Transforming Fitness: Yesterday and Today

By Joseph Palumbo

Fitness transformations take work, time and dedication. Yet detoxes, cleanses, weight-loss pills and exercise gadgets still promise effortless results. Often, a doctor or celebrity endorsement helps sell that promise.

My purpose is not to discourage you. Instead, I hope to enlighten and encourage you. It may also save you some disappointment when you don’t end up looking like the fitness model on that supplement bottle.

There is a more encouraging transformation to look for: finding ways to make movement part of daily life. A class, a walk with friends or a sport you enjoy can give exercise a place beyond the gym.

What does a fitness lifestyle look like?

When this article first appeared in 2019, fitness was becoming more visible outside the weight room. There were group classes, wearable devices and clothes worn from a workout into the rest of the day. Those changes gave us more ways to take part. Each of us still had to find activities we wanted to keep doing.

Wellness is more than buying the latest equipment or joining a trend. Transformations take time, and a routine needs room in your life. Think about where movement already fits, whether that is a walk, a class or a regular training session, and build from there.

The “Yesterday” look of fitness from the Jane Fonda era.

Find movement that fits your day

Group fitness and community walking offer a chance to move with other people. A wearable device can make tracking activity convenient. You might enjoy the company, the activity itself or the chance to see what you have done.

Convenience matters, too. Consider the trip to a class as well as the class time. A nearby walk may fit a busy day more easily than a workout that requires a long journey. Making a choice that suits your schedule gives the activity a practical place in your week.

Transformation of exercise into daily life

How can you keep exercise interesting?

Exercise can seem boring if you focus only on muscles or calories. A performance goal gives the work another purpose. In a sports-conditioning class, you might practise a movement or work on a skill.

Kickboxing brings combinations, footwork and coordination into a session. Hiking changes the setting and terrain. A walk on a treadmill can still suit another day. Variety gives you a choice. Pick the experience you enjoy, instead of chasing whatever is being called the best workout of the year.

Choose an activity you know how to do at a level you can manage. You can enjoy a new challenge without copying the pace or workload of the most experienced person in the room.

Does technology fit your routine?

Virtual-reality workouts were one of the possibilities drawing attention then. A game or simulated setting could give movement another focus.

Technology is one option among many. If you enjoy a game-based workout or tracking a walk, it may make the experience more engaging for you. If you prefer a class, a familiar route or a session without a screen, those choices have a place as well. Pick the experience you want to return to.

Everyday physical activity beyond the gym

The crewneck sweatshirt, shorts and cotton tee are a familiar image of earlier gym clothing. Athletic clothes later became part of everyday wardrobes, blurring the line between workout wear and streetwear. Comfortable clothing can help you move between daily tasks and exercise. You do not need a particular look to have an active day.

Physical activity also belongs outside the gym. The 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans encourage adults to move more and sit less. Some activity is better than none. Walking and other chances to move can fit into the day alongside planned exercise.

Exercise no longer has to be a curse word. We are transforming the way we think about exercise and fitness. The goal is an active lifestyle that feels uplifting and enjoyable, with activities that fit into real life.

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Joseph Palumbo

IFBB Professional Bodybuilder
Director of Physical Performance Infinite Labs Orlando FL
Certified Trainer
Advance Sports Nutrition Specialist  (ASNS)
Certified Navy Seal Fitness Instructor
Freelance writer: Workouts and Training Techniques, Strength Training and Conditioning, General Fitness, Weight Loss and Nutritional Needs