The 10 Most Popular Fitness Activities According to Google Trends

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Insanity. Sports watches. While the basic principles and guidelines of fitness remain the same, the game is constantly changing with a steady influx of new regimens and technologies. Word of mouth can be a great way to find new activities, but it can also be unreliable. This includes online forums, which can be filled with more misinformation than a gossip blog. So, how do you know which workouts are the real deal, and which ones are a waste of your time, money, and effort? It all depends on your personal goals and the routines that will help you achieve them, but there's also another way to gauge what's truly hot.

Google Trends helps to categorize the most searched terms for a number of topics. This is a great tool to help athletes to stay up to date on the latest and most popular options. We're not saying you have to jump on any bandwagons, but the proof is in the numbers. As of April 2014, these are The 10 Most Popular Fitness Activities According to Google Trends.

Riley Jones is a freelance writer from Charlottesville, VA and a contributor to Sneaker Report. With an unshakable affinity for basketball and all things pop culture, he can be found on Twitter @rchrstphr.

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TX
Image via TRX Training

No. 10 -  TRX Workout

Focusing on the mantra of training "movements, not muscles," the TRX Workout is based around suspension training. It originated in the Navy SEALs and has been tweaked so that anyone can take advantage of the exercises, which help with strength, balance, flexibility, and core stability simultaneously. The TRX program also features Rip Training, which serves as a rehab, conditioning, and regenerative tool.

Compared to more popular programs like Insanity, TRX doesn't draw nearly as many inquiries. In fact, it hasn't gained a ton of ground since it began trending in early 2010, but it still remains one of the most searched workout activities around.

TRX Workout
Image via Google Trends

Planking
Image via Fit Watch

No. 9 - Plank Exercises

No, not that plank. Commonly used in yoga, the plank helps to condition the core and develop balance. Best of all, minimal equipment is required.

Plank exercises have shown a steady climb since beginning to trend in 2007, although they're still far behind other areas such as back, shoulder, and bicep workouts. It's also worth noting that unlike back and bicep workouts, the majority of searches for plank exercises originate in Canada. Even more, there's a strong interest in Australia and the United Kingdom, something you don't see with many of the other activities.

Plank Exercises
Image via Google Trends

Back
Image via Passion 4 Profession

No. 8 - Back Workouts

You simply can't ignore the the complex muscle structure that is the back. Google users know that it's important to work those lats and lower back in order to attain the shape and strength they're seeking.

Over the last four years, searches for back workouts have doubled, and they're showing little signs of slowing down. If things continue at this rate, back workouts could soon be one of the most popular fitness trends.

Back Workouts
Image via Google Trends

Shoulder
Image via Passion 4 Profession

No. 7 - Shoulders

Coming in at number seven are shoulder workouts. Those front, middle, and rear delts aren't going to train themselves, so you'd better start looking for specific workouts that isolate each muscle.

Like many fitness trends, searches for shoulder workouts tend to drop from around Steptember to December, spike in January (New Year's Resolution, anyone?), and remain popular throughout the summer.

Shoulder Workouts
Image via Google Trends

Kettlebell
Image via She Knows

No. 6 - Kettlebell

Dumbbells are great, but kettlebells allow for an even wider variety of exercises. No matter which body part you're trying to train, there's a workout that will target that specific area. With that considered, there's no wonder that these versatile weights are one of the most popular search terms. Why search for workouts that target a specific body part when you can use a kettlebell and do (almost) everything?

In January 2012, searches hit their peak, putting kettlebell workouts right near the top spot, but since then they've lost some momentum and fluctuated in popularity throughout 2013.

Kettlebell Workouts
Image via Google Trends

7 Minute Workout
Image via New York Times

No. 5 - The 7-Minute Workout

Interval workouts have been gaining steam for awhile now, and the 7-Minute Workout is among the most popular. The only thing is, there's not just a singular 7-Minute Workout, there are a number of variations, including the 7Min App, the Johnson & Johnson Official 7 Minute Workout, and a popular version from the American College of Sports Medicine's Health & Fitness Journal, which was published by the New York Times.

The 7-Minute Workout is also the perfect representation of a fitness trend. As you can see in the graph below, searches gained serious steam in May of 2013, helping to boost it into the top five. Since then, numbers have fallen considerably, but it made enough of an impact in a short stretch that it's still relevant today.

7 Minute Workout
Image via Google Trends

Biceps
Image via Passion 4 Profession

No. 4 - Biceps

Unsurprisingly, searches for bicep workouts hit their peak during the warm summer months, then fall off by nearly 50% by the time winter rolls in before spiking again around New Years. Still, the ol' pythons remain one of the most popular muscles, coming in at number four.

Although the overall search volume doesn't compare to certain activities and programs like Insanity, it's the long-term, unwavering interest that keeps bicep workouts in the top five.

Bicep Workouts
Image via Google Trends

Abs
Image via MD-Health

No. 3 - Abs

Whether it's the fellas trying to carve up that six pack or the ladies trying to perfect their beach bods, ab workouts will always be one of the most popular activities. In fact, when it comes to specific body part workouts, the abdominals take the lead by a long shot. Since 2004, searches for ab workouts have been far ahead of their competition.

Ab Workouts
Image via Google Trends


Insanity
Image via I Want To Get Ripped

No. 1 - Insanity

Taking the top slot is Beachbody's Insanity, the 60-day workout kit developed by Shaun T. Known for its high intensity, this regimen blew up in 2012 and maintained popularity through early 2013, surging in March before a drastic falloff in its recent searches. Cities with top Insanity search volumes include Philadelphia, Houston, and Las Vegas.

Will it be able to maintain its stronghold on the fitness world, or will something else soon take its place? Stick with Sneaker Report to find out.

Insanity Workout
Image via Google Trends

Riley Jones is a freelance writer from Charlottesville, VA and a contributor to Sneaker Report. With an unshakable affinity for basketball and all things pop culture, he can be found on Twitter @rchrstphr.

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