Sure, running on the treadmill will keep you fit and constitutes ‘exercise’, but it gets pretty dull pretty fast. To spice up our fitness regimes, fads and trends constantly flit in and out of the gym. There’s been a fair share of peculiar ones over the years, and we’re here to take a look at them.
Plogging for you and the Earth
No sooner had 2018 started than the first fitness fad kicked off: ‘plogging’ . It’s a Scandinavian based trend that encourages people to pick up litter while out running — improving health and the environment.
The Swedish ‘plokka upp’, meaning ‘pick up’, is where this fad gets its name. The exercise part comes from running with intermittent squatting and lunging so you can pick up rubbish from the ground. It is an effective calorie burner too — fitness app Lifesum estimates that a typical user will burn 288 calories from 30 minutes of plogging. People are getting involved on social media too — showing images of them in running gear with plastic bags ready to fill with litter. Could we see this trend
become widespread sometime soon?
Jogging without shoes on
In 2010, runners started ditching their usual shoes in favour of running ‘socks’. Those who are in support of the trend say that running in trainers or running shoes can make you more prone to injury as it encourages running with unnatural form. It’s also said that running barefoot strengthens the tiny muscles found in feet, ankles and legs which can also reduce the risk of injury.
Some people still stand by the trend, but it’s generally lost fire over the years. Experts have said that switching to barefoot running without properly transitioning makes you prone to injuries. Only try this one if you’re willing to practise walking barefoot before running.
Lunges in Louboutins
Unlike some other fads, this one actually has some scientific backing! Research has suggested that even walking in high-heels (below three inches) can shape the calves and improve muscle tone and shape.
Wearing high-heels for your workout can help improve your balance. It hasn’t been fully determined whether wearing high-heels for a workout can result in weight loss, but it can help you learn how to walk better in them.
It’s getting hot in here
‘Hot barre’ was a hit in New York and Los Angeles initially. This trend involves doing classical ballet moves in a room heated to 40 degrees and it took off around 2015. Advocates of the fad say that hot barre encourages you to gain a deeper stretch while helping you release toxins and feel detoxed. Then, as the body has to work hard to cool itself down, you can expect your metabolism to boost and number of burnt calories to increase.
The concept of heated sports is still popular, with the likes of hot yoga, a key choice for help managing shoulder pain, still drawing in practitioners.
We’re unlikely to be able to predict what the next fitness fad will be, given that they have a tendency to appear from nowhere!