Survey Finds HIIT Workouts Lead Fitness Trends

Although we can't seem to spring consistently into warmer spring temperatures, many of us are fully into our 2018 fitness regimens (congratulations to those of you who kept your New Year's resolutions).

A survey by the American College of Sports Medicine's Health & Fitness Journal found that high-intensity interval training would be the No. 1 trend in 2018. It was followed by group training.

We asked area fitness specialists for their Top 5 trends for the year and here are what some of them told us:

Jeremiah Welch, fitness manager, Anytime Fitness, Dubuque

1. Functional fitness.

2. High-intensity interval training.

3. Flexibility and mobility rollers.

4. Group training.

5. Weight loss.

"Functional fitness is becoming more popular due to the CrossFit movement and social media. Traditional weightlifting methods are being replaced by equipment such as sandbags, pull-up bars, kettlebells and weighted vests. Gym-goers who stray away from weights due to the hypothesized 'bulking' impact are able to take on new challenges outside of cardio. Social media allows average Joes to peek at training methods of the elite and mimic routines."

Phil Gothard, owner/coach, CrossFit Dubuque

1. Group training.

2. Technology.

3. High-intensity interval training.

4. Functional fitness.

5. Yoga.

"Whatever its form, group training is most popular because it's fun. People love technology, so they're wearing Fitbits. The term 'high-intensity' has been bastardized; almost no program is high-intensity, and if it were, it wouldn't be popular. It would be sport-specific.

"The term 'functional fitness' also has been bastardized. Is being structurally balanced and symmetrical non-functional? No, it's very functionally applicable to be this way. And so, whatever means you achieve 'functional' competence is thereby 'functional fitness?' It's all semantics and buzzwords."

Casey Smith, wellness director, Dubuque Community YMCA/YWCA

1. Group training.

2. High-intensity interval training.

3. Meditation/yoga/Tai Chi.

4. Fitness programs for older adults.

5. Strength training.

"Group training is one of the best ways to stay active, be social and improve your overall health. It has a variety of styles: Strength training, balance and mobility training, cycling, aqua exercise, yoga/flexibility, Tai Chi and so much more.

"Led by a knowledgeable instructor, you are guided through a workout that not only challenges you physically, but also encourages and supports you from start to finish.

"There is no preparation needed to participate in group training, so participants can step away from their busy lifestyle and have others help them reach their goals."

Charity Rausch, owner/instructor, Fit Studio, Cascade, Iowa

1. High-intensity interval training.

2, Technology.

3. Yoga.

4. Strength training.

5. Body weight training.

"One of the main excuses I hear from people is that they don't have time to work out. High-intensity interval training are quick and efficient workouts, and with those all-out bursts of energy, you can really blast some calories.

"Smartwatches can be worn to count steps to tracking heart rate to even tracking sleep. Yoga and strength training are becoming increasingly popular with men doing more yoga and women lifting more weights. Body weight training is also popular, from Spartan and Mud Run races, to American Ninja Warrior."

Lori Laufenberg, trainer, nutrition coach and co-owner, Snap Fitness, Platteville, Wis.

1. Personal training.

2. Strength training.

3. Functional fitness.

4. Strength programs for older adults.

5. Wearable technology.

"People who join our gym have a purpose. Whether it's to lose weight, rehab from an injury or simply to avoid major medical issues, they know (and want) a plan. Hiring a personal trainer to work with them to create a program to achieve their goals will help them work smarter and more efficiently in the club.

"Most of us don't have the time or desire to spend hours in the gym every week spinning our wheels. Plus it takes the 'scary' out of the weight room (especially for women and heavier lifting)."

Collins Eboh, fitness and programming supervisor, Peosta (Iowa) Community Centre

1. Group personal training.

2. Exercise is medicine.

3. Strength training.

4. Fitness programs for older adults.

5. Sports-specific training.

"Strenuous exercise can be intimidating. Group personal training takes away the pressure of the 'spectacle' of exercise. It's fun and supportive, while at the same time structured, progressive, challenging and less expensive.

"These trends show a move away from the goal of exercise to achieve a certain 'look' to exercise to feel better and achieve overall physical health - which I think is an exciting and positive trend."

Jim Romagna, department head, Health Wellness and Sport, University of Dubuque

1. Exercise is medicine.

2. Group training.

3. Growth of educated, certified and experienced fitness professionals.

4. Wellness coaching.

5. Sport-specific training.

"The exercise is medicine, or as we sometimes refer to it, the Medical Model, is really growing in our industry. The collaboration between doctors, physical therapists and trainers is a huge benefit to the client.

"In years past, we just used to cut loose with training the client, now we really scrutinize the way they move, the way they feel and the overall goal they want to accomplish. It focuses on a proactive versus a reactive approach to wellness.

"Physical activity is the key to a long, functional life that extends not the years of one's life, but the quality of years."

Top 20 fitness trends for 2018 An annual worldwide, online survey by the American College of Sports Medicine's Health & Fitness Journal was sent to about 114,000 health fitness professionals asking for the top fitness trends for 2018. About 4,000 responses were received.,Top 25,1. High-intensity interval training.,2. Group training.,3. Wearable technology.,4. Body weight training.,5. Strength training.,6. Growth of educated, certified and experienced fitness professionals.,7. Yoga.,8. Personal training.,9. Fitness programs for older adults.,10. Functional fitness.,11. Exercise and weight loss.,12. Exercise is medicine.,13. Group personal training.,14. Outdoor activities.,15. Flexibility and mobility rollers.,16. Growth of licensure for fitness professionals.,17. Circuit training.,18. Wellness coaching.,19. Core training.,20. Sport-specific training.

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