As the year is coming to a close, just like all other industries such as fashion, food and travel, health and fitness options are also setting trend to be aware of in 2016. Let’s take a look at what’s HOT and what’s NOT as it relates to this multi-billion dollar industry.
No to GMOs – It seems that many consumers are just not willing to include GMOs in their diets. Science may support that GMOs do not present a risk to our food chain, but genetic manipulation scares many of us.
Trends from surveys and statics show that consumers lack confidence in GMO foods and prefer GMO-free fare. Consumers also want to know when they are exposed to GMO foods, so demands for better food labeling of GMO products will also trend up in 2016.
Health Food Sections in CVS & Walgreens – While I can’t say this would be my favorite place to pick up something “healthy to eat” it is good to see the local corner convenient store now offer consumers something other than chips, candy and fat filled snack options. CVS stores stop selling tobacco in 2014 and now has made moves to “getting healthy” to attract customers who more than just a quick fix of processed food options. “Consumers use to eat, three meals a day, and now they tend to be snacking through the day and they are really looking for a convent location which gives them access to healthier food,” said, Executive Vice President Helena Foulkes.
Exercise Apps – It seems any day now we can expect technology to just do the workout for us, but in the mean time everything SMART is just going to get SMARTER. Apps for fitness and health related programs are now more than 40% of the programs you can currently download to your Smart Phone. People are demanding more and more options and the market is delivering. We will see huge leaps in 2016 and the target is getting younger and younger because they are the ones that love seeing and using these programs real time.
You will also see an increase in wearable technology from workout wear that cools the body, to apps that calculate total body fat and full applications that can be used in order to send medical information to you family doctor. The options are truly cutting edge.
Functional Fitness is a super hot topic
Even though gym memberships have reach an all time high, the reality is most people ether do not have time or just do not want to work out at a gym.
Enter Functional Fitness, which is based on making your day-to-day chores and activity into your workout.
Need to walk the dog? Then add a few extra miles to the task. Walking up and down stairs all day? Great, add a few extras laps to that routine. This is a great, lasting trend, since it does not require you to change your daily routine too much and it is part of what you are already doing.
Body Weight Training – As mentioned last year, and the year before, Body Weight Training just keeps moving up in the trends. Body Weight Training also ties nicely with functional fitness methods. These types of exercises tie back to another year of increased high intensity interval training as well.
So when you think of the everyday soccer mom, or the business corporate executive all the way to the professional body builder, there are few programs on the market today that can beat or be more effective than using your own body weight to train at home, in the office or any other gym discipline.
Group Boot camp – This is a fairly popular trend that is going to continue in 2016. With local individual book camp prices as low as $10.00 per person, there is little resistance to join your local indoor our outdoor boot camp. This is not only a cost effective option but it tends to help new comers to the fitness industry stay motivated. You have all levels of fitness represented in these groups and more often than not, they tend be unisex. Along with the larger boot camps, small group training is also a newer trend that will continue, as it is also a great price break for someone that is looking for more of the one to one personal training.
Training two or three people at the same time makes good economic sense; the trainer makes more revenue in the typical two-hour window and the clients save big with the group buy.
I see group training to continue to become more and more popular in 2016. When you bring small groups together it adds a small degree or competitiveness and a bit more fun that you just don’t get with a one on one approach.
Yoga – What can be said here? Yoga is amazing and is always at the top of fitness trends each year with new and different variations popping up across the country.
Traditional Yoga continues to be one of the most popular health and fitness regimens for women, and more men should follow their lead.
Clean Eating (Vegan & Vegetarian) – 2016 will continue to see an increase demand for eating clean on the go, in restaurant options and as the quick pick on many stores.
Fast food companies will continue to add healthy fare to their drive thru menus. Consumers are migrating to healthy choices when they dine out at a very high rate, so expect to see more positive changes in the industry. Some of my favorite restaurants in Houston serving Vegan or Vegetarian food are: Zoe’s Kitchen, Greed Seed, Sunshine Health Food Market, Loving Hut, San San Tofu, Baba Yega, Hungry’s, Bare Bowls is one of the best vegan food trucks and the newer coffee house in the Third Ward area Doshi House has grown to now carry everything from smoothies to fresh juices, vegan soups and dinner dishes.
Fashion – There is a demand next year to make fitness wear not only functional, but fashionable as well. Long gone are the days of plain black tights, white muscle shirts and boring tennis shoes. This year the fashion and fitness industry will give more bright vibrant colors and any number of themes and patters. We will see more bright colors this season. Companies will enter a unique era of style along with consumers new outlook will come the opportunity to mix utility and comfort, personal taste and the everyday look, Modern pallets with modern firm compression wear is trending in this upcoming year. Spearheading this wardrobe is the Millennia’s who fuse active influences with everyday fashion.
At the end of the day, there looks to be no shortage of options, information, technology, classes, restaurants, food or fashion that won’t be available to help you reach your health and fitness goals. But even with all this talk about what is coming and what will be available, it will still be the same requirement to make any of it useful. You must make your personal decision to put the work and time in to make consistent change.
Jade Gold, CEO of JadeGoldFitness operates as a Certified Health Coach, Trainer, Health Writer & Motivational Speaker. Jade is an experienced entrepreneur that offers a unique perspective to Health Coaching and fitness for Corporations, Individuals, Youth, Men & Women alike. Jade’s latest project includes fitness clothing & an All Natural Essential Body & Hair Care and Meal Prep Services. If you would like to request Jade as a speaker, learn more about the retail line or fitness services you can reach her at Info@JadeGoldFitness.com.