Find a workout to suit you Struggling to find an exercise regime you can stick to? Here's how to find the workout to suit you. So many of us start off the new year with a determination that this will be the year we're going to get fit and work out regularly. There's a chance you'll be one of the many Aussies who sign up for a yearly gym membership, show up for the first few weeks and then slowly slack off, so that soon the only action is the regular direct debiting from your bank account. Well, this year's going to be different, because you're going to find the exercise routine of your dreams. And here's how. Define your goals Before you launch yourself into a new year's workout regime, it's important to decide exactly what it is that you want to achieve from this whole new active you. Do you want to be fit? In which case, what kind of fit? Fit enough to sprint for the bus, or with the endurance to complete a 10-kilometre run? Are you keen to lose weight? In which case, identify whether you want to lose fat or tone your body. If you want to tone yourself up, consider whether you want long, lean muscles or thighs that could serve as a nutcracker. There is a chance that you're wanting to exercise purely for health purposes. Again, break it down and find out what you're after. Is it for mental health - to beat stress or the blues? Or would you like to combat a family history of heart disease or diabetes? Thinking to yourself, "I want to get fit" is a broad and aimless goal that really won't get you anywhere long term. And exercising for good health and wellbeing can be as simple as going for a daily stroll. Lee Campbell, director of personal training services company B.Firm, says that we need to rethink the whole concept of fitness and not consider it our primary goal. "The word 'fit' is so unachievable - if you're healthy, that's all that matters," Campbell says. The variables behind the word 'fit' are like those around the word 'diet'. If you're healthy and you can maintain your health, then that's all that matters. Campbell says that when it comes to choosing a fitness program that you'll stick to, you need to work with your personality. Let's assume that most people have chosen a job they like to do - then we go from there. If you're an indoors person with a stressful job, you could try yoga or Pilates to balance yourself out. However, sometimes, rather than opposites attracting, working with your issues can be the best option. If you're a bit frantic, base your workout around high-energy or high-stimulus training - and mix it up with cross-training and boxing. Haven't exercised for a while? Take it slow rather than flinging yourself into a full-on routine that'll have you hobbling for days before taking refuge on the couch. Beginners should ease themselves into exercise with moderate walks and introductory classes. But primarily, think about what will really make you happy. "If you work mainly indoors, but love the outdoors, go bike riding or rock climbing," Campbell says. Are you the kind of person who works frantically and achieves a lot in short bursts? A spin or pump class could work for you. If you're a planner, you might work best with a goal in mind, so training for a triathlon could be the motivation you need. Know what will work for you, and also what won't. If you're not a morning person, setting the alarm for 5.30am in order to throw yourself into Boot Camp is not going to turn you into one. Acknowledge this, don't try to change it, and prepare to fit your exercise into your lunch break or ride your bike home from work. Maybe a lack of motivation is your main issue? Sign up for a team sport and training, because letting the team down is far harder than letting yourself down. If you're just super-busy there are two things you can do. First, write your workout times in a diary and stick to them. Don't push them to one side if something else comes along - think of it as an immovable commitment to yourself. Secondly, break your exercise into small, manageable chunks. Everyone can find 10 minutes to exercise - just find that amount of time three times a day, a couple of times a week, and you're set. What motivates you? Are you a carrot or a stick person? Do you respond well to tough love or rewards? That's what you need to work out before choosing what you'll enjoy doing. If you won't move without someone spurring you on, then a personal trainer or fitness class could be what you need. If you're more goal-oriented, you'll need something to reward yourself - a progressive type of exercise that allows you to see tangible results. Try tracking your fitness on a graph, or start working towards a goal, such as being able to walk to the top of Mt Kosciuszko by next spring. Step back in time You could be taking a far too grown-up approach to exercise. Often, there's something that you loved as a child that can be the key to enjoying exercise. Sit down, cast your mind back and think about what you used to do that made your heart leap with glee. Was it rollerskating? Flying down a hill on a bike with the wind rushing through your hair? Dancing all night? Or the thrill of rushing from base to base in a softball game? Chances are, if you loved it then, it'll still rock your socks now. So go online and find the nearest alternative. Go to a roller disco and roll your heart out. Buy a bike and start pedalling. Book into dance classes or find an adult softball game and batter up. Outside the square Sometimes we don't enjoy exercise because we haven't tried hard enough to find what we love. Make 2009 your year to give new things a go. See what's on offer in your town and try everything you can find. Seriously, what's the absolute worst that can happen? You'll hate it? Well, you might also love it. Step outside your comfort zone, suggests Campbell. You've got to try as many variables as possible to lead to a healthy lifestyle. Broaden your horizons and just get out there. He says you also need to step beyond the normal boundaries of what you would consider exercise - anything that gets you active improves your health and wellbeing. "Indirect exercise is the key to good health," Campbell adds. We've got so many things on our doorstep in Australia; just going for a walk and a swim can be part of the small steps that make the big solution. It's the little things that add up. So there you go. The first thing to do is to sit down and have a think about what you want to achieve, and how you're going to do it. Then, just get out there and go for it. Become the happy, healthy you of your dreams. Now. Go on, what are you waiting for?