The main thing about your fitness program is CONSISTENCY! It doesn’t matter what you do as long as you DO something!
With that being said, how do we stay consistent? You workout with your friend and she starts to tone up and lose weight and you see no results when you are both doing the same thing….why? Well diet and metabolism can play a part in that, but so can your TYPE of workout. Exercise is not cookie cutter, one size does not fit all!
Let’s look at two factors, your Body Type and your Personality Type. Finding the right fit for you can make a big difference in your motivation to stay consistent and to see results. Your Personality Type may not match your Body Type as far as recommended workouts go, but give it a shot and try both or mix them up a bit and see what happens.
Working out for your BODY TYPE:
Pear Shape – Tend to be bigger in the thighs, booty and stomach area, with a smaller upper body. Pears can gain weight easily and usually have slower metabolisms.
Fitness Recommendation: Work your upper body to balance out the legs and hips. Do cardio 3-5 times per week at a moderate/high pace to burn calories.
Apple Shape – Tend to carry more weight around the stomach and may have larger chests and flat booty’s and/or softer arms.
Fitness Recommendation: Interval or circuit training works best for you to work all muscles groups and keep the body guessing and burning fat. Do cardio 5-7 times per week at a moderate pace.
String Beans – Tend to have faster metabolisms and are long and lean. They have a hard time gaining weight or putting on muscle.
Fitness Recommendation: Use heavier weights for lifting but do fewer reps to help gain definition. Cardio is important, but you can keep it to a minimum at 3 times per week at a moderate pace.
Working out for your PERSONALITY TYPE:
The Book Worm – You don’t need much attention and you would prefer to be in the back of the room in a class. You are not competitive but want to be disciplined and show improvement. Join a club where you can hire a trainer, take a Pilates or Yoga class that requires more focus and discipline or sit in a spin class in the back.
Nature Lover – You can’t stand to be inside! Running, cycling, hiking, swimming are all good choices. Try a running club or a social club that meets outside to workout.
Opposites Attract – Busy, stressful job? A Pilates or Yoga class may be just what you need to unwind. Do you sit at a desk all day with little interaction with others? Consider taking a Group Exercise Class to pump you up and socialize with others.
No Pain, No Gain – You are competitive and like to workout with others to help push you further. Try a boutique gym where they usually specialize in pushing you, like Barrys Gym, SoulCycle, CrossFit or Ballet Barre type gyms.
I would consider myself a Pear Shaped Bookworm – So I would be in the back of a class focusing on form and then make sure I did an extra set of arms to balance out my lower half! 🙂
In staying consistent, just keep trying different classes and formats until you find what clicks and works for you and makes you ENJOY your workouts!
