Everyone wants to have things yesterday and fitness is definitely no different!!!
Everyone wants to cut corners too, and do things in the quickest possible time.
The great news is that i have been working in that world a long time now, and i try constantly to come up with new methods to meet ever increasing demands. If you want to stay in business, you WILL have to move with the times and more often than not, stay ahead of the curve and not behind it!!
So lets quickly cut to the chase!!!
Bear in mind its definitely not 1970, 1980 or even 1999 anymore and a lot has changed.
Weight training is still in for sure, and works every time. I have had numerous arguements about it before i start with someone, especially with women, but i always stick to my guns on this one!!!
Fads have come and gone, then come back again but most of them are exactly that “fads” have no place on a proper exercise programme and won’t work long term, and can often be dangerous.
You have a dangerous fad like cross fit out there right now, the basic concept is to combine really tough exercises together, and work over a very short period of time, half killing yourself and some people think its a great workout. The bad news is that you are likely to put your back out very quickly, your knees, ankles and just about everything else, BECAUSE OF THE ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS FORM/TECHNIQUE you use in this crazy system. Body mechanics go out the window and i strongly advise you to re-consider what you are doing if you’re involved in it!
Its called “cheating” in weight training circles, just to get a few more reps done, and its a cardinal sin. Youtube it and you will see how dangerous it is and i rest my case.
Circuit training is out completely too, moving around in a circle is another way of getting used to exercises (you’re going round and round doing the same exercises all the time), if not changed regularly. Circuit training is a fancy way of giving the instructor an easier time especially if he doesnt change the exercises regularly. Circuit training died in the 90’s so RIP and i used to do it myself but time moves on!
If you want to get in serious shape, try swiss ball’s used aggressively i mean, medicine balls, bosu balls, roller’s and many other non-conventional ways to get the job done, all done at a high tempo.
This should be underpinned by some good weight training and shorter duration interval cardio, but the options now are vast, and safer and more productive than all the fads of the last 3 decades that have come and gone!!!
