Close X
Saturday, September 21, 2024
ADVT 
Health

Functional Training, High-intensity Interval Training Top Fitness Trends For '16

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 30 Dec, 2015 01:18 PM
    TORONTO — For a second year in a row, Canadian fitness experts are touting functional fitness and high-intensity interval training as top workout trends.
     
    Functional fitness, which was second in Canfitpro's annual trends survey last year and No. 1 this year, involves exercises that work multiple muscle groups and mimic activities like shovelling snow or carrying groceries.
     
    "Typically, a good functional training drill would show evidence of strength, training and balance all in the one exercise, and creating muscle tension or tone throughout the whole body," said Twist Conditioning founder Peter Twist, a former strength and conditioning coach for the Vancouver Canucks.
     
    High-intensity interval training (HIIT), which was last year's top trend pick, is characterized by intense bursts of exercise followed by short rest periods. Some experts believe HIIT is a more efficient form of exercise that can minimize time spent at the gym.
     
    "Depending on what format you take, it can take you about four minutes after you've warmed up to be able to get a very good response from your cardio-respiratory system and get many — if not all — of the same benefits as you would from doing a longer lower-intensity workout," said Rod Macdonald, vice-president of Canfitpro, whose organization represents fitness professionals, health club operators and industry suppliers.
     
     
    Adding in compound exercises — those that involve more than one muscle group — can also be of benefit, said Macdonald.
     
    "You're actually going to be incorporating a lot in one single movement. And compounding those exercises can be really powerful in making the most of your time," he said.
     
    For those looking to lose weight in the new year, exercise alone is not enough, Macdonald said.
     
    "If you're eating too much, it's very hard to do enough exercise to work it off," he said.
     
    "The average chocolate bar has about 300 to 350 calories in it. The average person will maybe burn that many calories if they did 45 minutes on a treadmill.
     
    "Even if they can get through that 350 calories of that chocolate bar, they haven't done anything to lose that additional weight — and it's not just a chocolate bar they're eating that day. Healthy eating programs are critical to ... complement the exercise to ensure that they're getting the best result."
     
     
    South of the border, the American College of Sports Medicine ranked wearable technology as its No. 1 trend, including use of gadgets like fitness trackers, smart watches, heart-rate monitors and GPS tracking devices. Body weight training — involving exercises such as pushups and pullups — ranked second, and HIIT rounded out the top three.

    MORE Health ARTICLES

    Why Women Live Longer Than Men?

    Why Women Live Longer Than Men?
    Explaining why women live longer than men across the world, vulnerability to heart disease is the biggest culprit behind a surge in higher death rates for men during the 20th century, says a study.

    Why Women Live Longer Than Men?

    Beware, High Heels May Hurt Your Feet

    Beware, High Heels May Hurt Your Feet
    While high heels may help you put the best fashion foot forward, their prolonged use may be a step backward for the health of your feet, new research says.

    Beware, High Heels May Hurt Your Feet

    Extracurricular Sports Make Kids More Attentive, Finds A Canadian Study

    Extracurricular Sports Make Kids More Attentive, Finds A Canadian Study
    Regular, structured extra-curricular sports help children develop self-regulation and stay focused in the classroom as they grow up, says a study.

    Extracurricular Sports Make Kids More Attentive, Finds A Canadian Study

    'Embrace Yoga For A Super Sex Life'

    'Embrace Yoga For A Super Sex Life'
    While the first International Yoga Day has rightfully positioned the nearly 5,000-year old Indian system of physical and mental rejuvenation on to the global mat, little do people know that there are some postures that, 

    'Embrace Yoga For A Super Sex Life'

    How To Beat The Heat In Summer

    How To Beat The Heat In Summer
    Are you finding it tough to tackle the scorching heat? Lets take a look at simple tips from experts on staying cool during summer.

    How To Beat The Heat In Summer

    Revealed: Why Marriages Make People Gain Extra Kilos

    Revealed: Why Marriages Make People Gain Extra Kilos
    If marriage has a positive influence on health and life expectancy, as generally assumed, then why do couples gain weight after tying the knot? Blame it on their lifestyle.

    Revealed: Why Marriages Make People Gain Extra Kilos