Discovering your fitness preferences and attitudes

Choosing the right fitness activities is a key to a successful fitness program. Answering these questions can help.

• Do you prefer being active by yourself or with others?
• Do you enjoy being outdoors when possible, or do you prefer the security, reliability, and consistency of an indoor fitness setting?
• Do you prefer activities that involve some contact (racquetball, soccer, basketball) or no contact?
• Do you prefer competition with others, with yourself, or no competition at all?
• Do you prefer activities that also involve some mental challenge or strategy, or do you prefer not to have to think or concentrate while being active?
• Does your body function best in the morning, midday, or evening?
• With your current schedule, which part of the day will work best for fitting in physical activity?
• How much money are you willing to spend on gear or other expenses related to an activity?
• Are you interested in taking classes or getting instruction to learn a new activity?
• Do you prefer “everyday” activities such as gardening to more structured activities?
• Are you willing to go to an exercise facility, such as a gym, or do you prefer exercise you do at home?