This week at work, I wrote about a popular fitness trend.
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Perhaps you’ve heard about toning shoes? Well, guess what? They don’t work. (source)
Shocking, right? Well probably not. I bet if you’re reading my blog that you’re well aware that the secret to a healthy body isn’t found in a pair of shoes, a pill containing a weird kind of berry, or any other fad.
Sadly there’s no shortcut to good health: a nutritious diet and exercise are the only way to go 🙂
You guys knew that, though. This post isn’t supposed to be me rambling about “in” fitness trends that you already know fail to deliver.
But what about other health trends?
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Some would argue that marathon running is becoming trendy. Boston sold out in a few hours. And I’m betting NYC has a record number of lottery entrants this year (with me being one of them, again 😉 ).
The health educator part of me mostly thinks this is awesome. Our country has never been so unhealthy, so the more people who get active, the better. The paranoid health educator part of me worries people won’t train right, and that injuries will also gain in popularity.
But a small part of me is frustrated. I’ve always wanted to run NYC. More people means less of a chance that I’ll get to do that. Ok, I’m done being selfish 🙂
Then I realized, I have fallen prey to fitness trends. Who am I to judge?
If I didn’t watch my husband compete in a half Ironman in May, I wouldn’t have competed in my first tri the next month.
If all of my friends weren’t doing yoga, I guarantee I would have never tried it on my own.
Here I am, 1.5 weeks post-marathon, not following a training plan for the first time in a year. The old Jen would have been delighted to just run everyday. But I’ve been embracing cross-training. I’ve already rode my bike, yoga’d (x2), and reunited with the pool.
Who would have thought? I’m grateful I hopped on the tri and yoga bandwagons 🙂
Have you ever tried a new exercise because it was “in”? There’s no shame in admitting it 🙂 Did you enjoy it? Has fear ever got in the way of you trying something new? I may do a post of how I overcame my fear of swimming and biking to become a triathlete.
Well, I’ve tried spinning, Pilates, rock climbing, scuba diving, golf, you name it and I’ve probably tried it once. For fun.
I hate the running snobs. Everybody has to have a first run, so stop judging.
I’ve inspired a group of ladyfriends to start running, some do it 3 a week, some can go only once. The bottom line: they’re doing it! Everything else is BS.
On the other hand, I know quite a few of more experimented and faster runners, some are so condescending with beginners I find it hard to keep my mouth shut on this topic.
My favorite line: well, since you’re so hardcore, how come you’re not starting with the elite in every race? Oh, I see, the true elite thinks you’re all wimps!
(I say it with humour, but it really annoys me when someone despises someone else’s heartfelt efforts)
I have certainly tried new things because I have seen other people doing it. I tried yoga after hearing other bloggers rave about it. I also tried a mini-triathlon after seeing my mom complete two sprint triathlons. I am currently training for my first half marathon too.
I have really enjoyed all the new activities I have tried! They were things I hadn’t really thought of trying, but from encouragement and reviews from others I am so glad I did! The activities have become important parts of my my life. They help me maintain a healthy lifestyle and make me feel good and I think that is what really matters!
i’m currently experimenting with insanity. i didn’t realize it was so widely known until i blogged about it. although i did start it because my brother was telling me how awesome it was…so i guess i did jump on that band wagon 🙂
I guess it could be said that I started running because it was “in.” I only started to run because I’d been reading about it on blogs and was very interested. Also, I liked the idea of being a “runner.” Being a “spinner” just wasn’t too much fun.
That being said, I now run because I truly love it and I know I wouldn’t stop if everyone else did. I’d also be willing to “tri” new things.
I think trends make people feel like they belong to something bigger – a community. I know it felt that way for me. The support from that community makes healthy living much more fun and exciting!
I dont think I realized how many runners also ride road bikes until I started blogging. It was something I was always interested in, mainly due to the fact that my boyfriend raced on a Pro team for 3 years. I was surprised at how quickly a local triathlon sold out. I think that endurance events in general are becoming more popular.
I’ve tried Zumba (and loved it) which is pretty trendy. I’ve also tried a lot of foods that I probably never would have if they weren’t trendy: quinoa, greek yogurt, etc. While it is great that you, me and others try new trends that make us healthier, there is a flip side to that. I can’t believe how many celebrities do cleanses and I am sure they have plenty of followers.
like you, I guess I tried yoga because it was ‘in.’ I probably never would have tried it except for the proliferation of studios, (thankfully some on donation basis or free) around the city, which of course means that it’s popular. I don’t think it’s a trend though, since it’s been around for thousands of years. I do run, but I didn’t start because of it’s popularity factor. I haven’t tried any of the new hot classes though, I’m not really a class person (other than yoga).
Good luck with the lottery! I just met a guy who got in on his first try, so you never know! 😉 I’m thankful that I live in NYC and was able to get in with the 9+1 qualifiers!
My mom actually slightly injured herself from wearing toning shoes during an intense workout. Luckily she was okay but I’m not surprised that it was proven that they don’t work.
I definitely jumped on the running and yoga bandwagons – and I’m incredibly grateful that I did! For me, I get sucked into buy gadgets/equipment. I’m still debating on buying a Garmin 305!
Sure I still feel like the “new girl”, but I’m loving it. That’s all that matters!
I registered for a marathon because it was “the thing to do” at the time – my entire family (literally – mom, step father, husband, sister, aunt and a good family friend) was signing up for the 2010 Goofy Challenge (1/2 marathon + marathon in one weekend) and I felt like I “should” sign up for something. So I went for the marathon.
I was miserable during the entire training program and was miserable during the race. After crossing the finish line at 6hr 30min, I immediately vowed I would NEVER run another marathon.
Now that we’re almost a year out, I have begun to rethink this. But not because “everyone else” is running marathons. It’s because I’m at a better place mentally with running, and it’s something I might do someday for ME!
On a good note though, I jumped on the Garmin 305 bandwagon and the Triathlon bandwagon – and I’m happily hooked on both!
Fun post, Jen. Occasionally I will find myself getting frustrated with the crowds of newcomers at the yoga studio or gym (especially around the New Year) but then I take a step back and realize that these people are trying to make a positive change in their lives.
Also, I feel so much yoga love right now and am forever grateful for the amazing impact it’s had on my body and mind. I WANT to share yoga with others and have them experience that too.
The one thing that does kind of irk me is people who decide to run ONE marathon just to say they did it because it’s on their “bucket list.” Maybe I’m just mean!?
That’s how I wound up doing Cardio Kick classes at my gym….and more recently, Zumba.
I had seen Turbo Jam advertisements on television, as well as heard about it from members on SparkPeople when I was still losing weight, so it was the first group exercise class I ever tried….and it kicked my butt!….as recently as yesterday!
Zumba I found to be less of a workout than CK, but still, pretty darn fun.
I’m not much for bandwagons, but you know, if everyone is into something, there may just be something to it. At least it’s worth giving it a try if it sounds appealing to you.
I definitely jumped on the yoga bandwagon because I thought it was cool. Very ironic for me though, because I was one of those people that thought yoga was SO NOT a workout. All I really cared about was burning calories.
I now practice daily and I’m so grateful for what it has brought to my life – mentally, physically and spiritually. Sometimes it takes the wrong reasons to make you find the right ones.
I definitely feel selfishly torn too. I have been competing in running races for about 15 years now and have seen how they have changed including the cost of participating skyrocketing from $20 to $150! It’s nuts. Then there is running in a race where thousands of people are participating and you are tripping over each other the whole time! As a dietitian, I can’t help but be overjoyed to see this many people exercising but as a runner I also can’t help but feel a bit frustrated by the masses of runners and the cost flying up.
Fortunately, there are plenty of smaller, low-cost running events to participate in so I just try to stick to those.
Great blog! Just found you yesterday on Caitlin’s blog.
Haha I’ve been wondering about those “magical” shoes – thanks for the article link!
Let’s see, I guess I tried yoga because it was popular, but I am SO glad that I did! Otherwise I’m really not much of a trend-follower. I like the old fashioned aerobics classes, traditional weight lifting (like Body Pump, which I guess is a trend!), and challenging cardio like running, biking, and stairmaster.
I’m not much of a high-tech person – after 4 marathons I am finally getting a real running watch for Christmas this year!
Didn’t know you were shooting for NYC next year! I hope you get in!! When do you find out??
I started running long before I started blogging or reading blogs, but I do think that running and yoga is a trend of sorts around the blogosphere. But, it a good thing – we could have worse habits!
I didn’t realize you’d only run 1 mary before! You are so fast and fit, I thought you were an old pro 🙂
I love that you wrote this post, and I love your take away from it!
As you know, I’m totally conflicted about this. I love that more people are excited about running and tri-ing and being active. I am in 100% support of anyone who wants to try running or another sport for the first time and I think trends (or peers or blogs, etc) can be a great way to get people excited about something they never would have tried otherwise.
That being said, I also worry about people jumping into something just because it’s “trendy” and ending up injured. Or people feeling pressured into something — like running a marathon — because they don’t feel like they’re a “real” runner until they do. Beyond my own selfish reasons for not liking my events getting filled up so fast (haha), I do think there is a negative side to people being fitness trendy.
Yes, yes, and yes. I would have never tried yoga (again) if all of my friends weren’t doing it.
I totally understand about the NYC Marathon. It’s kind of like at the gym (especially in college) right after New Years and only a couple of months before spring break…everybody is trying to lose weight and I probably should be like “yeah! So many people are trying to be healthy! This is great! But deep down inside I want all of the seasonal gym rats to get off my treadmill and stop crowding me at the free weights.
I used to follow trendy workouts more when I was younger–think Tae-Bo and kickboxing classes. Then I tried spinning and that was it-I was in love. The other stuff never stuck with me.
I’m a soccer player turned runner so running (although I’m not fast or winning any races) has always come somewhat natural to me. Swimming, yoga, pilates, zumba…they’re fun but i don’t ever go running back for more.
I tried spinning because it was “in” and loved it… need to get back into it. I’ve felt the same way as you in the past (selfishly) about races closing early due to people who may not actually RUN the race but I have gotten over it. If it promotes more people from getting off their buts and working out, I’m all for it! The one thing I do still get a little errrked about is how quickly people jump from 5K to marathon. I guess I think it should be more gradual? But if you can do it, go for it. Its just for me, I’ve been running over 15 years and just this year I ran my first marathon (and second). I hope you get into NY, its an amazing marathon… but I secretly want you to have babies and move to MA instead. hahaha
those shape up shoes have always made me laugh!
I would love to say I do yoga b/c its trendy but I don’t do it enough to say that i actually do yoga…I don’t think once a month counts ha!
I’ve toyed with the idea of zumba but am too chicken! Although I did see a flyer at the gym for aqua zumba…I can probably handle that!
I started running long before I knew about any races but I have jumped on a lot of fitness bandwagons! I started Zumba and yoga recently. (Addicted to Zumba, working on loving yoga). I don’t think there is anything wrong with it, I try new things and work new muscles as a result. I am much more concerned with the obesity epidemic!
I tried Pilates a number of years ago when it was the fitness and toning trend.
I hated it- with a passion! Now I know that milions of people find it great for strengthening core etc and I know it would benefit my weak back, but I hated it. And have not gone back.
I also tried yoga a couple of years ago and really disliked it, but I think that was because my teacher and I didn’t click. I have recently started hot yoga and love it. My teacher is awsome.
And I think that if fitness trends get people who otherwise wouldn’t partake in activity, off their couches and out exercising, great!
It does seem to me that running marathons is getting really main stream. BUT I love that. The more people getting out there and exercising the better. I totally jumped on the yoga bandwagon and then found out it was awesome. 🙂
YOGA. I tried it a couple times years ago. And I hated it. In fact, I took yoga as a college course. But somehow, I was convinced to try it again (probably because it’s considered cool), and now I love it. I do think that when I originally tried yoga I wasn’t mature enough to enjoy the relaxation. Also, I was too obsessed with running to quiet my mind and really give it a shot.