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Have you ever heard the expression, "There's nothing new in the world"? A lot of times this applies to the arts or some form of creative expression and it means that no matter what the idea, it's already been done before. The idea for artists, regardless of what type of medium they work in, is to take those old overdone ideas and tweak them by adding some sort of creative twist or personal signature. What you're left with is an age-old idea that's now brand new and all your own. On the surface, it may appear to be the same-old, same-old but when you get right down to it, it's actually something new and exciting. Try to think about fitness in the same frame of mind. I mean really, there are only so many ways that you can build strength in your muscles or increase your heart rate for a period of time. But tweaking some old favorites, whether they are strength training or cardio, can breathe new life into the classic but possibly tired old routines. Have you heard of Cy Yo? How about a BOSU ball? Exergaming? Fitbit? Boomer specific exercises? TRX suspension training? KettleBell? Well, all of these are fresh, new fitness ideas! Excited, aren't you? What do you mean, not yet? All right, keeping reading! Here's the lowdown on some of these unidentified foreign objects you might hear thinner people talking about: CyYo: A combination cycling/yoga class involving stretching and traditional yoga postures which are combined with an intense cardio spinning or biking workout. No, you won't have to accomplish the Warrior pose while balanced on the seat of your bike, but the program will include both mind/body as well as a good cardio experience. BOSU ball: A new twist on the good ol' stability ball. The BOSU ball is a flat-bottomed balance trainer which reportedly helps strengthen core muscles through balance while enhancing traditional exercises as it forces you to "dig" deeper. Exergaming: You know, Wii Fit and other such take-off devices that combine computer/video technology with fitness. This type of cyber-exercise is geared toward those of you in Generation Y and Z who function better in all aspects of life with some sort of screen. So basically you combine TV and exercise. How great is that? Boomer Specific: If you are a boomer, you know it. This type of workout was created for the Baby Boomer generation with exercises and work-out regimens that target longevity and flexibility aiming to prolong quality of life and independence. TRX: A suspension device that uses your own body weight to assist muscle building and core strength. A sort of exercise traction, if you will. Fitbit: A tracking tool that syncs to your computer and tracks daily exercise, calories consumed/burned and even sleep trends. Yes, you wear it while you work, play and even sleep. As it reads the accumulated data, including the tidbits of information you input, it will give you a pass/fail on your day as far as fitness is concerned. KettleBell: The same hand-held weight but with a new shape and a swingier type of lifting. Very graceful… not very easy! So there! That's just the beginning, and you thought there was nothing new in fitness. Now, I'm neither endorsing nor embracing any of these products but just trying to let you know that there is a world of ideas and fun fitness trends out there just waiting for you to discover them. (As always, check with your doctor before trying something new and strenuous.) Challenge a different set of muscles and surprisingly, you may start dropping pounds again or building strength where you've never had it before. Even if your daily exercise routine involves just a simple walk around the block, try turning around and walking in the other direction or maybe a new, hillier route. One small change could make all the difference toward getting you excited about tying on those trainers and moving around again. Now I know that economically, the current trend also means trying to refrain from the more luxurious indulgences which often include gyms or some type of choreographed fitness. Check around though, you might be surprised at the inexpensive classes you could try or perhaps even an online approach. Heck, even if you do purchase a new piece of equipment, remember you don't necessarily have to get the outfit and headgear to go along with it. In fact, most of these ideas you can try right in your own living room wearing your pajamas. Yes, you do have to get out of bed though!