SNEWS best fitness reads from around the web

What did the SNEWS team read this week that other fitness insiders might find interesting? Well, read on to find out.

• Bad advice. Everybody’s gotten some in their lifetime, but in the fitness industry, bad advice is rampant. This Everyday Health blog post debunks the most common fitness myths and bad advice including long treadmill workouts are best (false, workouts that include various exercises are best) and workouts in hot temperatures burn more calories than those in cooler temperatures (false, you burn the same amount of calories in either one). Check out this Red Bluff Daily News story on how to find the best fitness advice online.

• This was not a good week for news on the youth health front. According to this USA Today story, a national survey shows that Americans are most concerned with the lack of physical activity children are getting. Plus, U.S. News said overweight teenagers, especially girls and Latino children, are more likely to suffer from gallstones. Maybe children’s fitness equipment is something to look to carry as it seems this problem is becoming a hot topic in need of some resolution. It’s nice to see some communities establishing places for kids to get their fitness in such as one called My Gym.

• Nothing is more frightening to college women than gaining that “freshman 15” (or in one of our cases, that freshman 20), so maybe that fear could be a good thing for your sales of accessories that can easily fit into, and be used in, a dorm room. Sometimes making it to the student wellness center or for a run on the trails isn’t possible, so check out this U.S. News story about what is recommended they buy – hopefully from you.

• Oh my. First pole dancing for Jesus and now Holy Yoga? Religion is making its way into fitness regimens! But hey, whatever floats peoples’ boats and gets them active. We are quite sure no matter the reason people do yoga, whether it’s to increase their spirituality or increase their flexibility, they will still need yoga supplies. That’s where you come in. 

• We’re all going to die some day, but turns out it’s probably not going to happen while or after your workouts, according to this study recapped in Business Week. Turns out people who had been exercising within a few hours of having cardiac arrest were more likely to survive than those who hadn’t. And the benefits just keep rolling in!

• Everybody feels differently about this: Some people say they are hungry after a workout and others say they’re not. According to a new study, people who exercised for an hour found food less appealing than those who sat for an hour, especially high-calorie food. We know we find this to be true as we tend to eat more healthy when we have a good workout, versus a lazy day when we tend to crave a lot of ice cream. Looks like we have to limit our lazy days to keep from getting too hungry for junk.

• After running the TransRockies Run August 14-20, we had a lot of different types of aches and pains. Good thing we had both ice packs and heating pads because according to this Dispatch article, whether you put ice or heat on a pain depends on what type of pain it is. Ice, the article said, is for reducing swelling while heat is for relaxing stiff muscles.

• Everybody is looking for a miracle drug, a fountain of youth, and this Seattle Times article has found it: Exercise. This may sound like a no-brainer to those of us in the fitness industry, but turns out exercise is a miracle drug that can prevent numerous ailments and diseases, help boost a person’s mood and even help kick bad habits like smoking. So use this information to help deal this miracle drug!

• So since exercise is such a miracle drug, it’s no surprise that the secret to having a healthy and active 80s is to remain healthy and active during your late 30s through 50s, according to this ABC News story. Aging is a sticky subject for some people who are afraid of it, so sell the fountain of youth aspect to them. Shoot, show them this other article about one 89-year-old’s secret to longevity: Doughnuts, coffee and exercise. We’re about to head out for a run to Krispy Kreme.

• Given the ever-growing concern for children’s lack of physical activity and lack of connection to the outdoors, looks like one spot in Northern Ireland has the solution to both problems: An outdoor gym that allows people to do their gym workouts in an alternative environment. Hmmmm. Could this be another route of business for you fitness retailers here in the States? Has anybody outfitted any outdoor gyms? Let us know by posting a comment.

Have you read anything interesting you’d like to share with us? Maybe we’ll include it next week’s column with a little shout out to you. Send a link to the story with the subject line “SNEWS Reads” to be considered.

–Compiled by Ana Trujillo