fouryear study of 822 adults found that bike commuters gain less weight over the years than car commuters besides toning your legs increasing your heart rate and strengthening your core biking can seriously boost your energy one study in psychotherapy and psychosomatics found that biking decreases fatigue by 65 quicklist 6category best and worst health trends of 2013titlebest playground workoutsurltextgirls even grown ones just want to have fun and playground workoutsfrom adult playground fitness parks across california to the jungle gyminspired synrgy360 stations in gymsare designed to help them have just that as adults we just dont play enough play is good for your body and mind these workouts give us an opportunity to let loose and explore new ways of burning calories while having fun dileonardo says plus with bars for climbing ropes for pulling and platforms for jumping playground workouts strengthen your entire body through natural multijoint exercises to improve your fitness both in and out of the gym quicklist 7category best and worst health trends of 2013titlebest exercisespecific footwearurltextshoe fanatics rejoice now stores stock zumba indoor cycling and even crossfit shoesand they do more than make you look like a pro footwear designed for specific activities can help improve performance and provide additional support when executing certain movement patterns dileonardo says for example shoes designed for danceinspired classes generally have more lateral support and less tread so you dont twist your knee midspin if you are starting a new class talk to your instructor about the right footwear for the exercises involved quicklist 8category best and worst health trends of 2013titlebest intermittent fastingurltextthe fast diet the if diet and the 52 diet might sound like gimmicks and they are definitely unintuitive but a 2013 review in the british journal of diabetes and vascular disease suggests that fasting diets not only aid in weight loss but actually may help people with cardiovascular disease by decreasing inflammation reducing blood pressure and improving blood sugar and triglyceride levels the key is following a healthy protocol as some can lead to a bingepurge mentality says dietician alexandra caspero rd owner of weightmanagement and sportsnutrition service deliciousknowledge she advises talking to a nutritionist or healthcare provider to find the one thats right for you quicklist 9category best and worst health trends of 2013titleworst openbar gymsurltextincreasingly more gyms are serving their cooldown with a side of spirits finish a class and you get an allyoucandrink pass alcohol during or following an exercise class is a definite no in my book says dileonardo who emphasizes the need to drink water not alcohol why according to one study in the journal of applied physiology alcohol drains your muscles levels of glycogen their primary source of fuel the effect your muscles dont have the energy they need to repair grow stronger and increase your metabolism basically postexercise sips negate your workout quicklist 10category best and worst health trends of 2013titleworst the whole30 dieturltextas if the paleo diet wasnt strict or unsustainable enough this year people turned