Log in to TikTok or have a scroll on Insta, and it won’t be long before something sports and fitness related pops up. Creators are pumping out content on everything from pre-workout meals, to ideas for your home gym. And these short clips and posts are racking up millions of views. Meaning their suggestions must be worth a go, right?
So, let’s work out which of these trends are actually worth your time. And what’s just a fitness fad…
Fitness trackers and smart watches
The humble fitness tracker is now a super popular bit of exercise kit. Everyone from your mum to that fella down the pub has one. And it’s easy to see why.
With clever sensors, they’ll track everything from steps to your heart rate. Some will even monitor your sleep pattern, helping you get better quality zzzzs. They usually come with a special app for your phone too. And this’ll display all your progress and stats in colourful graphs and charts. So, you can easily see how you’re doing when you’re out and about.
On the other hand, smart watches share a lot of the same features and will also keep your fitness goals ticking over. They tend to be a bit more specialised though – there are watches out there built especially for running, cycling, and swimming. Serious about your sport? Then it’s time for a smart watch!
And if you still want to find out more, have a read of our article fitness trackers or smartwatch – what’s the difference?
Virtual workouts
Remember the Wii Fit from way back in 2007? Virtual workouts have come a long way since then. With a VR headset like the Meta Quest 3, you can really take your exercise at home to the next level. And because of the handy passthrough tech – which lets you see the room around you – you won’t be knocking into the sofa while you get a sweat on.
You don’t have to leave the house either. So, you can easily fit a few minutes in here and there – even during those super busy work weeks!
What are some of the best fitness games for the Quest though? In first place, we’d go for Supernatural. It’ll really put you through your paces, with plenty of upper and lower body workouts to try. There’s a whole lot of squatting, lunging, and jogging here, and you can soundtrack all of it with your own tunes. Eye of the Tiger anyone?
Gamified fitness
Exercise can sometimes feel like a right chore. We’ve all been there. You know you should go for a lap of the block, but you really can’t be bothered. Well, gamifying your workout can be a great way to avoid becoming a couch potato. It might give you that little burst of motivation you need to get up and go.
There are loads of handy apps out there that take the fun bits from video games and blend them into your exercise routine. We’re talking interactivity, rewards, and of course, some competition too.
Zombies, Run! turns your jog round the park into a heart-pumping adventure. While you run, you’ll listen to a story about escaping from a horde of shambling flesh eaters. The app will track your pace, and if the zombies are on your tail, you’ll have to go way faster. Get a move on!
And you’ll have heard of Strava. With it, you can track all the stats behind your favourite sports and activities. There’s over 30 to pick from here. You’ve got cycling, hiking, running – it even stretches to yoga. Plus, you can go head-to-head against your friends on specific routes in ‘King of the Mountain’. But only one can be crowned the winner. Everyone loves a bit of healthy competition after all!
Home gyms
If you’ve got the space, a home gym is a good shout. Set up a treadmill and a weights rack in the spare room, and you can cancel that pricey gym membership you never use.
Because it’s in your house, you can use all the gym equipment whenever you want as well. Result. So, you won’t have to wait around until the rowing machine is free. And when it’s chucking it down outside – it’s the UK after all – you’ll still be able to get a session in. Now there’s really no excuse…
And if you don’t have that much space, don’t sweat it. Pop an exercise bike in front of the telly in the lounge, and get a few miles in while you catch up on your favourite show.
Jargon buster
There are a lot of other trendy terms out there. But what’s actually behind the buzzwords?
Biohacking – Sounds like something from a sci-fi movie, doesn’t it? It’s a fancy way of talking about using data and tech to improve your wellbeing. Whether that’s using a fitness tracker or tweaking your diet to match your genetics.
Holistic fitness – This one goes beyond physical exercise. It’s about feeling good physically, mentally, and even spiritually. Think meditation, stress management and proper nutrition.
HIIT – There’s zero punching involved here. High intensity interval training is exactly what it sounds like. It’s short, super intense bits of exercise (20-30 seconds), followed by a rest of 3 to 5 minutes. And you don’t stop until you drop!
AMRAP – What’s that the personal trainer is screaming at you? AMRAP! AMRAP! It stands for ‘as many reps as possible’. So, no slacking allowed.
Body combat – Don’t worry, you’re not about to go into battle with the aerobics instructor. This is a non-contact martial arts class that’s set to music. Everybody was kung-fu fighting!
Recovery gadgets
Feeling the burn? You don’t always have to go for a massage to treat your achy muscles. With a massage gun, you can iron out those knots yourself while you chill on the sofa.
The Therabody Theragun uses up to 2400 percussions a minute to get rid of all that built up tension. Massaging any that’s lodged in your hands, legs, arms, or your back. And if you connect it to the Therabody app, you can even get custom treatment that’s based on the exercise you like doing. Whether you’ve just played your 38th game of a Sunday league season or smashed your mate at squash. It’s like having your own personal masseuse!
Any good athlete will tell you that proper recovery is just as important as the exercise itself. Especially if you want to avoid a nasty injury further down the line. So, if you don’t want to wake up feeling like you’ve gone twelve rounds with Mike Tyson, it’s definitely worth doing after your run.
Personalised nutrition
Healthy meal plans and food prep ideas are all over social media now. There’s a whole lot of blending, whizzing, and mixing going on. Especially when it comes to making the best pre and post workout nutrition. It’s pretty important after all.
The Nutribullet 600 Series blender is the perfect gym buddy. Chuck some tasty veg, fruit, seeds, and nuts into it, and whip up a nutrient-rich drink in a flash. It’s an ideal snack for right after your session. Refuelling your body with all the good stuff – instead of a chocolate bar from the leisure centre vending machine.
If you don’t fancy scouring the internet for recipes and suggestions, you can always chat to a nutritionist. They’ll be able to draw up a personalised food plan for you. Whether you’re trying to lose a bit of timber or want to tone up for the summer.
Need to keep a close eye on your health? Then check out some of the best health monitoring tech you can use at home. And if you struggle to stay on track (don’t worry, we’re the same), here’s the tech to help you stick to your New Year’s resolutions. You can thank us later.
