Going back twenty years, fitness wasn’t really a thing in our culture. Sure, there were people who were members of tennis clubs, and gyms did exist, but they weren’t as common or as popular as they are now.
Many historians view the 1980s as the moment when things started to change. The growth of aerobics went mainstream and the idea that people should exercise for health started to emerge.
By the 2020s, more than a fifth of the UK population had a gym membership, reflecting changing norms. These days, exercising is almost something people expect.
The Drivers of Fitness Culture
Figuring out what’s driving the fitness culture isn’t always straightforward. Like so many changes in our society, getting a handle on the phenomenon is tricky, and academics haven’t really addressed it in detail.
Part of the change likely comes from growing health awareness after COVID-19. People now see the benefits of being healthy and how it can protect them against disease and the odd pandemic that might come their way.
Social media is also playing a role (as it does in everything). TikTok and Instagram influencers are showing the remarkable benefits keeping fit can have on the body and providing people with inspiration they can use to flourish.
Of course, the downside is that a lot of teenagers feel unhappy with their body image. They don’t like comparing themselves to the models online.
Lastly, some commentators think that tech might be playing a role. The rise of apps and fitness trackers in the form of smartwatches are making fitness more shareable.
Do It Fast Mentality
So, what’s driving the “do it fast” mentality in the UK? Part of it just comes from the fact that so many people lead immensely busy lives. Making an income and taking care of a family is something that leaves very few hours left in the day, if any at all. As such, the need for shortcuts is tremendous.
But what are these shortcuts and what are people experimenting with?
Fitness Snacking
Fitness snacking is one trend that is growing. The idea is to insert fitness into spare minutes during the day, whenever a moment becomes available.
This notion comes from the idea that doing one or two minutes here and there for a total of ten minutes is just as effective as doing a large block of exercise, as long as the intensity is sufficiently high. This trend is still quite new, but it is growing in search interest in the UK online as people search for methods that fit around their lifestyle.
HIIT
High-intensity interval training is in the same category. It also has the ability to save people time and energy while increasing their fitness quickly.
The idea behind HIIT is to shock the body into making modifications to cardiorespiratory fitness by exercising at maximum output for a short period. Most HIIT training involves doing several rounds of exercise and then stepping back for some lighter exercise, before going back at it again.
Quick Meals
Another change has been the rise of high protein meal replacement shakes. These are an option for people who don’t have time to cook but still want to give their bodies what they need during the day.
Protein-based meals are now more popular than ever in the UK because of the rise in fascination around this micronutrient. Fitness professionals often recommend it for its body-building properties and ability to stimulate muscle synthesis.
Hard 75-Day Challenges
Another trend related to fast fitness is hard 75-day fitness challenges that run over two 45-minute daily workouts and a strict diet. The idea here is to limit the pain over a certain period to make it more manageable and less like an ordeal. The intense structure produces results quickly while the limited duration encourages compliance. While it might be hard for exercisers during the moment, it can yield long-term benefits.
Freeze-Dried Health Food
The UK is also seeing the rise of freeze-dried health food as a way to make eating healthier easier. Freeze-drying sounds extreme, but it means that manufacturers can preserve food indefinitely without using any preservatives or other chemicals while maintaining the original nutritional properties of the food.
Freeze-drying is costly, but it can be useful for people who simply don’t have time to prepare lunch. All that’s required is to add some warm or hot water, allow the meal to rehydrate, and then eat out of the bag with a spoon a couple of minutes later.
The Concept Of Fast Fitness
The concept of fast fitness isn’t new. In fact, it’s something that’s been around since the 1950s with the advent of hula hooping. Massage belts came along in the 1960s to stimulate the abdominal regions, followed by cycling and indoor sports in the 1990s.
These changes had a profound effect on the national psyche and encouraged more people to get into sports. Despite the rise in weight gain over the past couple of decades, the amount of exercise people are doing is essentially the same as it was in the past, despite the common refrain of sedentary lifestyles.
The Benefits Of Fast Fitness
Fast exercise offers numerous benefits to those with the courage to follow it through. It may actually be an improvement on the old advice to move continuously, since that can feel overwhelming to a lot of people.
One of the benefits is improved mental health. People who go to the gym regularly or are part of a club often cite that it makes them feel better. This fact applies to around three quarters of people who engage in activities like these.
The accessibility of fast fitness is also welcome. Many people feel that they can incorporate it into their day, making it feel more inclusive.
And lastly, there is the community element. A lot of people now view exercise as a social activity and something that they want to be a part of long-term. It’s not just about going through the motions but also meeting with friends.
