January first rolls around, and historically, people have felt pressured to buy a gym membership, start a diet, and burn off all the pecan pie they ate over the past couple of weeks. While the intentions are pure and come from a good place, we know by now that by February, we often feel like failures because we didn’t meet these outlandish expectations we put on ourselves.

Instead of trying to drastically change your fitness routine this upcoming year, we found some new ways to get active and stay nourished—ones you will actually enjoy. Spice it up, and who knows, you might actually have fun, feel empowered, and want to keep going.

Short on time? Sprinting workouts are the perfect way to get a full-body workout in just 15 minutes or less. You can sprint at the track, in the park, on the sidewalk, or on a treadmill. Sprinting is highly accessible and requires minimal equipment to get started. It heavily recruits fast-twitch muscle fibers and places high demand on the muscles, which can stimulate strength and muscle development without traditional weightlifting. This high-intensity training can also help reduce visceral fat and boost metabolism through the afterburn effect. Sprinting is a powerful option because it combines muscle building, fat loss, and cardiovascular benefits all in a single workout.

Sprinting is short but extremely demanding, especially on the nervous system. Even brief sprint sessions can lead to noticeable fluid loss. A lightweight, durable water bottle, like the Takeya Tritan Sport Water Bottle, makes it easy to hydrate quickly between sprint intervals without breaking focus or momentum.

There’s really nowhere you can go without hearing about HYROX. It has become one of the biggest fitness trends in the world, and that momentum isn’t slowing down in 2026. If you love CrossFit, you will likely love HYROX. It combines endurance and functional strength in a competitive but accessible format. Whether you are training for a race or simply looking for a challenging conditioning workout, many gyms now offer HYROX-based classes.

HYROX is unique because it’s a standardized indoor fitness race, meaning every event follows the same format worldwide. Competitors complete eight one-kilometer runs, each followed by a functional workout station such as sled pushes, sled pulls, wall balls, lunges, rowing, or farmer carries. This structure allows you to move at your own pace, but the challenge remains intense regardless. With divisions for different fitness levels, age groups, and doubles or relay teams, HYROX appeals to both competitive athletes and everyday gym-goers.

HYROX events can last over an hour and often involve long waits before and after race time. On race day, keeping drinks cold and post-race food fresh matters. The RTIC Lightweight Backpack Cooler is ideal for storing electrolytes, protein snacks, or recovery meals before and after competition.

Kettlebells are one of the most versatile tools you can use in the gym or at home. Their unique design allows for a wide range of multi-joint, functional movements, making them ideal for building strength, power, and endurance. Unlike dumbbells, kettlebells place the weight outside the hand, challenging grip and wrist stability while requiring greater control throughout each movement.

Because kettlebell exercises often involve offset loads and swinging motions, they engage core, balance, and coordination. Movements like swings, cleans, and snatches require you to stay grounded through your feet, reinforcing proper force transfer from the ground up. Kettlebells develop posterior chain strength, improve cardiovascular conditioning, and enhance mobility, particularly in the hips and shoulders.

Interestingly, the handle on the Yeti Rambler Straw Bottle shares a similar design to a kettlebell handle, making it comfortable and secure to grip, which is perfect for staying hydrated during dynamic workouts or carrying your drink on the go. Just as kettlebells make your strength training more effective, the Rambler ensures your hydration keeps up the pace with your exercise. Its sturdy handle lets you swing, lift, or carry it with ease, turning every sip into a seamless part of your fitness routine.

Animal Style workouts are gaining momentum as a functional fitness trend that focuses on moving the body the way it was designed to move. These workouts use ground-based, bodyweight movements inspired by animal locomotion, such as bear crawls, crab walks, ape jumps, and lizard crawls; building strength, mobility, coordination, and endurance. Because the movements are multi-directional and performed close to the floor, Animal Style training heavily engages the core, shoulders, hips, and stabilizing muscles, helping improve joint health, balance, and overall body control.

What makes Animal Style workouts especially effective is their ability to combine strength, conditioning, and mobility into a single session without equipment. They increase time under tension, challenge cardiovascular fitness, and enhance body awareness while remaining relatively low-impact. For longer sessions or movement-based walks, a structured backpack like the YETI Crossroads Backpack | 27 L can hold water, layers, or added weight without disrupting movement, supporting both training and recovery.

If you want to save time while still training effectively, try lifting a weight for six to eight challenging reps instead of your usual twelve to fifteen. Training in this range allows you to lift heavier weights, providing an equal or even greater stimulus for strength gains over time. Don’t be afraid to lift heavy. Your body is capable, and often the biggest barrier is mental confidence rather than physical ability.

Lifting heavier weights does more than build muscle. It increases bone density, improves joint stability, and strengthens connective tissue, which becomes increasingly important with age. Heavy strength training can also boost metabolism and improve functional strength, making everyday movement easier. Proper form, warm-ups, and gradual progression are key to lifting heavy safely.

To complement your efficient training, consider the RTIC Outback Jug. Its 1-gallon capacity ensures you stay fully hydrated throughout a tough workout or a long lifting session. Just like lifting heavier gives you more “bang for your buck” in strength gains, carrying a jug that holds plenty of water saves you from constant refills, so you can focus on the workout instead of your thirst. Hydration and heavier lifting make a perfect pair for smarter, more effective training.

In a world where protein is constantly being pushed, we cannot forget about fiber. You can absolutely eat forty grams of protein in one meal and still include plenty of fiber-rich foods. Protein is essential for muscle growth, metabolic health, and focus, but fiber plays a major role in fullness and satiety. Fiber adds volume without excess calories, helping support digestion and appetite control.

Fiber comes from fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, and it supports gut health, regular digestion, micronutrient absorption, and a healthy colon. Carbohydrates, not protein, are what help muscles look fuller, as stored glycogen pulls water into muscle cells. A fiber-rich diet also supports stable blood sugar, healthy cholesterol levels, and long-term digestive health.

An easy way to combine fiber and protein is by making hearty stews. Using bone broth, stew meats, root vegetables, leafy greens, herbs, and whole grains in one pot creates a nutrient-dense meal that supports recovery and energy during the colder months. Crockpot recipes are especially time and budget-friendly. Preparing meals ahead of time and storing them in an insulated container, like the Hydro Flask Insulated Food Jar, makes it easier to stay consistent during busy training weeks.

Fiber Rich Slow Cooker Stew

Cioppino (Fisherman's Stew) Recipe

Slow Cooker Caldo De Pollo Recipe

Organ meats are some of the most nutrient-dense foods you can eat. They are rich in B vitamins, iron, zinc, selenium, and vitamin A, all of which support energy production, immune function, and recovery. Popular options include liver, heart, kidney, and tongue. Liver is high in vitamin A and iron, the heart provides CoQ10, and the kidneys offer selenium and B12.

If organ meats feel intimidating, they can be made more approachable by blending liver into ground meat, slow-cooking heart or tongue in stews, or pan-searing thin slices with herbs and onions. Organ meats can also be used in pâtés, meatballs, or chili. Even though these cuts of meat can be small, make sure they are cooked thoroughly. 

As interest in whole-food nutrition grows, organ meats are making a comeback for their performance and recovery benefits. Meal prepping these meats ahead of time for dinner or lunch and storing them in the Rigwa Rex Travel Lunch Box makes fueling simple and sustainable. There is no need to over spend on corporate “slop bowls" just for convenience when you can prepare your own meals that actually leave you feeling nourished. 

Risotto with Chicken Livers Recipe

Anticuchos - Peruvian Grilled Deer Heart Recipe 

Chicken Heart Yakitori Skewers Recipe

Truffled Chicken Liver Mousse Recipe