Holiday Gift Ideas

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”—Confucius

The American Council on Exercise is helping you give the first step of a fitness journey to your loved ones. Visit http://www.acefitness.org/holiday/default.aspx for FREE fitness coupon books to give to your family, significant other, coworkers, or even yourself!

Fitness Trends for 2012

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) conducts a yearly survey in order to predict fitness trends for the New Year. A fitness trend is “a general development or change in a situation or in the way that people are behaving” (http://dictionary.cambridge.org); whereas, a fitness fad is “a fashion that is taken up with great enthusiasm for a brief period” (http://dictionary.reference.com). Some of the fitness trends for 2011 such as Pilates, stability ball, and balance training did not make the 2012 list; therefore, what was thought to be a fitness trend may have actually been a fad.

Top 20 Fitness Trends for 2012

1. Educated, certified, and experienced fitness professionals

2. Strength training

3. Fitness programs for older adults

4. Exercise and weight loss

5. Children and obesity

6. Personal training

7. Core training

8. Group personal training

9. Zumba and other dance workouts

10. Functional fitness

11. Yoga

12. Comprehensive health promotion programming at the worksite

13. Boot camp

14. Outdoor activities

15. Reaching new markets

16. Spinning (indoor cycling)

17. Sport-specific training

18. Worker incentive programs

19. Wellness coaching

20. Physician referrals

Simplify Your Workouts

The holidays are now in full swing! As the weather turns cold and the holidays keep us busy, it is easy to forgo your workout. However, instead of stopping your exercise routine, simplify it. This will help you to maintain the benefits you have been working so hard to achieve, and will make it easier to return to your full workout plan.

To simplify your cardio workouts try shortening the length of the workout, but increase your intensity. For example, rather than going for a 5 mile run try doing a three mile run with hills or a two mile run at a faster pace.

To simplify your strength workouts find simple exercises you can do at home. Choose a few of your favorite exercises that you can do without even leaving the house. Need some ideas?

Try watching this ACE-sponsored video: http://www.acefitness.org/blog/2035/what-are-some-pilates-inspired-exercises-that-will/?utm_source=Health%2BeTips&utm_medium=email&utm_term=November%2B2011%2BR&utm_campaign=Consumer%2BOutreach&CMP=EMC-HET_1111R