We all know that Americans are more obsessed with working out then many other countries, though this is ironic as America is also one of the most obese nations. While some get their exercise in foreign countries by walking down to their local market and back up to their tiny apartments, Americans are always on the hunt for the newest, trendiest workout that can get you looking your best.
In addition to being effective, Americans look for exercises that yield the best results with the least amount of time or effort possible, which creates room for some very bizarre workout trends as you can imagine. We adopted this from a similar Vox post, so scroll through and see what fitness trends your state is obsessed with.
Alabama – Baseball
Photo courtesy of pixabay.com
In a southern state like Alabama, it is no surprise that America’s favorite past time is the same as this state’s favorite exercise. With throwing the ball and batting targeting the arm muscles, and the fast sprint around the bases targeting the legs, baseball is a great exercise if you’re looking for a competitive atmosphere, if you ever make it off the bench. If you don’t, baseball is also a great place to indulge in some delicious eats.
Alaska – Body Beast Workout
Photo courtesy of pixabay.com
Body Beast is a workout dedicated to maximizing muscle gain and fat loss for a powerful, carved figure. The program combines challenging video-based fitness routines with easy-to-follow diet guidelines, nutritional supplements, and an active online support group. If you’ve always dreamed of becoming the hulk, this workout claims to make this into a reality.
Arizona – Dumbbell Leg Workout
GIF by Gabby Phi
Are you tired of doing squats with the same old barbell weights every session? You’re in luck because in order to be successful for this workout all you need is a pair of dumbbells and a backside that won’t quit. These workouts work on a circuit training basis to allow for ample performance and recover in between sets.
Arkansas – PiYo
Photo courtesy of pixabay.com
PiYo prides itself on the fact that this program uses no weights, no jumps, but still yields hardcore results. PiYo combines the core-firming and muscle-sculpting aspects of Pilates with the flexibility and strength advantages of yoga with a heightened speed that gives you a fat-burning, low-impact workout that delivers great results.
California – Calves Exercises
Photo courtesy of pixabay.com
Call exercises work to target the lower back of the legs and create muscle and definition in the calves. Strong calves help support and stabilize the body during lifts, squats, jumping, and running. Also, stronger calves puts you at a lower risk for knee injuries in various sports.
Colorado – Skiing
Photo courtesy of pixabay.com
Skiing is not just a fun thing to do with the family over winter break, it doubles as an amazing workout. This sport tones your stomach muscles, improves your cardiovascular system, works your leg muscles, and helps you lose weight. So think twice before grabbing that hot chocolate and sitting by the fire while everyone else is hitting the slopes.
Connecticut – Medicine Ball Workout
Photo courtesy of pixabay.com
Medicine ball exercises work to quickly and effectively tone the entire body. This simple workout tool mixes cardio and resistance moves to help build muscle and lose fat, all the while sculpting a tighter torso and flatter abs.
Delaware – Shoulder Workouts
Photo by Kelsey Coughlin
The shoulder is the most moveable and unstable joint in the body, which explains why it is so susceptible to injury. To maintain this stability and prevent injury, it is important to properly condition the shoulders to help with flexibility, more coordination, and to handle stress.
Florida – Exotic Workouts
Photo courtesy of pixabay.com
A father’s worst nightmare is to one day find his daughter working a pole, but is there an exception if it’s in the name of fitness? These Exotic Workouts classes work to build confidence and sexiness while still allowing you to get your sweat on, just in an alternative way. Pole dancing classes are taught in high heels and target the obliques, arms, and legs.
Georgia – Bench Press Workout
Photo courtesy of leehayward.com
The bench press is the best exercise for the upper body. It improves your strength, increases muscle size, improves athletic function, and enhances overall general fitness.
Hawaii – TRX Workout Routines
Photo courtesy of trxtraining.com
TRX, short for total-body resistance exercise, turns every typical exercise into a challenge for the core by using gravity and our own bodyweight. All you have to do is anchor the TRX straps to a secure spot and use either your feet or hands to hold onto the straps, creating a killer workout.
Idaho – Insanity Workout
Photo courtesy of reclolife.com
Insanity is a total body workout that requires no gym or equipment. You use your own body weight for resistance and exercise right from home. The program works on a method of “max interval training” that requires you to exercise at a very intense pace for a short period of time, and then rest for long periods in between. The idea is to increase your aerobic fitness level while burning fat.
Illinois – Muffin Top Workout
Photo courtesy of emilyprogramfoundation.org
The muffin top has gone from being one of the most beloved breakfast foods, to the most hated area on the human body. A “muffin top” represents the untoned, fatty part of the stomach that tends to bulge out over your jeans. This workout works to combat the infamous muffin top by targeting the obliques and hips.
Indiana – Weight Lifting Workouts
Photo courtesy of @ymcamqt on Instagram
If you want to lose weight and gain muscle, weight lifting is the workout for you. Strength training is the most effective way to burn fat and build muscle, and prevents your body from injury. Strength training increases bone density, builds a stronger hear, reduces blood pressure, helps control blood sugar, improves cholesterol levels, and improves your balance and coordination. if you’re looking for the biggest bang for your buck, this is it.
Iowa – Lifting Workouts
Photo courtesy of womenshealthmag.com
Some would argue that lifting is better for you than cardio it allows you to push your body to its limit which in turn revs up your metabolism and promotes weight loss. Additionally, lifting takes a lot of energy, so you get a better burn for a longer time; meaning your metabolism will be boosted up to 38 hours after you finish your workout.
Kansas – Pilates
Photo courtesy of alltohealth.com
Pilates works to improve flexibility, build strength, and develop control and endurance in the entire body. With an emphasis on alignment, breathing, a strong core, and coordination, pilates allows for an intense workout without the high heart rate found in cardio.
Kentucky – Soccer
Photo courtesy of buenavistaco.gov
Soccer isn’t only praised for bringing gorgeous men to the limelight, it also doubles as a great workout. Soccer works to improve speed, agility and coordination with an emphasis on fast paced sprints and strong legs.
Louisiana – Oblique Workouts
Photo courtesy of fitnessblender.com
The oblique muscles are those that are located along the sides of you abdominal wall and are often hard to target in most cardio workouts. These exercises work to tighten and tone up your midsection while giving it the definition we try so hard to get.
Maine – P90x
Photo courtesy of paulskemp.com
P90X is a 90-day program with exercises six days per week. it combines a variety of exercises such as strength training, cardio, yoga, plyometrics, and stretching. The program consists of a fitness test, nutrition guide, fitness plan, calendar, and series of DVDs demonstrating a variety of techniques.
Maryland – Bigger Butt Exercises
Photo courtesy of morningafter.gawker.com
If you’re trying desperately to keep up with the Kardashians, bigger butt exercises are a great place to start. Focusing on movements like squats and lunges, these exercises work to both tone and enlarge your backside.
Massachusetts – Jump Rope Workouts
Photo courtesy of coreperformance.com
If you want to get a workout without ever having to feel like you’ve left your childhood playground, jump rope workouts are a great option. Jumping rope improves coordination, burns a ton of calories, improves heart health and breathing efficiency, and allows you to have fun with your workout.
Michigan – Pilates
Photo courtesy of nbbymca.org
Pilates works to improve flexibility, build strength, and develop control and endurance in the entire body. With an emphasis on alignment, breathing, a strong core, and coordination, pilates allows for an intense workout without the high heart rate found in cardio.
Minnesota – Bosu Ball Workouts
Photo courtesy of bbhouston.com
The Bosu ball provides for a total body workout. Not only does it improve balance, but it increases the workout intensity, adds flexibility to the workout and gives your routine more variety and entertainment.
Mississippi – Exercises for Abs
Photo courtesy of exercise.about.com
We all want a toned tummy like that of a Victoria Secret model, but we’ve got to be willing to put in tremendous amounts of effort to achieve those abs. Abdominal exercises support your frame, your balance, your flexibility, and supports you spine. On top of that, it is a great way to burn calories, fire up your metabolism, and decrease your resting heart rate.
Missouri – HIIT Cardio
Photo courtesy of uvolutionfitness.com
High Intensity Interval Training, or HIIT, involves alternating between very intense bouts of cardio exercise and low intensity cardio exercises. This workout regime has been said to be the best way to burn fat and build lean muscle without spending hours at the gym.
Montana – Leg Workouts
Photo courtesy of blogilates.com
Seeing as we are constantly using our legs, it is important train them and engage them properly. Leg workouts boost the metabolism, strengthen the legs and build muscle, as well as increasing growth hormone.
Nebraska – Dumbbell Workouts
Photo courtesy of mensfitness.com
We all know by now that there are many benefits to lifting weights. Dumbbell provide some further advantages as they are joint-friendly (unlike their barbell equivalent), are great for home-trainees who have limited space and equipment and are a great way to gain that definition in your arms.
Nevada – Hamstring Workouts
Photo courtesy of fitnessblender.com
Hamstring workouts provide protection from injuries, back pain relief, improved leg strength, greater flexibility, and decreased risk of sciatica pain (a nerve on the back of your leg).
New Hampshire – Tabata Workouts
Photo courtesy of active.com
A favorite version of the HIIT method is tabata. This is a type of workout that combines 20 seconds of intense bursts of workouts with 10 seconds of rest in four-minute rounds. Tabata is easy to do as it does not require any additional equipment, just yourself.
New Jersey – HIIT Treadmill Workouts
Photo courtesy of cybexintl.com
High Intensity Interval Training, or HIIT, involves alternating between very intense bouts of cardio exercise and low intensity cardio exercises. This workout regime has been said to be the best way to burn fat and build lean muscle without spending hours at the gym.
New Mexico – More Tabata Workouts
Photo courtesy of fitfluential.com
Tabata combines 20 seconds of intense work with 10 seconds of rest to make even a short workout worth it.
New York – Lower Chest Workouts
Photo courtesy of bodybuilding.com
Not only do lower chest workouts sculpt the shoulders and biceps, but these exercises are also a great way to prevent injury.
North Carolina – Burpees
Photo courtesy of watchfit.com
The burpee is a full-body strength training exercise. With every rep, it works the arms, chest, quads, glutes, hamstrings, and abs, so you should definitely be adding these to your workout regime.
North Dakota – Back Exercises
Photo courtesy of womenshealthmag.com
We use our backs so much without ever thinking about it, be it for heavy lifting, posture, or any daily activity. Back exercises work to relieve some of this daily pressure we put on our backs by building our back strength, increasing our flexibility and allowing our back to relax.
Ohio – Spinning
Photo courtesy of expertbeacon.com
Spin class is one hell of a workout. Not only is it fun and motivating with the music blasting and instructor cheering you on, but spinning classes burn calories, improve cardiovascular health, target the legs for a toned and shapely look, and provide for a great abdominal workout.
Oklahoma – Bootcamp
Photo courtesy of livestrong.com
Bootcamp workouts burn fat and build muscle through an equipment-free cardio and strength training circuit. With short but intense cardio intervals, full body strength moves, and an extra dose of ab work, this workout will slim you down and tighten you up without spending hours in the gym.
Oregon – Dead Bug Exercise
Photo courtesy of arthritis.org
The Dead Bug is an exercise designed to strengthen your core. The name derives from how you look when performing the exercise, like a dead bug lying on its back with its legs in the air. Despite its bizarre name, this pose is commonly used in pilates workouts as well and strength and core training workouts.
Pennsylvania – Again, More Lifting
Photo courtesy of bodybuilding.com
Lifting weights has recently become known as one of the best exercises you can do. Not only does it protect your bones, boost your balance and allow you to live longer, but lifting is a fast and efficient way to burn more calories and visibly see your progress.
Rhode Island – Forearm Exercises
Photo courtesy of mensfitness.com
The forearm is underratedly used all the time in our everyday life, so it is important that we work it properly and strengthen it as well.
South Carolina – Exercises for Stomach
Photo courtesy of @HannahBronfman on Instagram
Stomach exercises lead to a strengthened core as well as improved posture, higher calorie burn and more defined midsection, so think twice before skipping your next ab workout.
South Dakota – P90x
Photo courtesy of allworkoutroutines.com
P90X is a 90-day program with exercises six days per week. it combines a variety of exercises such as strength training, cardio, yoga, plyometrics, and stretching. The program consists of a fitness test, nutrition guide, fitness plan, calendar, and series of DVDs demonstrating a variety of techniques.
Tennessee – P90x3
Photo courtesy of shake-cleanse.com
P90X3 is from the creators of P90X, but now offering workout programs that will get you in shape for just 30 minutes a day. It claims to get you into the best shape of you life in 90 days, but without the long workouts that not everyone’s schedules can accommodate.
Texas – Plyometrics Workouts
Photo courtesy of womenshealthmag.com
Ploymetric training workouts are sets of explosive compound movements that are often done with your bodyweight. The goal is to train for maximum force production in the smallest period of time, so reps are kept low and the intensity and effort is high.
Utah – Kate Hudson Workout
Photo courtesy of stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com
The Kate Hudson workout includes four pilate movements that the actress swears by to maintain her fit and toned physique. These exercises should be done in order and three to five times a week. They include the roll up, the double-leg stretch, the rond de jambe, and the hot potato.
Vermont – HIIT Workout
High Intensity Interval Training, or HIIT, involves alternating between very intense bouts of cardio exercise and low-intensity cardio exercises. This workout regime has been said to be the best way to burn fat and build lean muscle without spending hours at the gym.
Virginia – Kettlebell Workout
Photo courtesy of @streetphotograf on Instagram
Kettlebell workouts are an incredible way to raise your heart rate and muscular endurance without wreaking havoc on your body. They often coincide with HIIT or Tabata workouts for an optimal workout experience
Washington – Pectoral Workouts
Photo courtesy of muscleandfitness.com
Pectoral workouts are a great way to target your chest and build more strength and definition in your chest.
West Virginia – Tricep Workouts
Photo courtesy of pixabay.com
Targeting the tricep is a key part of weight training. Tricep workouts help maintain overall fitness, prevent injury and work to give you great results from the weight room.
Wisconsin – Jillian Michaels Workouts
Photo courtesy of shape.com
Jillian Michaels got in start on the biggest loser, but has gone on to be a home-workout goddess. Her videos give you a convenient at home workout that leaves you feeling like you’ve just spent hours at the gym.
Wyoming – Inner Thigh Exercises
Photo courtesy of popsugar.com
Inner thighs are one of those areas that women try to target in a workout. While spot reduction does not work, total body exercises like running and weight lifting can work to also target the inner thighs.