According to data from Statistic Brain, about 41 percent of Americans make a New Year’s Resolutions every year. Of those 41 percent, about 32 percent make the resolution to lose weight and exercise more. Unfortunately, as we all settle into the New Year and the “new normal,” we often slacken off and fail to integrate our resolution into our daily lives.
While 72 percent of people who make resolutions keep them for the first week, only 44 percent keep up with their goals six months later. In order to help people trying to get into fitness and wellness, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has just released a brand new report on the top fitness trends to expect this year. This report took into account the responses of over 1,800 fitness professionals, and it revealed the top trends to look out for in 2017.
The Top Fitness Trends ACSM Discovered For 2017
One of the main fitness trends ACSM sees continuing into this year is the use of wearable technologies. Just a few of the companies ACSM believes will do very well in 2017 include Garmin, Fitbit, and Apple. Now that more wearable fitness devices are able to track a person’s heart rate, speed, distance, and even provide GPS tracking, the fitness experts involved in ACSM’s report believe wearable devices and fitness apps aren’t just a short-term “fad.”
A few of the top reviewed wearables now on the market include the Apple Watch Nike+, the WiseWear Calder, and the Huawei Fit watch. Despite the popularity of these wearables, ACSM discovered many fitness trends that don’t require equipment at all. In fact, body weight exercises continue to dominate the ACSM report.
Also, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) programs, especially group training programs such as CrossFit and Biogilates, continue to increase in popularity as a means of quickly burning calories.
Some ACSM Respondents Support Lower Intensity Training
Walter Thompson, ACSM’s current president-elect, told reporters that ACSM didn’t consider any “items as trends for this list unless they’re sustained over many years.” The ACSM report has been released annually for 11 years now, and every year they use the same criteria to judge whether something is just a “fad” or a sustained trend.
Of course, while HIIT programs may seem like a great option, Thompson said most respondents still recommend seeking out the counseling of certified fitness professional and going for personal training sessions. Thompson told reporters,
Overall, people who work in the fitness industry are much more accountable and professional than previously.
Not only are there better-qualified fitness instructors out there, there’s also more of them in the USA. The U.S. Department of Labor expects a whopping 8 percent rise in employment for fitness professionals between 2014 and 2024. While HIIT programs may have more flair, ACSM notes that simple strength training and yoga programs are still extremely effective exercise regimens to safely enhance a person’s quality of life.
How Can You Get Started On Your Fitness Journey?
There are numerous cheap and easy ways to get motivated and achieve your fitness goals in 2017. Even if you don’t have the money for the latest wearable device, you can easily download at least one high-quality fitness app to track your progress and get you pumped. For those who don’t need a fitness app or a trainer, ACSM recommends getting out into nature and walking, biking, or hiking.
For those in need of a group setting, yoga, personal training groups, and body weight training programs are perfect for those at various levels of fitness. While HIIT programs are still popular, ACSM recommends them for younger fitness fanatics that can handle the strain of working out for long stretches without breaks.
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