by MIKE CHAIKEN
CTFashionMag.com
When new year arrives, the New Year’s resolution isn’t too far behind. And fitness almost always seems to fit in the plan of those seeking to create positive new habits.
That trend continues in 2021 with people seeking to exercise more and focus on a healthier diet; although, the COVID 19 pandemic has reshaped how people are getting fit.
A OnePoll study of 2,000 Americans showed 39% respondents said they were looking at “eating better” in the new year and 30% said “exercising more consistently” were among the top resolutions.
YouGov.com, an international research data based in London, found “The most common resolutions for U.S. adults as we head into 2021 are doing more exercise (50%), losing weight (48%) … (and) improving diet (39%).
How are people getting fit?
The American College of Sports Medicine Health and Fitness Journal announced it had performed a “Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2021.”
The survey reached out to 75,383 people, which included ACSM certified professionals, those who registered to attend the 2020 ACSM’s International Health & Fitness Summit, the ACSM Certification e-mail opt-in list, ACSM Alliance members, ACSM professional members who have added a FIT subscription, nonmember FIT subscribers, FIT associate editors, and FIT Editorial Board members.
Several fitness choices for 2021 were shaped by the COVID pandemic.
Topping the list will be online training. The ACSM reported this was due to “the temporary closure of clubs around the world forcing innovative delivery of classes. The challenges of engaging clients at a distance resulted in the use of some very strategic delivery systems. Online training was developed for the at-home exercise experience.”
Outdoor activities will be the fourth biggest trend for 2021, the ACSM survey said. “Perhaps because of the COVID-19 pandemic, more outdoor activities such as small group walks, group rides, or organized hiking groups have become popular.”
Group training will rank 17th in fitness approaches for 2021. This is a lower ranking than 2020 because of COVID and the subsequent closure of gyms, said the ACSM report. However, ACSM did tout group classes because they “are designed to be effective, motivational sessions for different fitness levels with instructors teaching many types of classes and equipment, from cardio-based classes and indoor cycling to dance-based classes to step classes.”
Although getting fit was a top resolution, a survey from OnePoll said, “Over half of respondents (58%) … agree that figuring out how to make new positive habits stick during this time was ‘next to impossible.’” The OnePoll survey said, “Amid COVID lockdowns and isolating indoors, new diets unsurprisingly fared the worst among attempted healthy habits. The average respondent who tried one says they lasted a mere 18 days before quitting.”
But for people trying to get fit, muscle supplements are one addition to a diet meant to boost efforts especially if one is looking to build mass.
What kinds of supplements should one look for?
Healthline reported, key ingredients for those looking to build muscle mass are creatine, protein supplements, weight gainers, beta-alanine, branched-chain amino acids, and beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate.
Other supplements that may add to muscle mass, according to Healthline, are conjugated linoleic acid and glutamine and carnitine.
Nutrascience offered some insight into what brands of muscle supplements will be offering consumers in 2021.
“Innovative supplement flavors are proving to be an essential driver in the consumer decision-making process. While standard flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry are still popular, brands that are able to offer uniquely flavored products – e.g., blue raspberry lemonade, salty peanut butter, banana split, etc.- will thrive in the future,” said Nutrascience.
In addition, Nutrascience reported, “Consumer demand for plant protein is expected to increase because it’s viewed as a sustainable alternative to animal proteins.”
Consumers also are looking for “clean” muscle supplement products, said Nutrascience. “Currently, one out of every five sports nutrition products contain at least one clean label claim. It includes the anti-doping linked ‘no banned substances’ besides ‘no artificial sweeteners’ and ‘No GMOs.’”
For consumers looking to support local businesses, Body Construct Fitness (bodyconstructfitness.com) at 1 Hartford Square, New Britain offers its own line of supplements as well as a variety of fitness options at its studio. Body Construct is operated by former Mrs. Connecticut and reality television star Lori-Ann Marchese.
Working within the empty Body Construct facility and being able to social distance and workout without a mask, model Jenna Talbot takes to the fitness equipment and poses with some of the supplements offered on-line by Body Construct.
Talbot appears courtesy of John Casablancas Modeling & Acting Agency of Connecticut in Rocky Hill, Conn.
PHOTOS by MIKE CHAIKEN
