Do you get bored slogging away on the treadmill or doing the same exercise routines over and over? These 6 popular workout programs will keep you excited and interested while helping you get into awesome shape!
Are you one of those people who make a New Year’s resolution every year to get in shape? Do you go out and buy the gym membership, only to watch your motivation fizzle out by February?
Before you know it, it’s Spring, and your focus has completely shifted from health and wellness to staying afloat in your day-to-day.
You’re not alone. 73% of people who vow to get in shape for their New Year’s resolutions give them up after two months. Wouldn’t you love to find a way to get in shape that didn’t bore you to tears?
You’re in luck. There are tons of new workout routines out there that’ll finally allow you to ditch the treadmill and elliptical machine. They’re fun, effective, and will definitely hold your interest longer than two months!
Keep reading to learn all about the best popular workout programs, and how to choose the one that’s right for you.
Boxing
Boxing is a big one in 2018. It’s stress-relieving, high-energy, and fun. Nothing will make you forget about that annoying rush hour traffic faster than punching a heavy bag over and over again.
There are boxing workouts you can do at home, but they require certain equipment. If you’ve got an empty space to turn into a home gym, consider adding a boxing bag to take your workouts to the next level.
For most home boxing workouts, you’ll need:
- a speed bag
- a heavy bag
- dumbbells
- a jump rope
- a barbell
- an exercise bench
If you don’t have space or the budget to invest in a home gym, there are tons of awesome boxing gyms out there that offer combined boxing and cardio classes.
You can view here an example of one of these programs. The Lesmills Body Combat program combines boxing, cardio, and endurance training to burn a whopping 740 calories per session.
Boxing working out for you? If not, maybe you need to slow things down with some yoga!
Yoga
Originally, yoga was not meant as a workout. It originated over 5,000 years ago as a meditation practice, seeking to unite mind and body to create clarity and peace of mind. In 2018, though, it’s a different story.
Now, there’s power yoga, Bikram yoga, hot yoga, yogalates, and a slew of other styles that vary in difficulty. Anusara yoga is best for meditation, while Bikram and hot yoga lend themselves toward weight loss.
It’s impossible to get bored while practicing yoga because it engages both your body and mind. You’ll focus on your breath as you move from pose to pose, paying attention to when you inhale and when you exhale. This requires constant monitoring, especially as a beginner.
Eventually, you’ll come to love yoga so much that you’ll get cranky without it.
Virtual Reality Workouts
Hold the phone. Virtual reality workouts are a thing now?
The answer is a resounding yes. Regardless of which of the fitness trends you prefer, there’s probably a virtual reality version of it.
Imagine a yoga class while sitting on a virtual beach, waves crashing and no wooden floors in sight. Imagine a boxing class in a real ring, your heavy bag standing in for a real opponent. Imagine a virtual obstacle course where you hop tires, climb walls, and race against opponents all without leaving the gym.
What better way to immerse yourself in a practice than to literally immerse yourself in it?
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
High-intensity interval training, or HIIT, isn’t new to 2018. It’s been in practice for years by professional athletes. Only in the past few has it become a favorite of personal trainers for non-athletes.
Why do athletes love it so much? Well, because it shows great results. The science behind the method is sound– there are even entire gyms based around the principles of high-intensity interval training.
The newest trend in HIIT is taking place in pools around the country. Swimming is known to be an excellent workout– it’s one of the only workouts, in fact, that engage all of your muscles at once.
Combine that with the principles behind high-intensity interval training and you’re looking at a seriously challenging workout!
Group Classes
If you struggle with getting bored and staying motivated while working out by yourself, you’re not alone. 95% of people who begin a fitness journey with accountability partners see their goals through to the end, compared with only 76% of those who work out solo.
Working out with a group also helps keep weight off. We all know how easy it is to fall back into our old ways. As the Beatles say, we get by with a little help from our friends.
Once you’ve decided to take on a group class, there are tons to choose from. You can pick any of your favorite workout styles: boxing, yoga, Zumba, HIIT, etc.
Ask your local gym what sorts of group classes they offer. You can also seek a gym who operates solely on group classes, like CrossFit gyms.
Obstacle Courses
Are you obsessed with the TV show American Ninja Warrior? Do you want to be just like those amazing athletes, overcoming insane obstacles using only their body strength?
If you want to test your mind and body at the same time, obstacle courses might be for you. American Ninja Warrior inspired a ton of obstacle courses around the country, most notably the Tough Mudder Mud Run, Spartan Strong, and the Zombie Run.
Obstacle courses are awesome ways to join a group of diverse individuals looking to turn fitness into fun. They’ll test your critical thinking abilities as well as your physical endurance.
Bonus: before you do an obstacle course, you’ll need to spend some time training, which is added exercise.
These Popular Workout Programs Should Work for You
You’ve read up on some of 2018’s most popular workout programs. Hopefully, you’ve found the one that’ll keep your attention long enough to see real progress. With these new workout routines in mind, next year you’ll stick to those resolutions!
Want to learn more about how to maintain your health on all fronts? Check out our other health and wellness articles!
