It’s time for Friday Five linkup with DC area bloggers Courtney at Eat Pray Run DC, Cynthia at You Signed Up for What?!, and Mar at Mar on the Run! Be sure to stop by their blogs and say hello! While you’re there, be sure to check out other bloggers who are participating in the linkup, too. This week the DC Trifecta chose Five Fitness Trends I’ll Never Try as the theme.
“Today’s fitness trends might bring tomorrow’s laughter.” ~ Deb
As a fitness professional, this week’s theme of Five Fitness Trends I’ll Never Try seemed like a fun theme to jump in on. I decided to not just include current trends, but exercise trends from over the decades. I also might be stretching it a tad by calling a couple of these trends, but they made me smile, so therefore; made the cut…
1. Fat Burning Vibrating Belts – I wouldn’t consider using one of the things without applying lots of Body Glide.
Source: Facebook post by friend
2. Prancercise – Joanna Rohrback invented Prancercise back in 1989, but it made the light-hearted news rounds after it made its way to YouTube in 2012. She describes it as “a springy, rhythmic way of moving forward, similar to a horse’s gait and is ideally induced by elation.” Watching me Prancercise would be even more entertaining than watching Elaine dance on Seinfeld.
3. Shake Weights – If my dumbbells start shaking it had better be from an earthquake, or me dropping it at muscle failure.
4. Pole Dancing – Any workout that involves me having both feet off the ground for more than a second or two isn’t going to end well for me, and will be even more entertaining than watching me Prancercise.
5. Barefoot Running – In the spirit of full disclosure, I tried barefoot running after reading Born To Run, one of my favorite books. The barefoot craze and minimalist running shoes had just hit, and the idea of strengthening the muscles in my feet sounded like a good idea. I tried it on softer surfaces like the treadmill and my grassy back yard. By the time the craze hit, my poor feet were far to old and cranky, and I only caused myself pain. Pain that took physical therapy and finally orthotics to make it go away.
Fitness trends come and go… I wonder what we’re doing or wearing today, that will seem as silly as the vibrating fat burning belts and thong leotards from our past?
- Questions:
- What fitness trends have you participated in that leaves you shaking your head today?
- Did you ever wear leg warmers and a thong leotard? ~ Sadly, yes…
- Are you racing this weekend?
I always thought the shake weight was so ridiculous. I never tried barefoot running. I have tried those vibram shoes before but did not like them.
[email protected] recently posted…Rates for Princess weekend
I never tried Vibrams since my experience barefoot running didn’t end well. The concept makes sense, and a younger me might have loved them.
Have a great weekend!
Completely agree with you on pole dancing, it was on my list too ! I remember that Prancerise video, too funny. I have never heard of shake weights, but then again, a lot of things do not make their way to this side of the Atlantic.
Karen – Fit in France recently posted…Friday Five : Fitness trends
You’re lucky that some things don’t make their way across the Atlantic – shake weights cracked me up from the second I saw them.
Have a great weekend!
I had Pole Dancing & Shake weights on mine too!
I forgot about those silly exercise belts. I remember growing up one of my friends Mom had one and used it all the time. I’m pretty sure it didn’t do her any good though.
I joined a gym in Denver in the early 80’s and they actually had a couple of those belt machines there. It was interesting to see ladies religiously using them and never breaking a sweat while at the gym.
Have a great weekend!
I’d try pole dancing! Seriously! I LOVE trying stuff. Both a strength & a curse. I actually do pretty well in minimalist shoes for short runs. I like to mix it up.
Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy recently posted…5 Fitness Trends I Won’t Try
More power to you, but I know my limitations, and know I’d land on my head. HaHa! 🙂
Have a great weekend!
I am with you on the barefoot running-I saw a guy running with his feet bleeding the other day. Really?!
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…5 Fitness Trends I’d Love To Try
Oh no, that sounds awful! I used to coach with a “barefoot runner” and he was quite successful winning local races, etc. I remember the Washington Post writing an article on him – wonder where he is these days and how his feet have held up. I used to occasionally run short distances on the beach barefoot when I was in my 20’s, but these days I’d be injured within the first half mile…
Have a great weekend!
Hahaha I completely forgot about the vibrating belt! Some of the fitness gimmicks back then are just hilarious! Pole dancing made my list as well..
Janine @ travel, run, live recently posted…5 Fitness Trends I haven’t tried…. Yet
The workout outfits were as funny as the “exercise” belts, too!
Have a great weekend!
I ignore anything that’s a fad. I know it’s a fad and I won’t even try it. I had enough issues with my feet in high school when I needed custom orthotics, so I knew barefoot running was a no go.
Lesley recently posted…Health Trends
Listening to our body’s when determining whether or not a certain type or way of exercising is right for us is so important. No reason to get an injury do to some passing fad!
My sister and I joined Elaine Powers (fitness studio) way back in the mid 80s. They still had those belts along with lots of roller machines to roll various parts of your body. My how things have changed! They also played Jane Fonda workout videos too. I loved me some leg warmers back then.
HoHo Runs recently posted…Lil Ol’ Me
Oh my goodness, I’d forgotten all about those rolling machines! I joined Mademoiselle Spa in Denver in the mid-80’s and they had both those and the vibrating belts. I did the Jane Fonda workout on days I didn’t go to the gym; and didn’t we think we were cool in our leg warmers? 🙂
Have a great weekend!
Haha yes! So glad you included the videos.
Jennifer recently posted…Friday Five – Fitness Trends I Will/Will Not Try
I could have looked for a video of the vibrating belt, but the picture was too perfect!
Have a great weekend!
I once tried REAL barefoot running, a long time ago. I was inspired by Zola Budd in the 1984 Olympics. I went out to my high school track, took off my shoes and socks, and threw down a few laps. DISASTER! Fortunately, when the current barefoot craze came about, a woman at the shoe store told me frankly that my motion-control-loving feet were not meant for anything minimalist.
Anne recently posted…Staying Humble: One Way to Do It
I’d forgotten all about Zola Budd running barefoot; and yay for knowledgeable running store employees. 🙂
prancerise? You are the second one to mention it and somehow I missed the whole thing! Thank goodness! I am skipping the mud, don’t think I can work past the phobia! TGIF!
Mary Beth Jackson recently posted…It is Hard to Say Goodbye!
HaHa – how did you miss the Prancercise craze? 😉
Have a great weekend!
I’ll take a pass on the Prancercize…
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Book Club Interview with Alexandra Heminsley, author of Running Like A Girl
Awww, come on Wendy, you know you want to Prancercise. 😀
Prancercize! How could I have forgotten that one!
Coco recently posted…Fitness Trends That Will Pass Me By
HaHa! 🙂
lol at pole dancing. i know it’s an incredible workout but oh man that is also one i will NOT be trying. 🙂
Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC recently posted…Five Health Trends I’m Just Not That Into
I KNOW that I would land on my head if I tried pole dancing!
Guilt user of the thigh master and the ab cruncher-lol!b
My mom is a fitness trend buyer! Every fitness trend has made its way into our house and to salvation army (lol).
No trends currently but I am interested in Arial yoga and Barre.
Have a great weekend!
Yeah, we had a few of those growing up, too. 🙂
Haha, love it! We gave a shake weight as a gag gift for a White Elephant exchange for my husbands work Christmas party. It was a hit!
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes recently posted…Friday Five: Five Fitness Trends I’m DYING to try!
What a great idea. I’ll have to try to remember that for our Cruisers’ Christmas gag gift exchange.
Yes to all of this! My old, cranky feet cannot bear the thought of barefoot running.
Cynthia @ You Signed Up For WHAT?! recently posted…Five Fitness Trends I’ll Never Try
I have seen those vibrating belts in action in some documentary on how women worked out in the past. They were crazy! Also, I am so glad to see that prancersizing made your list! Hah.
I can remember running around barefoot in the grass all of the time as a kid, without any problems. I know that would not be the case if I tried it today!
Meagan recently posted…Hank’s Close Call with Bloat & GDV
When I was little, I think I kicked my shoes off on the last day and school and didn’t put them on again except for church and going to town until school started again in the spring! 🙂