Back to basics fitness

Have you noticed a trend in fitness over the past few years? Are the group fitness classes and free weights at your gym more popular now than they were in the past? That’s because a lot of people are going back to basics when it comes to their fitness. You won’t see too many people hurling boulders or carrying hogs across a field--but you will see tire flipping and rope swings in some of the most populated gyms in your area. Dumbbells, medicine balls and jump ropes are back with a vengeance. But is there anything to this “back to basics” mentality? Can it, along with an accurate heart rate monitor, help you meet your fitness goals as quickly as your favorite machines? Let’s take a look.

Body weight training, which can incorporate push-ups, planks, lunges and squats, has picked up major steam recently. Not only can these exercises take place in the gym, but many are switching over to this more simplified form of conditioning because it can easily be done in the home. For many, bodyweight training presents a way for the everyday person to get fit. The most simple bodyweight exercises can help you increase your flexibility as well as your overall health.

According to greatist.com, one of the greatest strengths of bodyweight training is that it is incredibly efficient. We all love efficiency. Why take an hour to do something that you could realistically do in 30 minutes or less? High-output exercises using only bodyweight have been proven to be effective means for intense and effective training. Without having to rely on equipment, it is quick and easy to transition from one move to the next.

Back to basics workouts that you can do at home have huge appeal. Not everyone wants to leave their desk at work to drive straight to the gym to get their workout in. Similarly, for those who work at home or are at home with children during the day, an effective workout that doesn’t require extra equipment is just what is needed to get their heart rate up and blood pumping. Done properly and for a few solid minutes, some of the most basic moves are enough for many to get in their daily dose of exercise. Studies show that 10 minutes or more a day of concerted exercise effort (walking, stair climbing, mowing the grass, etc.) majorly contributes to your overall health.

Still not convinced that the back to basics mentality will be able to help you get the results you want? There is an innovative way to test the theory, and many already are. Topping the charts of the biggest trend in fitness is wearable technology. The key to finding out whether or not those rope swinging, tire flipping workouts are really able to get you to the fitness level you’re aiming for is to track your effort. Seeing how hard your heart is working during those tried and true exercise may prove to you that they are making you work just as hard as any of your favorite machine-based exercises. Of course, if you’re looking for a wearable that is both functional and accurate, we recommend the accurate heart rate monitor capabilities of the MYZONE system that can provide you with the heart-tracking accuracy of an EKG machine.

Are you a fan of the back to basics trend? How do you think the more simple exercises compare with the more advanced, machine-based methods? Share with us how you came to your conclusion (especially if your MZ-3 played a role in the decision-making!) on social media using #myzone or #effortrewarded.