Could These TikTok Trends Be the Key to a “New You” in 2025?
If you’re looking for viral dance challenges and funny videos of cats playing the piano, TikTok is everywhere you want to be! But I’ll also say, if you scroll long enough, you’ll likely run into videos of various content creators sharing and promoting some kind of fitness trend. Some of their recommendations… I have to admit, there’s not enough money in the world for me to even think of trying them (the weighted hula hoop just isn’t for me)! However, some of these weight loss and fitness hacks have me thinking these TikTok’ers may be on to something.
What’s the appeal of these viral fitness trends though? Is it the fact that “everybody’s doing it?” Or is it that you simply just want to try something new? Sometimes it’s a little of both, but you won’t know unless you try them. From practical to questionable, check out these weight loss hacks on TikTok that has everybody in a chokehold.
Dry January (Cut Out Alcohol for an Entire Month)
While it was perfectly fine to “pop bottles” on December 31st to ring in the new year, TikTok has everyone “putting a cork in it” all of January. Why? Well, it’s all in an effort to boost weight loss since most people start their weight loss journeys at the beginning of the new year. With that, it’s the perfect time to cut out unnecessary calories that alcohol adds. This particular trend may be easier for some than others, but I certainly agree that cutting the booze can drastically improve your weight loss efforts just by removing those empty calories.
Did you know that for every glass of wine (5 fl oz), you’re consuming 125 calories? Now, take that number and multiply it times the number of glasses of wine you drink. Also, the sweeter the wine, the more calories it has. Interestingly enough, people who have completed the challenge said that when they started back drinking, they no longer drank as much as they used to or found that they didn’t actually need to drink socially.
12-3-30 Treadmill Challenge
This challenge went viral and changed the way many people look at the treadmill. Ideally, you want to set the incline of the treadmill to level 12, the speed at 3 miles per hour, and walk for 30 minutes. If this sounds insane, that’s because it kind of is, especially if you’re just starting on your fitness journey — But it is very doable. Personally, I would set the incline at a lower level starting out, and then work my way up to level 12; it’s just more sustainable. However, everyone has different fitness levels, and if you’re able to hop on a treadmill and walk for 30 minutes at an incline of 12, kudos to you! That’s actually quite impressive!
Get a Mile in Every Day For 30 Days
The beauty in this challenge is that it’s simple and not timed — You can choose between walking or running your mile. The main thing is that you get moving! In addition to weight loss, here are some extra benefits of walking or running a mile every day:
Improves heart health
Strengthens muscles
Boosts bone health
Relieves stress
Enhances sleep
When it comes to exercising, my motto is that it doesn’t have to be overly complicated — and it can actually be fun. Just throw on some sneakers and get outside!
Intermittent Fasting
“You are what you eat” plays a major role in weight loss and overall health as it relates to how our bodies process what we eat. However, when it comes to intermittent fasting, “you are when you eat,” has some valid points too. Intermittent fasting is, essentially, time-restricted eating, meaning you eat at specific times throughout the day, and fast the rest of the time… Simple enough, right? Not exactly.
This challenge requires some serious focus and mental strength. You also want to make sure it works well with your lifestyle, that way you’re not setting yourself up for failure before you can really get started. For instance, I know I would fail at this challenge if I stopped eating for the rest of the day at 3 pm. So, before embarking on this challenge, be realistic with yourself and really think about the best time to incorporate intermittent fasting. This viral trend is relatively new, having only been around for five to eight years now, but it’s been shown to be just as effective as eating in a calorie deficit.
Get Fit With TikTok
It’s pretty safe to say that while TikTok isn’t exactly the top fitness app, it can actually be a great resource for weight loss tips (believe it or not). Not only can you get advice from fitness experts, but you get to see real people on their fitness journeys too. Of course, use your best judgement on which tips you decide to try, but don’t dismiss this hashtag-friendly platform for trending approaches to weight loss
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