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Oklahoma City ranks among the least fit cities in the nation on just about any poll that calculates that data from Self, Men’s Health and Forbes magazines to the Trust for American Health. Oklahoma City appears in the top 10 least fit, most obese, highest BMI and any other health related national poll. Mayor Mick Cornett said no more. On New Year’s Eve he made a resolution for the whole city: Lose one million pounds in 2008. Seems like a lofty goal, but since Dec. 31 OKC has shed nearly 3,000 lbs and counting. You can become a part of OKC Million by logging on and creating an account. The campaign site www.thiscityisgoingonadiet.com allows you to log your weight loss progress, provide incredible resources for fitness and nutrition and includes information about health-related events like the Redbud Classic. Log on today and help Oklahoma City become one of the nation’s most fit cities.
Planning on making another stab at eating better and working out in 2008?
Research has concluded that about 80 percent of all New Year's resolutions are broken by Jan. 31. If that resolution had something to do with health and fitness (working out, losing weight, quitting smoking, etc.), 90 percent will be history by Jan. 15, experts say.
So how do Americans manage to follow through? The fitness industry has wrestled with the dilemma decades. In an effort to counter the workout doldrums, fitness trends have evolved. Workouts for 2008 will focus on both mental and physical discipline and some fun and quirky techniques to spice things up.
“Boot camp classes, relying on body-weighted exercises and calisthenics are continuing to gain popularity,” said Bart Breithaupt, M.S., of Fitness Together, which has facilities in Edmond and Nichols Hills. “Sword-fighting classes are popping up and largely for the huge impact this kind of workout can have on core and upper body strength. Choreographed movements to music are carried out, almost never with real swords (can you say lawsuit?). And finally, with the popularity of shows like ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ ballroom dancing classes are gaining steam again.”
MIND AND BODY WORKOUTS
The sword-fighting class, called Forza, was developed by New York fitness guru Ilaria Montagnani. It is one of many “mind and body” workouts that are popping up in trendy fitness clubs. Forza blends elements of two Japanese sword-fighting techniques – Kendo and Aikijujitsu and boasts a 500-calorie-per-hour fat burning capacity.
Cy-Yo is another mind and body workout that is sweeping the nation. Cy-Yo incorporates the cardio benefits of cycling with the energizing and spiritual benefits of yoga.
For those seeking even greater mental fitness, Patricia Moreno, a fitness instructor and life coach, has developed intenSati, a workout routine that incorporates intense yoga stretches with life coaching techniques – combining intention and awareness.
Forza, Cy-Yo and intenSati are offered on DVD.
NOVELTY WORKOUTS
To keep the snooze factor from creeping into fitness workouts, some group fitness trends have embraced a more exotic approach.
Pole-dancing aerobics routines have been around for a few years. Once relegated to the dim lights of a gentlemen’s club, strip aerobics has caught on in a big way for both home and group classes. And, as with any fitness craze, strip tease apparatus – namely a pole – is widely available along with a number of routines on DVD.
Crunch Gym, a fitness subsidiary of Bally Total Fitness based in six
