Well guys, 2012 is inching ever closer. Time for goals, year-in-reviews and predictions for the coming year. I came across an article today listing the Top Fitness Trends for 2012. (You can read the whole thing HERE). I was expecting a bunch of quick fix scenarios to be listed (along the lines of the easy tone shoes from a year or so ago). Surprisingly, these are all actually legitimate.
- Lower cost health clubs. We have a few varieties of them here. Not a whole lot of frills but you get the basic equipment for an extremely low monthly cost (usually $10 to $20). I had heard that Lifetime Fitness was branching out into this area to reach more people who might not want to pay for a higher end gym membership.
- Extreme Challenge DVDs. Think along the lines of P90x and Insanity. These DVDs are for people who are already in good shape looking for a more advanced workout.
- Streaming workouts. You don’t have to watch the same DVD over and over again until you have memorized every.single.word. Now you can stream workouts and keep it fresh!
- Unique training tools. I have heard of quite a few interesting ones lately. The article specifically mentions TRX but I know I have seen everything from trampolines to silks mentioned on various blogs. Whatever it takes to keep things interesting, right?
- Healthy ready made meals. While I love the idea of this, I am not sure my budget would stand for the prices. If you can afford it, what a great way to make sure you are eating right not to mention a huge timesaver as you don’t have to do anything other than heat it up. We have a couple of these services here in Atlanta. You basically pick up your meals a couple of times a week or have them delivered to you. The meals are all fresh as if you made them yourself….but you didn’t. :)
- Fitness for older adults. Reaching out to the 65+ crowd and going beyond water aerobics and aqua jogging.
- On the other end of the spectrum, fitness for children. Yoga and even Crossfit can be done by kids. They are looking to find things to keep kids from getting bored, give them something they enjoy and pry their hands off the i-touch.
- Employee incentive programs. Let’s face it, this is a win-win for the employee and the company. The healthier you are, the less sick time you use AND the lower your health care costs. Why not incent your employees to get active?
- Wellness and Lifestyle Coaching. You hear it all the time. It is a lifestyle change, not a diet. These services help you make that transformation in your lifestyle.
- Greater use of technology. I can think of at least 5 applications or online programs that help you track your food, workouts or both. You can map your ride, track your calorie burn and have an app that speaks to you while you ride to let you know your pace at regular intervals. We all love gadgets. Apparently we can expect more of them in 2012.
- Small group training. As an introverted extrovert, I am a wallflower in large groups but thrive in small groups. Small groups are said to give you more of a sense of teamwork and you obviously get more individual attention from the coach or trainer.
- Self Myofascial Release. I am not even sure I spelled that right but I think most of us know what it is…. Rolling, rolling, rolling. The benefits are well proven and are becoming a regular part of more workout plans.
- New approaches to goal setting. Back in the day, it was all about the number on the scale. The new outlook is to focus more on strength and performance and less on your weight with the assumption being that as long as you are balancing good nutrition with exercise you will get the same results without obsessing about reaching a specific number.
I think you have probably seen or heard of most of these but it is nice to see that things like this are on the forefront as opposed to the thighmaster and other crazy contraptions. It really is a matter of hard work and determination to make a change. Are you ready to make it happen in 2012?
22 comments:
I just read this article, too. I really love the idea of getting kids in on the action...it's so sad to see all the unhealthy kids in our society. I also love the streaming videos--that should also capture an audience that might not otherwise be caught.
Overall looks like some great trends. I am somewhat skeptical about healthy ready made meals though. Seems like an oxymoron given the preservatives typically found in ready made stuff.
Happy New Year!
I can get on board those trends! No crazy diets or just-for-beginners workouts. I'd like to try p90x or insanity, maybe after my IM.
I don't like the work related employee incentive programs as I think there is the opportunity for employee backlash. My work has one and I'm not saying that there is that but there is concern. There will be more and more of this but they need to do it right.
WRT older adults, I keep getting AARP things in he mail so maybe I'm one of them or will be soon? At least that's the goal :)
This is a great informative post! Lower cost health clubs would be a hard YES! And I recently saw some people at my gym doing the TRX stuff - it looks like a great core workout, I think I'm gonna try it. Not sure about the "Lifestyle" coach, but I think it probably will catch on. Have a great week!
I actually love these trends - I think it's all about using technology to get people back into shape on their OWN time. I think people are more likely to DO workouts if they can do them in their own space and not feeling like they have to "compete" with others.
Very cool!
These are all great but I am leary of the quick fix meal that you pick up. I'm not saying they aren't healthy but for the cost of going to the store to pick it up after you've spent time online figuring out what you want then going home and heating it up you could have cooked it yourself for cheaper.
It could just be that I really enjoy cooking.
Great list by the way.
I wish we had options of lower cost health clubs around here. Sounds good.
i have taken advantage of some groupons to try the premade meals..some are ok and some are hooooorrrible. I make sure to only use one's that are focused on non-processed ingredients if I try any others.
this is a cool list, i had not seen it
i sure wish we'd get more employee incentives for healthy choices!!! i'm sure my company will be 5 years late to that party.
YES! 2012 is going to be awesome! 2011 was fun.. but this is going to be awesome!!
These are actually some great trends and not just trendy buzz word trends. Thanks for the information - some good stuff to think about.
My company offers an incentive program, but it's way to invasive and I do not participate because I feel a distinct lack of confidentiality and privacy.
Nice recap of the coming trends. These do look pretty good. The only one I can think of that is missing is online coaching. This trend seems to be picking up (at least to me).
I'd be totally into the freshly made meals. Grocery shopping and cooking are doable but not my faves!
Ahh, I wish all companies/work places would have some sort of employee incentive thing going on. What a better way to motivate and encourage healthy lifestyles for those people that need that extra push. Great post. I must put you on my bloggy roll!
Not sure why you're not already on my blog roll...I can't figure out why some of the blogs I follow are not showing up on there.
I'm loving the low cost gyms. Just switched from a $10 a month place to a $20 a month place just to get group classes offered.
And yes the goals they are a changing. Turns out I won't be able to do B2B next year thanks to a family wedding on the same day. So it's time for a return to time goals. You in? What are you setting for next year?
New approaches to goal setting. Back in the day, it was all about the number on the scale. The new outlook is to focus more on strength and performance and less on your weight with the assumption being that as long as you are balancing good nutrition with exercise you will get the same results without obsessing about reaching a specific number.
^ yes!!!! This has been a big one for me this year!!
Hi you, introvert-extrovert! I guess I'm the opposite, the extrovert-introvert. I like big groups or running by myself. It's good to find the right place for training that fits your personality. Definitely something to consider or you just won't be consistent.
This is a great list for consideration, thanks!
I think one thing that stops me from buying any DVDs is that I know I'd be sick of them after the 3rd time seeing it....streaming videos would be awesome!
I hope next year I don't focus on a number as I cross a finish line, but how I felt as I crossed it.
Dvds are a great choice for people who can't leave the house or who have very young kids. Always useful! Streaming is even better- as long as the computer is available and working.
Hoping to get back and see your Vlog today after the kids wake up.
Merry Christmas!!
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