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Top Food and Fitness Trends for 2010

We are constantly bombarded with so many fitness and food suggestions it is difficult to stay on track. John Rowley, best selling author of Climb YOUR Ladder of Success Without Running Out of Gas and Director of Fitness and Wellness at the American Institute of Healthcare & Fitness, provides the top 10 fitness trends for 2010 below – helping to shape the “New You” of 2010 and beyond.

The most important trend, Rowley notes, is that 2010 will consist of life altering, overall health and wellness plans; instead of the “lose 20 pounds in four days” diets. 

Pumping Iron:  Strength training builds healthy bones and muscles.  Your metabolism is driven by muscle and more and more people will be pumping iron in 2010. 

Healthy Children Programs: As a society we are  seeing a an alarming trend with obese children.  I think we will see more and more programs tailored made for overweight and obese children and gyms that will cater exclusively to children.  They will make fitness fun and help them to develop a fitness lifestyle

Core training:  This type of training works on conditioning the core muscles, including the obliques, pelvis, lower back, hips and abdomen – all of which provide needed support for the spine.  A good well rounded fitness program will take care of this but since we have so many people with big bellies this type of program will have mass appeal even though spot reducing doesn’t work.

Medi-Gyms: This is the future of healthcare.  Medi-gyms bridge the gap between the Medical and fitness communities.  The baby boomer population is reaching retirement age and many are not ready grow old gracefully, they want to fight it every step of the way and are tired of going to 15 different doctors and then trying to figure out how diet and exercise  fit in.   Medi-Gyms like AIHF Wellness are beginning to emerge as the wave of the future where you can get a comprehensive wellness exams that address all of your healthcare and fitness needs and then you are given a lifestyle plan to enhance your health.

Functional fitness: This is a growing trend toward using strength training to improve balance and ease of daily living for everyone including older adults.  More and more trainers are focusing on this type of training using regular weights and kettle bells.  Kettle bells have reemerged after a few decades of being placed in moth balls.

Pilates:  Incorporating core training using the entire body and these classes are very popular in many gyms today. 

 Group training: This trend reflects the economy and makes a lot of sense.  Instead of training one on one with a trainer you will work out with a small group with the trainer.  It makes training more affordable but also fun.

 Fitness menu’s: More restaurants will offer foods that are in line with the needs of people living a fitness lifestyle.

 Miracle potions:  Unfortunately I think we will see more “miracle’ products that over promise and under deliver.  For example the berry that will not only have you loose weight but make you two inches taller and more handsome (only a slight exaggeration).  Fat burners that will not only have you loose 80 lbs in 12 weeks it will have all your body hair vanish and give you an incredible, vibrant tan  plus have you ready for the cover of a magazine (another slight exaggeration).  “Snake oil” products have been around for a long time and I don’t think they will disappear in 2010.

 Repackaged Truths:  Last but not least I think you will see old school training principles from the bodybuilding community renamed and sold for a huge profit to hungry consumers.

 

TOP 10 SUPER FOODS FOR 2010

 One sure way to take your fitness to the next level is through better nutrition. When it comes to the word “diet”, most of us think about ways we can trim our consumption to lose unwanted weight. But weight loss isn’t the only outcome we seek from our body’s fuel. Some of us actually want our diets to help pack on more pounds, boost immunity or satisfy our daily intake of essential vitamins.

 When it comes to food and fitness, the experts at Life Fitness recommend a well-rounded diet that incorporates enough calories, fats, proteins and vitamins to support your activity levels. Here’s their list of top 10 fitness super foods to charge your well-rounded diet:

 Almonds: Grab a handful a day to get your dose of vitamin E, an essential tool for the growth of muscle cells.

 Blueberries: A one-ounce serving of blueberries packs more of a punch than most other fruits and vegetables. Added bonus, they’re low in calories and fat free.

 Eggs: New research is showing that eggs are more helpful than harmful for us and deliver one of the best overall sources of protein. So add an egg a day to your menu.

 Kale: One cup of kale has just 30 calories but packs heavy doses of vitamins A and C, iron, calcium and much more. Add it to your favorite salad or soup for a vita-boost.

 Low-fat Milk: A glass or two of skim milk each day is the best way to replenish the most abundant mineral in our bodies, calcium. Each cup packs a solid 500mg of calcium with only 80 calories.

 Lentils: A ½ cup serving of this versatile legume delivers loads of fiber with just 115 calories and a sliver of fat. Find it in soups, rice dishes and international fare.

 Natural Peanut Butter: High in heart-healthy fats, a serving of PB (about the size of a ping pong ball) also delivers folate, vitamin E and fiber in satisfying fashion.

 Quinoa: A cup of light, nutty quinoa packs a punch of protein, iron and other vitamins. Try it as a hot cereal, add it to soups and salads or make your own quinoa pilaf. Read my previous blog post on quinoa here  .

·Salmon: This lean protein is filled with omega-3 fatty acids. Just keep your intake to one or two servings the size of a deck of cards each week as seafood also delivers some unhealthy toxins like mercury.

 Water: While not technically a food, it’s such an important part of your diet that it’s worth breaking the rules. Staying hydrated keeps your body functioning, your skin glowing and your tummy full. Eight, eight-ounce servings should be the goal each day.

 Visit www.lifefitness.com 0

 

What are some of your top foods and fitness routines?

 

xo,

CC