Fitness may be something that stays consistent, but the trends surrounding it tend to change with the times.

Gone are the popular days of the hula hoop, vibration belts, and Jane Fonda home workouts. There are new fitness trends that emerge in their places and ones that we should embrace in order to get the most out of striving to reach and maintain our fitness goals.

Knowing which ones to leave behind and which ones to embrace can make a big difference in helping people be active.

1. Terminology

Stop calling an exercise session “working out.” Change your mind frame to training. Going for a “workout” is a single session, and standing alone, it accomplishes nothing. Phrasing a single session as part of your training implies this is one bit of a much larger goal/plan.

2. Strength

Stop being afraid of getting strong. Strength is never a weakness, and in the broader scheme of things will allow you to age gracefully and reduce injuries over your lifetime. In the short term, strength training will keep you healthy, fit, and looking (often decades) younger than you actually are.

Stop being afraid of getting strong. Strength is never a weakness, and in the broader scheme of things will allow you to age gracefully and reduce injuries over your lifetime. In the short term, strength training will keep you healthy, fit, and looking (often decades) younger than you actually are.

3. Wellness

Wellness isn’t just about your physical health and fitness, it also encompasses your overall mental state too. If your emotional and mental wellbeing isn’t in a good place, your fitness won’t ever reach its peak. There are so many ways to stay calm and relaxed so that your mental wellbeing is taken care of, whether you’re looking into cheap bongs or trying out daily meditation you can enhance your state of mind so that your fitness is positively impacted. It may take some time to find the right wellness routine that works for you. However, a combination of good all-round nutrition and consistent mental health regimes will help you to become the best possible version of yourself.

Refrain from setting only superficial goals. Try to link goal-setting to deep, meaningful achievements. Getting in shape for a wedding is fine, but should not be the endpoint, rather it’s just the first milestone on a lifetime of health and wellness.

4. End Trends

Stop following fitness trends. Instead, keep an eye on trends, and add in new activities to spice up your regular routine that should be composed of tried and true activities, such as strength training with free weights, and aerobic activity.

“Just because it’s a fitness trend doesn’t mean that it’s healthy or something that will help you reach your goals,”
– Sarah Walls,  Owner of SAPT Strength & Performance Training, Inc.

5. Compete

Register for a competition. Committing to the reality of competing is a great way to supercharge your motivation and consistency. Find something that interests you, such as a 5K, marathon, rock climbing, or tennis tournament.

6. Consistency

Commit to consistency. One of the biggest hurdles to obtaining fitness is being consistent with your efforts. It’s important to hold yourself accountable so that you continue your efforts for the whole year, not just the first couple of weeks of the year.

7. Self-Care

Ensure that you’re taking care of yourself. Many people say they don’t exercise because they don’t have the time. Putting your health and fitness first is crucial. When you are at your best, you will be better at everything else you do in life. Prioritize your tasks and don’t waver from taking care of you first.

Find something you enjoy doing. There are millions of people who say they find exercise to be boring. In all likelihood, it’s because they haven’t found what they enjoy. Try different types of physical activity until you find things that you actually enjoy, so you will stick with them.

“There are other things that people may be doing that they know they need to leave behind or embrace. This is the time to get honest with yourself,” added Walls.

“You can make 2018 the year you reach your fitness goals. It’s all a matter of making the commitment and seeing it through. There’s no trend or gimmick that will help you with that. Only committing to real activity and obtainable goals will do that.”