Finding Your Perfect Fit: How to Choose the Right Exercise for Your Lifestyle and Goals
- Kaitlyn Marie Redmore
- Oct 26, 2023
- 4 min read
Between weight lifting, cardio, pilates, CrossFit, yoga and all the other endless forms of exercise, it can be challenging to navigate which is best for you and your goals.
I totally understand the confusion many face when they join a gym or consider starting up an exercise routine, many ask “What type of exercise should I be doing?” or “What type of exercise is right for me?”. When there are so many different styles of exercise out there, it can be hard to know what is the best option for you.
Firstly, you want to think about your goals and why you want to exercise in the first place. Your goal may simply be to just get moving. If that is the sole reason then I recommend picking any type of exercise that you enjoy and committing yourself to a regular exercise regime.
However, your goals may be more specific than that so let’s talk a little bit further about specific goals... I like to break fitness goals down into three main categories: aesthetic, performance, and general. I have discussed this further in my last blog post - "How to Determine Your Fitness Goals: A Strategic Guide". Check that one out for more advice surrounding creating fitness-related goals.
Certain types of exercise will help you to reach your goals more effectively. For example, if you have a goal of improving your cardiovascular fitness, you aren’t going to get very far if you focus your training on powerlifting and aiming for your 1RM (1 rep max).
Your current fitness goals are what will help lead you to the best choice of what type of exercise to choose.
If you have goals of building muscle, you want to be prioritising your strength training. Following a program designed specifically for you by a qualified and experienced personal trainer/coach is the best way to do this. They will be able to ensure your program is tailored to you and your specific goals. You may have certain areas/muscles that need to be focused on, so just following a generic program is not going to cut it.
If you have aspirations of competing in powerlifting, your main focus should be working toward improving your 1RM for your squat, bench and deadlift.
These more specific types of goals do require more specialised training to see notable improvements.
Now not to burst your bubble, but also consider if you have any limitations before you commit to a type of exercise. If you have reoccurring injuries, you may need to reconsider what type of exercise is best for you.
For example, as much as you may enjoy running and have aspirations to run a marathon… If you have a reoccurring knee injury, this may be a less-than-ideal goal. Choosing a type of exercise that is lower impact, such as cycling, could be a smarter choice. Not to say that you can’t follow your heart and prove people wrong, but just be mindful and make educated choices where possible. We want to consider our long-term health and look after our body, not run it into the ground (no pun intended!).
If you are struggling to decide what type of exercise you want to do and don’t have a goal in mind just yet… Try different styles of exercise and see what you like!
Try a yoga class, sign up for a cycling club, or get a strength program written up. Choose something to begin with and see if you like it. If not, try something else! I’m sure you will find something you like!
If you are already exercising but feel a little lost if you are doing the right form of exercise for you and your goals… Take some time to really think about why you exercise. Why did you begin to exercise? Has your goals or focus changed? Are you enjoying your current exercise regime? Is there something else you want to try?
You are never locked into a certain type of exercise. You may be a bodybuilder currently but want to try powerlifting, so why not? Give it a go! You may be currently focused on improving your cardio but want to try strength training to improve your muscle mass, great! Give it a try!
Specific goals do not have to be made the moment you first step into the gym, general fitness goals are great and can still keep you accountable.
We all begin our fitness journey for different reasons, so your goals should always be true to you. Goals that are forced are not going to be authentic to you personally and they need to be in order to keep you motivated. Why do you truly want to go to the gym? Build muscle? Lose weight? Be able to squat 100kgs? Think about YOUR reasons.
And you don’t need to feel like you have to pick one goal to work on for the rest of your life and that is it. How boring would that be? Of course, focusing on one main goal at a time is better than spreading yourself too thin. However incorporating short, medium, and long-term goals into your plan is a great way to create stepping stones in your fitness journey.
Our fitness goals will change throughout our lives as we progress and achieve these goals. So the type of exercise you love right now might change one day, and that is okay!
Enjoy and appreciate the blessing of movement! Some don’t have that privilege, so don’t waste yours!
Ultimately, you want to choose a type/style of exercise that you enjoy. That is at the sole core of the question “What type of exercise is right for me?”
