Reset Your Resolution

If you are more than two months into a health and fitness resolution that’s not working for you, consider spring the opportunity to get unstuck. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recently published its annual Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends, which may provide ideas for motivation and momentum to pick back up on a healthy 2022.

1. WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY

If you’re not already using a watch or wearable device to measure your activity, these can be game-changers with motivation. Counting your steps and calories burned while monitoring heart rate gives you instant feedback for your effort. Over time, compare the way you feel to real data. New innovations in wearable tech include capabilities to analyze blood pressure, oxygen saturation, body temperature and respiratory rate, as well as the ability to perform an electrocardiogram.

2. HOME EXERCISE GYMS

Home gyms are at their peak, appearing for the first time on the Trends list. A gym at home can be very scalable, with investments in minimal equipment to the more expensive brands of cycles. If you’re finding the gym is not for you because of distance, time or the “people” factor, try something at home and see if your consistency picks up.

3. OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Walking, hiking and touring outdoors are increasingly more common, and expected to continue through the pandemic. Lucky for us, Westerville has more than 40 parks and miles of connected recreational trails. You may find more outdoor programming from trainers and fitness professionals, or check out interest groups on social media for tips and group excursions.

4. STRENGTH TRAINING WITH FREE WEIGHTS

Experts think more people will pursue fitness routines this year using free weights, barbells, kettlebells, dumbbells and medicine balls. Learning and practicing the proper form and then progressively increasing the resistance can expedite results. Strength training is also a good strategy for breaking up the boredom if you’re stuck in a cardio routine that’s become stale. Check out the first floor of the Community Center fitness wing for a full spectrum of free weights.

5. EXERCISE FOR WEIGHT LOSS

ACSM says people are increasingly expected to focus on exercise for weight loss. A common reason, no doubt, but only one of many benefits of physical activity and exercise. Resetting a resolution may benefit from the idea that even short doses of activity can have dramatic positive impacts, including lowering blood sugar, reducing stress and anxiety and improving mental health and wellbeing.

SOURCE: ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal®, January-February 2022