Living without exercise is like smoking a pack of cigarettes a day

I wrote in a previous article that 80% of African American women are overweight or obese. I also mentioned the main reason why the number is so high is because of the lack of exercise.

Living without exercise is like smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.

There are many ways to get in shape. Here are eight that will help you take your body to the next level:

1. Walking - walking just three times a week for 30 minutes can significantly strengthen your heart.

2. Boxing - An excellent way to get in shape; you will burn fat and get cut up. A boxing workout is guaranteed to whip you into shape while learning the “Art of Boxing.”

3. Boot Camp – A fast-paced military-style outdoor workout that combines calisthenics, such as push-ups, jumping jacks, sit-ups, sprints and football-style drills. Alternating quickly between movements helps you to get in shape faster.

4. Kettlebell Training – A Kettlebell is a cast iron weight lifting equipment with a handle. This trend is a combination of strength and endurance training, and will challenge every muscle in your body.

5. 5 K Training - Helps you build your endurance and conditioning so you can run continually for 3.1 miles.

6. Zumba - is becoming a very popular fitness trend. This dance-fitness program with more than 10 million people of all shapes, sizes and ages taking weekly Zumba classes in over 90,000 locations across more than 110 countries. Zumba is so much fun that you forget that you are exercising.

7. Weight Training – Enhances overall appearance and body composition, which can directly influence your self-esteem and level of confidence.

8. Bodyweight Training - Bodyweight calisthenics can be done anywhere, indoors or out, anytime, day or night. You can do bodyweight exercises with no equipment. Nothing to buy; you can start right now.

These fitness trends are a great way to get fit and develop a sense of achievement. These trends are also good for developing quick thinking, reaction skills, and are also lots of fun. Another benefit of these trends is it is a great way to make friends.

A New Year; A New You!

Hopefully by now before the New Year you had some time for reflection – some time look back on the year that just passed and anticipate the year ahead. And of course, make resolutions.

One of the most popular, and also most broken, New Year's resolutions involves getting in shape or losing weight.

No matter what your fitness goals are, there are many that will help you take your body to the next level. Here are my top nine fitness trends that will help you refine your waistline:

Walking - walking just three times a week for 30 minutes can significantly strengthen your heart.

Boxing - An excellent way to get in shape; you will burn fat and tone your muscle at the same time. A boxing workout is guaranteed to whip you into shape while learning the “Art of Boxing.”

Boot Camp – A fast-paced military-style outdoor workout that combines calisthenics, such as push-ups, jumping jacks, sit-ups, sprints and football-style drills. Alternating quickly between movements helps you to get in shape faster.

Kettlebell Training – A Kettlebell is a cast iron weight lifting equipment with a handle. This trend is becoming very popular among athletes and entertainers. Kettlebell training offers a combination of strength and endurance training, and will challenge every muscle in your body.

5 K Training – Recent studies are showing that running a 26.1 mile marathon race takes a great toll on your body. Running in a 5K race is less taxing on the body and will allow you to recover a lot quicker. 5K training will also help you build your endurance and conditioning so you can run continually for 3.1 miles or 30 minutes.

Recreational Sports - Having fun, meeting new people and friendly competition are just a few benefits of sports and recreation activities. Plus if you’re church offers a “rec” program, it’s a great opportunity to enhance the church experience and create fond memories.

Weight Training – Enhances overall appearance and body composition, which can directly influence your self-esteem and level of confidence. In other words, weight training will help you look and feel younger.

Bodyweight Training – Remember the “old school” style P.E. classes? Bodyweight calisthenics such as squat thrust, jack knives and knee highs can be done anywhere, indoors or out, anytime, day or night. You can do bodyweight exercises with no equipment. Nothing to buy; you can start right now.

Stair Climbing – Stair climbing competition are becoming very popular, competitors run up the stairs of some of the tallest buildings and towers in major cities across the country. Stair climbing is a total body workout and burns about twice as many calories than any other sport or activity.

Boot Camp Workouts Predicted to be the Number 1 Fitness Trend in '09

Let's face it we are living is some tough economic times. Corporate layoffs, foreclosures, high gas prices and bail out packages are the main topic in the news.

But despite the economy we still must maintain our health. According to the American Council on Exercise, boot camp workouts will remain extremely popular in 2009 because they provide a total-body workout that's varied, fun and challenging. Up to 600 calories can be burned during a boot camp session, which is obviously going to facilitate weight loss. But in addition to a great cardiovascular workout, muscles are strengthened through high- and low-intensity exercises such as pushups, squats and lunges. You don't typically experience significant muscle fitness benefits in other aerobic exercises.