Fitness Trends

So last week I read a piece on Fitness Trends 2015 on Bankers Healthcare Group blog.  If you check it out it brings up some points about the recent trends that have been dominating the training world.  Aside from enjoying endurance training and triathlons I also love being a personal trainer and group instructor.  I don't do it full time but I do keep doing it on the side because I find it very rewarding.  So I may not always stay on top of the latest trends but some are hard to miss, like CrossFit.  I do usually check out all the trends to stay informed and out of curiosity.  What I've found almost every time I check these out is that there can be some take aways from each, there is usually some pieces that are not new just the same moves with a new twist, and no matter what trend is popular at the moment please always always tweak it to meet your needs don't treat it as a cookie cutter fix all.  That's why it's called a personal trainer because they should "personalize" your workout to meet your needs.

Here are some things I've found to be some general rules I like to follow:

1. Going back to basics (oldies but goodies) sometimes it's the workouts that have been there all along that we need to get back in touch with.

2. Cross training helps prevent injuries (if all you do is run you will start to experience fatigue in certain areas) so why not supplement it with strength or balance exercises that will help keep you well rounded and injury free.

3. Interval training seems to provide me my biggest bang for the buck get your heart rate up often.

4. Change it up don't stick to only what you're comfortable with keep your body on it's toes by switching up your workout roughly every 6 weeks.

5. Balance, coordination, strength and brains these all need to be trained for a well rounded athlete.

6. I mix it up a lot with in the same workout try some circuit training maybe a little bit of plyos some bosu or balance ball just make sure the overall picture fits your goals.

Not my kind of move for my goals...

7. Use what's available to you and make it happen, a workout that is.  For example, have you ever found yourself huffing in the corner because that one person won't get off the last machine you need before you leave?  Why not try an alternate exercise to finish up that works the same muscles?  Or what if you don't have a gym available?  Would you know how to use your body weight to get a full workout in?  I've used the lines on a tennis court or parking lot to get some sprint work in.  Or some stairs to get my heart rate up.

8. Some things should be left to the pros like some of the crazy oh so popular videos that make their ways around the interwebs.  Yes most of the time they can be accomplished by anyone but with a lot of time and training.

I mean I could hurt my back picking up my 28 lb kid over and over if I don't do it correctly so you
  can imagine what a 100 lb bar could do?  But at the same time I want to be able to pick my kid up if he's crying so I make sure I do functional training to keep me fit and limber and able to do the everyday things we don't think could injure us as well as the triathlons that created the athlete I like to be. 

My two go to moves to strengthen my back and core for toddler lifting bridge and planks!

What's your favorite go to move?  

Happy Monday and Happy Training!!