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Finding is my thing and fitness is also my thing. This means that each year I try many new exercise classes, apps, tools and health tips and blab about them. This year was no exception. You can see last year’s post HERE, too.
Some trends that we saw in 2015 for fitness and health were: continued domination of CrossFit and the paleo diet, theme/fun runs, HIIT (high intensity interval training), more boutique fitness classes in all shapes and sizes, treadmill/strength workouts, extreme/Spartan racing and group personal training. The American College of Sports Medicine reported that Zumba, indoor cycling, Pilates and sports specific training were “out” this year. Hello? Just like last year, Soul Cycle and Flywheel continue to gain a flock in Chicago. Pilates and spin were alive and well in Chicago and for me.
Also huge in 2015 were fitness trackers. I started wearing my Fitbit Charge and have to say, I am addicted to trying to get my steps. I love seeing the huge totals on marathon days and trying to come up with creative ways to hit 10,000 steps on travel days.
My 2015 Fitness Year in Review
- Top activity: running. I ran over 2,500 miles this year including 3 marathons and 9 half marathons and 10 other races. I ran my fastest marathon since 2006! See my quarterly reviews (Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 – TBD). I recently added speed sessions with Nike Run Club Chicago which have been really fun, too. I have been doing regular speed work and races for a few years straight. I also did a Master’s XC race.
- Consistent workouts other than running: Pilates with Maureen at Ryan Wellness and body weight strength training with my fave app the J & J 7 minute workout (which has other workouts, too and is free). I was less diligent about spin and yoga this year. Getting back into those is a goal for 2016 for me.
- New things I tried: Soul Cycle (not for me), Fitness classes with rowers and kettlebells (mixed bag), Nike Run Club Speed Sessions (love them!) and my Fitbit Charge. Also compression gear from CEP and SUB Sports, caffeinated products from Run Performance Gum and True Start Coffee and a zillion energy bars and protein powders. I also became an ambassador for Finds’ fave Janji!
- Trends I did not partake in: Themed runs, CrossFit (I hate burpees and lifting weights – sorry crossfit peeps) and Paleo diet (no peanut butter? No way!)
- Diet: I did not try any special diets this year. I tried to go low sugar again for the NYC marathon and I failed miserably. I continued to eat whole foods as much as possible, but I let candy take hold of me again. Another goal for 2016 is to find a happy balance and remove some bad food habits that came back in 2015.
- Trackers – I decided to track my steps and sleep with a Fitbit Charge. This has been a blessing and a curse. Sometimes it is great (finding ways to move, reminding me to get up at work or seeing how bad my sleep can be) and sometimes I get too carried away and obsessive (walking around the house to get to the next thousand, etc.) I have been running without GPS (except Strava) for a while and stopped wearing a HRM but I think I will go back to those for some workouts in 2016 to see if it will help my training.
As a former consultant, I can’t help but to evaluate my fitness year into “Stop, Start and Continue.” In 2015, I will:
- Stop: Sitting so much, mindless eating and negative self talk about my body.
- Start: Focusing on eating less sugar again and more mindful eating.
- Continue: Eating whole foods as much as possible and when I travel, running, pilates, spin, yoga, body weight strength training with my handy apps, trying new healthy food options and sharing them on the blog. Appreciating every run and being grateful for my health
Here are some of the predicted 2016 Fitness Trends from around the web:
- Even more wearable technology including all kinds of trackers and performance clothing – watch out for some that integrates technology into performance fabrics.
- Increased use of physiological and blood testing for regular/everyday athletes. Check out Inside Tracker and PostureCo.
- HIIT is still hot. High-intensity interval training is an exercise program that uses short but very intense bursts of exercise, followed by short recovery periods, and it will continue to be super popular. Some folks are predicting a return to steady state cardio workouts, too, to decrease burn out.
- More online and streaming workouts that people can do at home. Continued popularity of fitness apps.
- Boutique studios for workouts like treadmill and rowing, spinning, barre, yoga and pilates continue to be popular with ClassPass and similar programs greasing the wheels.
- Paleo is here to stay.
What were your best and worst fitness moments of the year? What will you “stop, start and continue” in 2105?