise is Medicine®: This global health initiative by ACSM encourages health care providers to include physical activity assessment and associated referrals to certified fitness professionals in the community as part of every patient visit.

Body-weight Training: Body-weight training uses minimal equipment, making it more affordable. Not limited to just push-ups and pull-ups, this trend allows people to get “back to the basics” with fitness.

Fitness Programs for Older Adults: As Baby Boomers age into retirement, many health and fitness professionals are taking the time to create age-appropriate fitness programs to keep older adults healthy and active.

Health / Wellness Coaching: This growing trend integrates behavioral science into health promotion and lifestyle medicine programs. A one-one-one and small group approach provides support, goal setting and encouragement.

Employing Certified Fitness Professionals: Hiring health/fitness professionals certified through programs accredited by the NCCA is more important than ever. ACSM is one of the largest and most prestigious fitness-certification organizations in the world.

The full list of the top 20 trends is available in the article “Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2020.” More details and resources on the top 10 fitness trends are available on online.

Wearable Technology - I love my sport watch and it’s a helpful reminder and motivator towards tracking my goals but the big issue with technology is that no matter how much you spend or how fancy the device is, you are still the one that has to put in the hours of hard work. The device will not get you out of bed in the morning or get you to go to the gym after a long day of work, you have to know your WHY, why are you doing it and what are your goals. When things get tough, which they always do, you can keep going and that is never going to be found in a device, it's something that is within you.

HITT - The biggest mistake fitness beginner fall victim to is doing too much too fast. We all want instant results and there is no magic pill or equipment or device or training routine that will give you the instant body or health you want. The results come from making everyday choices(small choices) that make you better. Failure happens when you don't take things seriously. You don't take action. These actions are everyday simple things like not caring if your dinner is healthy tonight or not going out for that quick 20 minute walk. The small actions of not caring lead to major health issues down the road. Then you have failed yourself!!!! Small actions of consistency are the corner stone to your success. A good example is going to the dentist, you would not just go for your check up every six months and not brush your teeth in-between visits. When you brush your teeth, you don't suddenly notice a difference in your teeth and gum health. The same goes for working out. You don't come home from the gym and look in the mirror and see a difference but over time there will be a difference, if you have sustainable consistency. HITT workouts are not sustainable for you if they are to hard for you. HITT workouts are great for improving your fitness and provide great results if you are at the level of fitness that is appropriate. For beginners this can lead to pain and possibly injury. Beginners or fitness returnees need to slowly get back into a fitness routine. When you over due it, the next day you feel stiff, sore and tired. This by no means will motivate you to keep going and succeed. Working up to a HITT routine should be a goal, not a starting point!

Group Fitness can have the same issues as a HITT routine, beginners or returning clients, over due it. It could be that competitive nature in us and when we get in a group setting we push ourselves to keep up with everyone else and the next day or week, we pay the price. Even more important we pay the price of not continuing because we hurt. Group fitness provides great motivation but is generalized and is usually lacking in helping you improve the things that are important to you. Example, lets say you have tight rounded shoulders from working at a desk all day, that also causes you headaches and the group fitness class works on the muscles group that tightens them, which makes the problem worse and there you are trying your best to make things better and it’s making it worse.

Fitness is one of the corner stones to living your life to the fullest, so start out the new year right by setting achievable goals, making consistent sustainable progress and knowing what to work on to make your body feel better.

All the best for 2020