Fitness for Doctors

While patients are committing to better health this new year, quite a few doctors are also joining them in resolving to work off the holiday weight and be more active. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Morning Workouts

People who schedule early morning workouts are more likely to exercise as these allow you to get your activity in before your day takes over. There are even studies showing early morning workouts help you sleep better, which might be another goal to aim for in 2014.

Efficient Workouts

The fitness industry has been buzzing about interval training, and in 2014 this type of routine seems to be ubiquitous. Studies have been piling up concluding that interval training can efficiently boost metabolism in as little as four minutes. If you wake up as little as 15 minutes earlier, then do an eight to ten-minute interval training workout, this alone can be enough to increase strength, boost metabolism, and keep the heart healthy. Look for names like Tabata and HIIT workouts if you’re considering trying this style of workout.

Body Trackers

The number one fitness gift this past holiday season was the FitBit wristband (Force or Flex model). Body trackers have become a great tool for data analysis and motivation. When you realize you are only walking about 2,000 steps a day — a number that should be 10,000 — it can be a great wake-up call to go for a walk at lunch and park your car at the far end of the parking lot. In addition, many body trackers include a social component where you can join a team of people you know, track each other’s activity, and encourage positive behaviors. By the way, body trackers can be a great tool for your patients too.

Not Just the Gym

The fitness industry generally sees a 12% boost in membership during the month of January, but you might find an “un-gym” is more your style. A recent trend is for fitness centers with a specific focus: cycling gyms, bare bones CrossFit boxes, and Barre studios have joined yoga and Pilates studios as places to go that focus on a specific type of fitness. If you respond to a particular form of workout, you have a better chance of finding elite trainers at a specialty fitness facility, resulting in a better workout.

As a physician, have you made any fitness resolutions? Have you encouraged your patients to do the same? What do you think about the rising popularity of body trackers or specific workouts catered by stand-alone businesses? If you’re an M.D. or a D.O., we’ll be discussing this more inside Sermo. Come join us!