Don't like to exercise you say?  Maybe you just haven't found the right activity for your personality.  Picking a mode of physical activity that appeals to you can be likened to buying a pair of shoes - you have to keep trying different types and styles until you find the one that fits.  Taking into consideration factors such as your personality and fitness goals can help you to determine which mode of exercise is the best and most enjoyable for you.

In a report released last month from the American College of Sports Medicine's 14th Annual Health & Fitness Summit & Exposition, sport physiologist, Michael Bracko, Ed.D, FACSM is cited as saying "those seeking motivation to start an exercise program should first determine their 'fitness desire.'"  He outlines 5 categories of fitness that you should consider when finding a regimen that works best for you.  They include:

• Recreational Athlete Fitness: If your goal is to attain general fitness through cross-training, this category depicts you.  The recreational athlete tends to be interested in a particular sport (e.g., softball).  This focus provides you with the motivation to be active.
• Health-Related Fitness:  You fall into this category if your goal is to improve your well-being in general.  Walking, Pilates and Yoga are examples of this form of training.
• Functional Fitness:  Examples of this category include gardening and bowling. Functional fitness exercises are for you if your desire is to achieve and maintain independence with advancing age and/or to be able to complete activities of daily living without undue fatigue.
• Physical Fitness:  A traditional exercise program that incorporates aerobic, strength building, and flexibility activities is an example of this category.  Going to a health club to participate in group classes (e.g., Spinning, Zumba, etc.,) or using the facility's weight machines would suit you if you fall under this category.
• Elite Athlete Fitness:  The goal is to succeed in a specialized sport or event, such as a triathlon.  This category involves intense, sport-specific training to improve your performance rather than to enhance your fitness level and/or health.

In which category do you fall?  Not certain?  Keep trying different forms of activity until you find the one that is the most enjoyable and meets your needs.  Keep in mind that a cross-over between categories is possible.  For instance, you can be interested in general fitness, but need the motivation of a little competition to keep you going.  In this scenario, training for a 5K road race might be the right choice for you.

Note:  Before beginning an exercise program or increasing the intensity level of a current routine, a physician's approval should be obtained, especially for older adults and those at risk for or who currently have chronic health conditions.

Resource:

ACSM News Release April 9, 2010, "The Art of Finding Motivation For Lifelong Fitness," Bracko, M.