With summer just around the corner, many of us are focusing our energies on whipping our butts into swimsuit-ready shape. Unfortunately, what used to be a simple trip to the gym has now turned into a roundabout of trial and error, thanks to the ever-changing crop of fitness trends that keep bursting onto the scene. From Soul Cycle to Pure Barre to Zumba, the choices for getting fit are endless. Where to begin? While variety is both fun and beneficial, it's important to also be wary of the trendy workouts topping the charts and select an activity that bests suits your needs. Below, licensed physical therapist and board certified athletic trainer Dr. Scott Weissgives us his opinion on whats Hot or maybe Not

HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) An instructor leads a sweaty HIIT-style class at Barry's Bootcamp in New York.

This workout method has enjoyed a huge surge in popularity over the past year or so. Consisting of short, high-energy intervals with a typical work/rest ratio of 2:1, HIIT workouts are designed to get your heart pumping and scorch a massive amount of calories in a small amount of time. According to Dr. Weiss, People are using HIIT for not only aerobic training, but weight training as well. HIIT for muscular training manipulates the time of both the positive and negative contractions on the muscle, elongating the negative portion.

Why its HOT: Touted as one of the top fitness trends of 2014, HIIT is praised for increasing your metabolism and being an accessible workout for all. HIIT workouts are one of the best ways to burn calories and are therefore a great program for weight-loss, explains Dr. Weiss. When trying to lose weight, it is important to focus on the total calories burned in one session, and keeping to a regimen of burning 300-500 calories per session for the majority of the week- which is definitely doable if you stick to a HIIT routine.

But might be NOT: In order to get the best possible outcome from HIIT, you need to make sure that you maintain proper form and keep your work to rest ratios consistent. Failure to do so can mean that certain muscles may be feeling too much strain and, on the flip-side, can also mean that you can find yourself ignoring muscle groups completely. Sculpting these workouts by yourself is one of the upsides of HIIT, but without an instructor you may not be hitting all areas of your body. When doing workouts by yourself, make sure to also keep your program well-rounded, adds Dr. Weiss. HIIT workouts can lack excitement and may even seem boring. You can try to avoid this by including functional weight training, balance and flexibility exercises as well.

Spinning Class SoulCycle is one of the nation's trendiest indoor cycling studios.

Boutique spinning studios, such as SoulCycle and FlyWheel Sports, attract hundreds of thousands of women a year due to the high calorie burn and sweat that is induced in one 45-60 minute class. With high prices and limited spaces for each class, there is also a level of commitment and exclusivity, making the spin studio the place to be.

Why its HOT: With both high energy and high caloric burn, one spin class will make you feel like you can take over the world. Dr. Weiss adds, Spin classes are a great way to get people interested in activities such as real cycling and biking, which are great functional sports that can be done anywhere in the world.

But might be NOT: If you replace all of your workouts with only spinning, you could potentially find yourself reaching a fitness plateau. Keeping your fitness routine the same day after day will only keep you working the same muscles, leading to muscle imbalances and a halt in your desired weight-loss. If cycling is your only form of exercise, you will develop a specific body type with calves and thighs dominating. Tight abdominals, short hip flexors and a hunched posture is not good if you have a history of Lower Back Pain (LBP). This is definitely something to keep in mind if you are thinking about trying a spinning class, Dr. Weiss advises.

Cross Fit CrossFit is a core strength and conditioning program that includes functional movements performed at high intensity that are constantly varied.

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Fitness Trends: Worth the Hype?