In the past decade there has been a surge in women joining gyms, subscribing to various diet programs, and becoming involved in fitness-related activities in general. Following a mini-craze in the 1980's that was more fashion-related than health-conscious and another in the 1990's, the new millennium ushered in a generation of women who got serious about health and fitness.
Gone were the bright, shiny leotards, the leg warmers, and the stylish but completely non-functional headbands. Women headed out to the gym or the park in comfy sweats and ponytails. It was time to take fitness seriously.
Today there are a number of fitness related activities that on the surface gave the appearance of being nothing more than trends, but in reality are excellent physical fitness ideas. Women know that in order to be at their very best in every aspect of their lives, they must take care of themselves before they take care of anyone else.
Fitness is more important than ever, given the fast-paced world we live in in 2016. I mean who wouldn't want to get fit, especially if the latest result from a body fat scale isn't so good.
The latest technology can certainly be of help, while also being considered to be a "fad". Smart watches, fitness trackers, and GPS-enabled devices help women to keep track of their fitness goals on the go, incorporating a normal day's activities into their health routine.
Women are also taking advantage of serious exercise formats such as High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), an intense program that packs an extreme workout into short, high-intensity activities alternating with brief rest periods. Far from being a fad, these types of workouts put the body through its paces and deliver results quickly.
Body weight training used to be considered a males-only type of workout. Females shied away for fear of "bulking up". Not anymore. Women have now discovered that it is very easy to customize a weight-training workout specifically for them that will deliver health benefits without the unwanted effects of an extreme weight training workout. There is nothing about this type of fitness routine that could even remotely be taken for a "fad".
More and more women are taking advantage of the services of personal trainers offered with most gym memberships. The desire to get the most out of their workout leads them to follow the advice of these experts.
No cutesy time with ridiculous amounts of money wasted for the no-nonsense woman of today. She isn't looking to brag about her "hot" personal trainer to her friends over drinks. She is all about seeing to her health and physical fitness.
Eating well rather than following the latest fad diet is also something women now take very seriously. For years it was all the rage to religiously follow the hottest diet trend of the moment, everything from the grapefruit-only diet to the raw food diet, and everything imaginable in between.
Women today are well aware that their bodies need a balanced blend of vitamins and nutrients in order to function properly. Eating correctly also helps the brain to work as it should, another significant point to good health.
Fad diets or diets that severely restrict the types of foods that may be eaten are unhealthy at best, and often dangerous to the point of resulting in serious health problems due to vitamin or mineral deficiencies. Women are more concerned with eating a healthful, well-balanced diet than conforming to the latest craze.
Women are now much better informed as to the effects of poor fitness not just as it pertains to their physical health, but to their emotional and psychological well-being as well. It has long been known that exercise increases the amount of endorphins in the brain. Endorphins are the brain's natural "feel good" chemicals which work to fight off mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, etc.
Following a regular exercise routine helps these chemicals to stay active in the brain, making it possible for women to enjoy the fruits of her workout labor and go about her day with a positive outlook.
The body needs to have a full range of exercise techniques in order to benefit overall from them. Even though virtually any type of exercise has some health benefits, exercise crazes are generally useless and can often result in injury.
Women have learned that while it is ok for exercise to be fun it is also serious business. The results of performing exercises the correct way are much preferable to doing something just because it is the trend of the moment.
Young women are leading the way in taking fitness seriously early on in life. Girls are no longer just being signed up for dance classes or gymnastics because it makes them look "cute". These early habits will carry over into their adult years and will override any future unhealthy fads that they may encounter. And when mothers teach by example, their daughters will always know just how important fitness is.
The bottom line is that the modern woman has no time to waste on useless fads or here-today-gone-tomorrow trends that offer no real benefits whatsoever. Today's woman is concerned with her own health and well-being and that of her family. Fitness is beneficial to her life in every way, physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Fads are for children and should never affect something as important as health and lifestyle. Keeping fit equals feeling good, maintaining a high level of energy, having a healthy immune system to fight off illness, and looking good as a result of it all. No fad can deliver all of that.
Eating right, exercising regularly, reading, meditating, all of these deliver true health benefits to women and work together. Good health is always attractive and will never go out of style.