It can be really hard to know what trends in fitness will actually help you get into shape. It can feel like there’s a new fad every day, with everyone and their dog suddenly interested in working out. But it’s not all good news when it comes to finding the right workout for you. Many of these new fitness trends are just that: trends.
They’re short-lived fads that go from trendy to discarded within a few months, leaving you feeling frustrated and unfulfilled. But don’t worry – we won’t tell anyone about your secret desire to run around outside in hopes of avoiding the next “running rage” that takes over the internet… Here are 5 popular fitness trends that are pointless.
Shake Weight Before Working Out
You’ve probably heard a lot about “pre-workout shakes” or “pro-hormones” lately. They promise to give you the energy you need to power through your day and even help you lose weight faster. There’s only one problem with this trend: It doesn’t actually work. Pre-workout drinks are often loaded with sugar, artificial ingredients, and hundreds of calories.
Even if you somehow managed to lose weight without putting any effort in, your health suffers as a result. Many pre-workout drinks contain banned substances that are legal in other countries but not in the United States, including anabolic steroids. So if you’re looking to lose weight, this trend is pointless.
Doing Cardio After weights sessions
Many people are now “weight training first, then doing cardio later”. Some even add in “weight training first, the cardio second”. While these new fitness trends sound smart, they’re actually counterproductive. Why? When you do weights first, your body is already in a calorie deficit. You’re burning calories while you’re working out.
If you then add cardio on top of that, your body is already in a calorie deficit. Doing heavy weights and then going on a cardio run or ride will burn fewer calories than just doing cardio on its own. It’s best to do cardio after weight training because the extra calories you burn during weight training will help you bulk up, or at least maintain your current weight.
HIIT Training (High-Intensity Interval Training)
HIIT is one of those fitness trends that everyone seems to be into these days. The idea is that you do 5-minute intervals of high-intensity cardio, followed by 15-30 seconds of “recovery” at a low intensity. Sounds great, right? Not really. Studies show that HIIT has little to no effect on fat loss compared to steady-state cardio. It can also be unsafe and injurious to your health.
HIIT is often performed without sufficient hydration, and without the appropriate rest, and periods to allow the body to heal. You may also injure your joints and muscles. HIIT is just not proven to produce any better results than regular cardio.
It may even be unhealthy because it can cause your body to become too reliant on high-intensity cardio because it’s too tough to perform regularly. So while HIIT might be fun for a while and get you excited about cardio, it’s best to just stick to regular, steady-state cardio if you want to see any results.
“Rx” Bodybuilding
You’ve probably noticed that a lot of fitness gurus are now recommending “bodybuilding” as the new “fat-burning” fitness trend. There’s a problem with this, though. Bodybuilding is not the same thing as strength training. So while lifting weights and bodybuilding are both fitness trends, they’re not the same thing. Lifting weights is proven to help you lose weight, build muscle, and increase your metabolism.
Strength training, however, is only modestly effective in improving body composition and metabolic rate. Bodybuilding is nothing but excess protein and sugar blended together in a sugary cocktail. So while both of these fitness trends sound great, they’re actually completely useless.
Sweat-FREE Fitness Is The New Black
Fitness gurus are hyping up sweat-free, “no-sweat” workouts as the next big thing in the fitness industry. Sweat-free workouts often use high-tech contraptions like vibration platforms and fans to keep you sweating during your workout.
If you’re avoiding the smell of your sweat in hopes of losing weight, you’ve come to the wrong place. Research shows that sweat does not contain calories and that it actually helps regulate your metabolism. So while sweat-free workouts sound great, they’re actually pointless.
Conclusion
There are many fitness trends out there, and it can be difficult to know what’s worth trying and what isn’t. When someone tells you they do or recommend a new fad, it’s easy to believe it and rush out to try it in hopes that it will magically help you drop weight and tone up.
But many of these trends aren’t worth trying, and they aren’t going to give you the results you want. Don’t worry, though. You’re not alone. With a little research, you can find the right workout for your body and get results.
