Fitness Odds – Trends and Crazes for 2016

Move over bootcamp, there’s a new fitness craze in town, and it doesn’t include a drill sergeant. As we look to the future of health and fitness, we say goodbye to some of the fads that have come and gone in recent years like juicing, barefooting, Pilates, stripper aerobics, and the infamous Shake Weight.

But eschewing one set of fads only means that we’ll soon be inundated with the next crop of crazes. Whether it’s the latest superfood dominating your Pinterest feed or the newest celebrity-endorsed diet regime, fitness trends seem to change as often as the seasons.

Luckily SBD did all the work so that you don’t have to. Here are some odds on the next big fitness trends and diets for 2016. No cheating required.

Odds on Next Big Fitness and Diet Trends for 2016:

Wearable Technology: 3/2

According to a study by the American Academy of Sports Medicine, wearables like smartwatches, heart-rate monitors, and fitness trackers will be huge in 2016. Technology is changing the way we work out, providing real-time data and feedback such as calories consumed, distances run, and exercise completed. Fitness trackers like the Fitbit Charge allow you to track your progress, earn badges, and improve your sleeping habits, whereas the Apple Watch Sport learns your daily habits, then pushes you to get more active by sending reminders. It’s like having a personal trainer on your wrist.

New Nordic Diet: 4/1

Aside from regional differences, the New Nordic Diet is quite similar to the Mediterranean diet (more on this below). Consider it a Scandinavian twist on a healthy diet. It places an emphasis on locally available produce, whole grains, fish, lean meats, herbs, and grapeseed oil instead of processed foods. The diet also incorporates foraged foods like berries, mushrooms, moss, and nettles, which are high in nutrients. Some of the benefits of the New Nordic Diet include reduced cholesterol levels, increased weight loss, and a reduced risk of hypertension.

Parkour: 8/1

The internet sensation of 2004 is now becoming popular with the fitness elite. Developed in the 80s in suburban Paris, Parkour has been featured in everything from a Bond film to The Office. The goal of Parkour is to move from point “a” to point “b” while creatively taking advantage of obstacles in your path to increase your effectiveness. The sport, which focuses on agility, core strength, and gymnastics, could be moving from the urban jungle to your local gym sooner than you think. We can expect to see elements of Parkour crossover into Crossfit, as they both require intense core strength and training.

The Mediterranean Diet: 10/1

People living along the Mediterranean are said to be some of the healthiest in the world. This naturally healthy diet focuses on eating more fish and poultry and cutting back on red meat. Saturated fats like butter are replaced with heart healthy olive oil. Herbs and spices are also used to flavor dishes instead of salt. Other Mediterranean mainstays include grains, vegetables, nuts, fruits, and red wine. Research has shown that following a traditional Mediterranean diet reduces your risk of cancer, heart disease, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s.

Rabble (games only fitness classes): 15/1

Childhood obesity is a growing problem for families, and Rabble is a great way to combat it. Rabble is a group fitness class that combines exercise with play, disguising interval training as childhood games like Capture the Flag, Dodgeball, and Tag. Since the focus is on fun, kids don’t even realize they are working out. The games train participants on endurance, speed, agility, and coordination, which burns around 600 calories per session. Since no class is ever the same, the kids will never get bored.

(Photo credit: By Eneas De Troya from Mexico City, México (Parkour  Uploaded by russavia) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons)