Say hello to the new fitness trends of 2017

OVER the years people have tried anything to shift weight and followed bizarre trends, however, like all fads, they come and go for a reason.

Here are a few dubious lifestyle trends to say good riddance to:

Waist-training: Are we back in the 16th century? Waist-trainers mimic the corset that women wore in the 1500s, but despite the comeback, they’re in no way more comfortable. We should’ve seen the red flag due to the mere fact that these body trainers can restrict breathing and cause acid reflux. Unfortunately, there’s no shortcut to the desired hourglass figure that these body trainers supposedly help to achieve.

Cupping: This is an ancient form of alternative medicine, where a therapist puts cups on the patients’ back to create suction. Other than the strange marks this procedure leaves behind, it doesn’t guarantee muscle healing and shouldn’t be viewed as a miracle cure for injuries or clotted blood. It’s debatable whether this technique, that is possibly superfluous, is worth the eerie marks it leaves on your back.

Sauna suits: This method of heavy sweating has been used by boxers for fast weight loss before bouts. That doesn’t speak for the potentially dangerous health implications of this method, however. “Excessive sweating leads to electrolyte imbalances in your body. Sweating in a sauna suit can lead to dehydration, kidney failure and even death,” said Pierre Louw, owner of the Fitness Directory of My Health and Fitness.

Not all new trends are bad and the following trends are proving to be more than just a fad:

Body weight training: The truth is gyms are expensive and not everyone can afford to exercise at the hippest gym in town. However, everybody needs to do exercise, so what now? Body weight training is the answer. These exercises are completely free and don’t require any equipment. Other benefits include more lean muscle mass, healthier blood cholesterol levels and lower stress levels.

Wearable Tech: Wearable technology might not be imperative for all, but it can make a big difference in the life of someone who’s unaware of a fatal heart condition. The data collected by these wearables can predict potentially fatal health events.

Group training: The shift from one-on-one training to group training was bound to happen sooner or later. This alternative is not only more affordable, but also a lot more fun (3 is a party, right?). “On some days we need the added motivation – and in those cases, it’s refreshing to have more than one person to help you through the different workouts,” Louw added.

What works for one person might not work for another. But remember to have fun and never compromise your health.