Fitbit and HIGHX - the New Exercise Motivators in Town

Forget exercising for weight loss reasons, research has shown that they aren’t as closely linked as one would hope. However as a recent article in the New York Times noted “exercise has a big upside for health beyond potential weight loss. Many studies and reviews detail how physical activity can improve outcomes in musculoskeletal disorders, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, pulmonary diseases, neurological diseases and depression. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges declared it a ‘miracle cure’”

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/16/upshot/to-lose-weight-eating-less-is-far-more-important-than-exercising-more.html

These are some of the reasons that wearable exercise tracking devices such as the Fitbit are proving to be so popular. Last week, shares of Fitbit Inc. (FIT) soared more than 50% on its stock market debut. But whether you wear a Fitbit, a Jawbone or a Nike Fuelband; the reality is you need to increase the amount of walking you do or plan a workout either at a gym or at home.The problem with walking is that although it is better than sitting around it doesn’t provide a very intensive workout. Fortunately exercise programs today are like ice creams, there are so many flavors that you are sure to find a flavor you will love.

Standalone gym facilities such as PowerHouse Gym in Redwood City and national chains like Crunch, Curves, Golds Gym and 24Hour Fitness understand that different people like different flavors so they offer different exercise programs including Pilates, Spin and Zumba. 24Hour Fitness recently started partnering with different celebrities to roll out some new flavors. It’s most recent partnership is with former national volleyball star, Gabrielle Reece.

When Gabrielle’s local gym went out of business, Gabrielle got creative and ended up developing the HIGHX exercise routine to cater to her busy life.The HIGHX fitness program is a workout in which groups of people do intervals of different exercises for a total of about forty five minutes for 30 seconds at a time.

At a recent demo session run by Gabrielle Reese at the recently opened Redwood City 24Hour Fitness facility, the room was set up with twelve stations of two exercises per station. Gabrielle split over fifty attendees into teams of four that went around doing lunges, squats, side squats, balance stands and more with options in a couple of the stations to add various weights.

Once the music started blaring, and Gabrielle started whistling the count changes: “thirty seconds”, “one minute”, “one to go”, ”last time you do this exercise”, “lower your back”, and other little motivators it was hard to quit. Although the constant changes were probably a bit confusing, after the first couple of stations attendees got into the rhythm. The group dynamic appeared to also help keep participants motivated. The other flexibility of the program is that attendees can make the work-out more or less intensive depending on their own level of fitness. Gabrielle recommended that for maximum benefit attendees plan on three sessions a week either MWF or TThS.

To try a Free session check out your local 24Hour Fitness facility. www.24hourfitness.com Or if you want to try a session with Gabrielle Reece herself:

HIGHX Master Class Schedule (All led by Gabrielle Reece), All Master Classes Begin at 10:30 a.m.:

Saturday, June 27, 2015: 24 Hour Fitness Pearland Super Sport, 10011 Broadway Street, Pearland (Houston area), TX 77584

Saturday, July 11: 24 Hour Fitness Orange Active, 3521 East Chapman Ave., Orange, CA 92869

Sunday, July 12: 24 Fitness Balboa Super Sport, 7715 Balboa Ave., San Diego, CA 92111

Saturday, August 15: 24 Hour Fitness Soho Ultra Sport, 136 Crosby Street, New York, New York 10012

Imagine adding these routines to your set of completed exercises on your wearable fitness tracking device. Those numbers sure are going to jump! And even if you aren’t into wearing a Fitbit, your body will notice.

So many flavors of health, so little time…