7 New Fitness Fads: Do They Really Work?

There are some crazy fitness fads out there that have been touted by celebrities and fitness gurus alike. While some of them actually work to get you fit, others can range from being a waste of time (and money) to actually causing damage. Here are seven of the latest fitness trends and what doctors and other experts are saying about them: 

1. Hula-Hooping With Weights

This is one of the latest fitness fads and entails hula-hooping, a craze of the 1950s, with weighted hoops to trim the stomach muscles. While this fad may seem a bit crazy, popular singer Beyonce says that she does it to stay slim. Doctors have weighed in on this fad and say that it is an effective form of cardiovascular exercise and can help with weight loss, but that there is no need to use weighted hula hoops as they can cause back injuries. You can get the same results from a regular hula-hoop. 

2. Strippercize

This form of exercise is touted by movie star Kate Hudson, who states that not only is it useful in the bedroom but it can help women stay thin. Doctors disagree and suggest that anything that involves wearing 7-inch spike heels is not good for any woman, especially when exercising. They add that doing so can actually cause harm to your ankles and feet. However, if you wear proper attire this type of exercise can strengthen your core and provide cardiovascular benefits. Just make sure you go for sneakers instead of stilettos!

3. Bodyblade

The Bodyblade approach involves lifting a bar over your head and shaking to exercise your trunk muscles. Doctors say that this exercise can be helpful for physical therapy, but it appears to be another fad that does not have clear fitness benefits. However, they also say that there is no harm in performing this exercise. 

4. Aerial Aerobics

Aerial Aerobics are a take-off of the Cirque du Soleil troop and involves exercising with a hammock to hold you above the ground. It may be fine for someone who is in good shape, but impossible for someone who is out of shape or uncoordinated. Doctors say that it is far from easy and is more likely to turn you off of exercising than anything else. 

5. Wind-Relieving Asana

This interesting exercise involves expelling gas from your system using yoga techniques. Essentially, you lay on your back and work to expel excess gas from your body . . . with a group of others in your Asana class. Maybe it’s just me, but do you really want to expel gas from your body in a group session? Perhaps a diet rich in fiber is a better choice than this fad. 

6. Wii Ski Jump

The Wii Fit games have been all the rage lately, and Wii Ski Jump is no exception (a ski jumping practice that is performed using the Wii game system). If you do this exercise correctly, you can actually tone up the muscles in your buttocks and legs. Not to mention that it’s kind of fun to “ski” in your living room!

7. Dorm Room Workouts

This type of exercise is encouraged for college students and involves spending at least 20 minutes running around the dormitory. College students often end up gaining weight when they go away to school due to a combination of poor eating habits and too little exercise (and possibly too much beer). While this fad may be a good start, it must also be combined with smart eating habits and a little more exercise to be effective. 

If you’re interested in picking up a new exercise habit, you might want to think twice before investing too much money in the ones above. Remember – the best exercise for you is one that gets your heart rate up, works your entire body and that you can do on a regular basis. And it helps if you enjoy doing it as well!