What Exercise Will You Be Doing?

Weight management and health is so much more than diet alone. Unless you have an active occupation then - in all honesty - you need to give your exercise routine some thought.

Gyms the world over fill up over January as people attempt to get some exercise into their life.

The word "gym" is enough to make many of us groan and reach for another packet of "cheetos" - but it doesn't have to be this way.

Right now is a good time to sit down and write (yes actually write) down your exercise goals for the year. These goals will be incredibly varied - and the good news is that there is an enormous number of ways you can move your body.

• Walking - fast, slow, long, short.
• Jogging - this and many other exercises can be done for endurance (long moderate-intensity sessions) or in short intense bursts (think high-intensity interval training).
• Swimming.
• Cycling.
• Videos/DVD - Choose from the thousands of video-based workouts.
• Pilates / Yoga - Join a class.
• Conventional weights - Here I mean what most people do at the gym - a variation of routines using free weights or machine weights - typically done in sets (of around 2-4) and repetitions (typically around 6-12).
• Team sports.
• Strength building - typically free weights and core movements (squat, deadlift, bench press) done in low repetitions, long rest periods, and heavy weights.
• Body Weight - Exercises done with or without equipment - but typically functional compound movements. Dips, Chins, Push-ups, Squats - also plyometric movements such as burpees, tuck-jumps, etc.
• Video Games with movement - Checkout the Nintendo Wii. Also fitness-based games (such as Dance Dance Revolution) continue to grow in popularity.
• Dance - At home, in a studio, classes, serious, social, or messing around at home with the kids.
• Gym classes - A huge variety of training methods offered in class format.
• Mix-it-up - Have to mention CrossFit here - an incredible mix of movement including olympic weight lifting, gymnastic movements, endurance, strength, and incredible intensity. Not for the faint of heart.
• Whole body vibration - At first I was skeptical - but it seems this is becoming more popular. Credible results and testimony are difficult to separate from market-speak. Watch this space.
• Home Gym - Will you get some equipment for home? Some free weights? A machine? Will it become an expensive clothes rack? Think carefully before purchasing.
• Portable workouts - With all the gadget technology around - portable workouts have become very popular (both audio and video). One product I like is Cardio Coach.

Not everyone needs to buy a gym membership and start doing bicep curls, lat pull-downs, and 45 minutes on the treadmill. Be creative, do some research, and get enthusiastic.

The health benefits (both mental and physical) are simply too many to ignore. It's time to ditch the negative connotations of the word "exercise" and find yourself new challenges and goals to strive for.

Note: I'm not trying to define different workout styles (that's well beyond me) -- but simply provide some ideas... Who knows - maybe something there will tickle your fancy.