Editor’s note: This article was originally posted in The Local Lifestyle.

It’s toward the end of summer, which means one thing to us: it’s back-to-school season! If you’re like me, you’ve spent this season lightly working out, but you also realize that those extra s’mores were needed a bit less than you might have thought at the time.

Back-to-school season may literally mean going back to school for you or your little ones. But in adulthood, it can still mean that it’s time to get back to focusing on bettering ourselves each and every day.

In the theme of learning, here are four new fitness trends that we’ve found that will up your fitness game and get you back to feeling like the healthiest version of yourself in no time! (Yes, and they even might have you looking forward to your daily workout!)

“Smart” Sports Bras

Let’s be honest… we don’t wear sports bras because we think they look pretty. We wear them only out of necessity. And comfort. They’re typically pretty comfortable, too.

But now, there are a few lines of sports bras that are coming up with another reason to wear them — to become more knowledgeable about our fitness levels and overall health.

There are now sports bras that can wirelessly track your heart rate, send all of the information to your smart phone, and they can even learn your typical behaviors to give tips for getting more out of your workout!

Now that’s the kind of bra than I’d like to have as my sidekick and workout accountability partner.

Lighter Weights (Just Lift With More Reps!)

A study was just released that tested two groups of men (let’s hope they redo the study for women, too) but its findings will be of interest to both sexes!

One group lifted lighter weights and completed up to 25 reps (or until they were tired) and the other group lifted close to the maximum weight they could lift for as many as 10 reps (or until they were tired).

The study found absolutely no significant difference between the two groups at the end of the 12-week study. Both groups had gained muscle strength and size, no matter which weight they lifted!

So when you’re lifting a 3-5 pound weight in barre class, know that you’re still building muscle. Some people love lifting heavy weights, and that’s great. But know that no matter what weight you lift, you’re always building more muscle than any of us sitting on the couch.

For the full article, originally posted in The Local Lifestyle, click here.

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