Changing your workout according to latest trends is great. But does it meet your fitness goal? Fitness instructor Brinda Sapat helps you make an informed choice.
Zumba. Boot camp. High Intensity Training. Pilates. Gluten free diet. No carb diet. Low carb diet. High protein diet…
A new workout trend pops up every now and then as the final word in fitness/weight loss. And you may have tried a few to check if it works for you.
Changing your workout according to latest trends is great. New trends give you the latest in fitness research and add a zing to your workout routine.
While you should go ahead and give it a shot, you must also be aware of what your fitness goal is and if the workout is the right one to meet your goals.
Here a few simple ways to help you make an informed choice.
Cardio workouts
Photograph: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images
Trends that use the word "cardio or cardiovascular" are weight loss, fat burning exercises. Examples: Zumba, running/walking, swimming, spinning.
If you haven't been exercising prior to starting any of these, doing it thrice a week will show you some result. But if you have been doing some form of exercise, you will need to do this at least 5 times a week to
get the benefits.
Total-body workouts
Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Fat burn and muscle toning/strength training, combination exercises are ones like High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), Boot Camp, Power Yoga, Cross Fit and Tabata. This gives you the best of both worlds.
Because of increase in muscle density, you may not see a change on the weighing scale.
However, these are extremely high in intensity and if you are trying it for the first time, you must tell your trainer, who will then have you start very slow and easy.
If you have any medical conditions, consult your doctor before starting.
Mind-body workouts
Photograph: Gisele Bundchen on Instagram
Yoga, Pilates, mind-body exercises are workouts that increase your muscle endurance, flexibility and work on improving mental focus and relaxation. These are not focussed fat burn exercises. They will tighten
and tone your body and improve your posture making you appear toned and tall.
A well balanced workout program includes all 3 forms of exercises- cardio, strength training and flexibility training. This gives you an overall fit body. Depending on your goal, do more of the one you need.
Diet trends
Photograph: SOS-a-vos & Jan Fidler//Creative Commons
There are plenty to take your pick from! But first you need to evaluate your current eating habits. Sometimes, all it takes is just streamlining to the very basic nutritious way of eating. This totally discards the
need to go on a (trendy) diet.
- Eat 3 main meals with a snack in between each
- Eat fresh, home cooked meals and snacks
- Avoid processed foods and drinks
- Eat a light dinner 3 hours before bedtime
If this is how you have been eating and still want to lose weight or gain muscle, do not follow a trend blindly.
Consult a good nutritionist preferably with a medical background. It is extremely important that your body should get the right kind of food.
No, carbs, low carbs, high protein, gluten free, and so on may not be the right diet for you. You may risk deficiencies or other health problems. If you are keen on starting one of these diets, consult a
professional first.
The next time you hear of a new workout, look out for what is says -- cardio, muscle gain or flexibility & relaxation. And if it doesn't clearly state this, do a search on the internet or ask a fitness professional.
Same goes for a new diet trend.
Make an informed choice and achieve your fitness goal the right way!
