A Woman’s World: Fitness fads have their place

If you’re a fan of home shopping or late-night television, chances are you’ve come across infomercials for a variety of fitness programs you can use at home. Much like fad diets, these fitness fads promise noticeable results in little time.

Given the prominence of fitness fads, which range from DVDs to abdominal machines and exercise gliders, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of these programs with help from Steve Ball, assistant professor of exercise physiology at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Participation in a fad fitness program can be helpful when it is just one component of your overall exercise routine. Keep in mind that one type of exercise will not create the perfect body, so be sure to incorporate a variety of exercises into your workouts. Focus on creating an exercise regimen that combines cardiovascular exercise and strength training.

However, relying exclusively on fad fitness equipment or programs will not produce ideal results. For example, using an ab machine may strengthen your abdominal muscles, but without cardiovascular exercise and diet modification to burn abdominal fat, those new muscles won’t be visible.

Additionally, your body can grow accustomed to a certain exercise if it is practiced regularly. While a fitness fad can add variety to your exercise routine, your body will tire of the same routine and stop producing results when it is used alone.

Remember that the key to effective exercise is variety. A fitness fad can be a great way to interject new life into a monotonous workout, but be sure to incorporate both cardio and strength training into any workout regimen.

“Eventually, you have to get back to the basics. Think about what you can do on a regular basis and for a lifetime,” Ball said.