Looking back on 2010 using my special Fitness Glasses tells an interesting tale. We didn't see big, sweeping changes in fitness - No revolutionary new products (despite what fitness infomercials tell you) and no new shortcuts for weight loss (despite what some diets may tell you). What we did see was a continuation of some of the trends we've seen over previous years, like circuit training and interval training, as well as the advent of hardcore training series like P90X, sweaty yoga and a scientific community focusing on the slow spread of our rear ends. Check out more of the best and worst fitness trends of 2010.
1. Circuit Training
Paige Waehner
In ancient times, I did circuit training with big, crazy looking machines. This year, we saw all kinds of permutations - Bootcamp workouts with moves like burpees and pushups, strength circuits that focus on classic moves like squats or lunges, cardio circuits to keep the heart rate up or a mix of all three. Whether it's because we have short attention spans or we've realized how efficient these workouts are, we're doing them more and more. Circuits are:
- Efficient - You can do a variety of activities at varying intensities in the same workout
- Effective - You balance strength, endurance and flexibility all at the same time
- Fun - The workout moves fast and, just when you can't do one more rep, you move on
2. Interval Training
Paige Waehner
If you weren't sprinting and recovering in some form or fashion this year, you missed out on the latest trend: Interval training. We jumped on the IT bandwagon in a big way in everything from spin class to treadmill workouts. We discoverd multiple ways to train - High intensity intervals, aerobic intervals and even mixed intervals. It helps that there were so many tools to make it easier, including heart rate monitors and fitness apps like Lolo burn and Interval Run
It also helps that interval training is so effective. It:
- Enhances performance
- Boosts cardio fitness
- Burns more calories
- Makes your body more efficient at burning fat
- Make your workouts less of a drag
- Increases after-burn
Get started with interval training
3. Hardcore Training vs. Quick Fix
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This year brought an odd assortment of workout philosophies. There were the usual quick fix infomerical gadgets, like the Leg Perfect and the Hula Chair, promising weight loss using revolutionary contraptions for just minutes a day. On the other side? Hardcore workout routines promising amazing results with long, seriously challenging and self-described insane workouts. The standouts:
- P90X - Includes 12 "extreme" home workout DVDs designed to make you sweat and, possibly, cry
- Insanity Workout - The name says it all with 10 insane workout DVDs focusing on plyometrics, interval training and power training
- Cross-Fit - This program, used for law enforcement and military training, offers power training at a whole different level
4. Toning Shoes vs. 'Barefoot' Shoes
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This year, we also saw conflicting shoe philosphies. One on side, fluffy-looking toning shoes (e.g., Reebok EasyTones) with oddly shaped soles designed to 'tone' our rears. On the other, minimalist shoes (e.g., Vibram Five Fingers) designed to strengthen the joints and create more efficient movement.
Users of both shoes reported positive results for improving things like plantar fasciitis. However, there were problems with the toning shoes and reports of deflated pods, injuries and pain. Not only that, ACE published a study showing there were no increases in muscle activation when using the toning shoes. Some of us chose to buck the trend and wear normal shoes - Crazy, I know.
5. Sitting Becomes Taboo
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Over the last decade, we've added a lot of things to the list of Things We're Doing Wrong - Not exercising enough, eating too much, working too much, not getting enough sleep, drinking too much, etc. This year, we added a new one to the list: Sitting. Once a relatively benign pasttime and a required activity for things like working, driving and watching TV, this year we learned that it's making us fat. In fact, it may even be killing us. It compresses our spines, lowers our metabolism, reduces healthy cholesterol and makes our hair fall out. Well, maybe not that last one.
Luckily, there are a few tools that came out this year to combat this problem:
6. Hot Yoga
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This year brought a surge in popularity of the unlikely marriage of heat and yoga - Namely 90 minutes of yoga done in a room heated to 95-100 degrees. The idea is to raise your core temperature, which causes you to sweat (quite a lot) which, in turn, can make the body more flexible.
Like many less traditional activities, hot yoga seems to attract a love-it or hate-it crowd and, of course, there's some controversery about it. Should we really sweat that much and are we really more flexible when it's 100 degrees? Can we really sweat out the toxins, as some proponents suggest?
With hot yoga studios popping up around the country, it's likely we'll see more of this trend in the coming years
7. More and Better Fitness Apps
Paige Waehner
Fitness apps have been around for a few years, but this year brought a slew of new and better apps for exercise and smartphone addicts. Music was at center stage with many fitness apps, allowing us to find the perfect pace for our workouts. Some of the standouts include:
- Motion Traxx - Deekron the Fitness DJ's new app offers a variety of walking, running and fitness workouts set to dance music and the ability to work to the beat while letting your mind roam free
- Synch Step - This fitness app synchs your music to the pace of your choice
- Lolo Burn - Do interval workouts on the treadmill or outside and adjust the intensity at will
- Tempo Magic - Change the speed of your music to fit your workout
8. The Science of Obesity
Scientists are always studying sciencey stuff but, this year, they spent a lot of time studying obesity. This isn't a big surprise, considering how much obesity has increased over the years, but these studies are important. The reasons we're obese may seem obvious, but science can help us hone in on specific physical, genetic and environmental factors and offer support for change, whether through legislation, at the workplace, in communities or at the individual level.
This year, scientists studied lifestyle interventions, how our communities affect our weight, how strength training can hold off type 2 diabetes and how women respond differently to exercise. They found out how teens can lose weight and how exercise helps with insomnia.
9. New Fitness Gear - The Good, The Bad and The Weird
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Trendy new fitness gear is always coming and going and this year was no exception. We saw a variety of new fitness inventions, some that may catch on and some that may...um...not:
- ViPR - The ViPR was introduced this year as a hot new gadget, what appears to be a weighted hollow tube-like thing you can swing around. It's certainly creative, but maybe too weird to catch on.
- The ElliptiGO - This take on the bicycle looks interesting - it's like pedaling while standing up. I'm not sure if this will catch on, but it looks fun.
- The Krankcycle - This new product is like a spin bike for your arms, allowing you to sit or stand as you 'crank' the pedals.
- The Crossover - This one is like an elliptical trainer, only it moves laterally
10. Creative Weight Loss Solutions
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This year, some of us got creative when coming up with solutions for losing weight. Just a few standouts from 2010:
- Banning Toys from Happy Meals - Santa Clara County, CA wants to do something about childhood obesity and their controversial approach is to ban toys from high calorie kid's meals.
- Pay to Lose - Paying people to do things is always a good motivator
- One Million Pounds - Oklahoma city decided to challenge its residents to lose one million pounds. Looks like they're getting close - as of today, they've collectively lost 614,985 pounds.
- Sit and Stand Challenge - An erogonomics company puts their employees to the test with a challenge to get 30% of the company to stand 30% of the work day for 30 days.
