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| UNCLE VIC'S FIT TIP #24, 2007 — Know Thyself
 Everyone knows that it is easier to stick with an exercise program you enjoy than one you don't. But how many people analyze their own personality to help them determine what the best exercise environment is for them?
Here are some personality types, expressed as animals, and the exercise environments that would most likely appeal to them:
- Personality Type: Dolphin. Classic extrovert: Outgoing. Likes to socialize with large groups of friends on the weekends. Tends to call friends just to chat.
Dolphins enjoy interactive group exercise classes. Dolphins also enjoy outdoor group activities such as boot camp, a running club, a walking club or an adventure club. When dolphins use cardio equipment they are just as likely to talk to people as to listen to an iPod.
- Personality Type: Coyote. Extrovert, but likes the comfort of a small group. Tends to get together with special friends on the weekends. Likes dinner parties. Calls only a select group of friends on a regular basis.
Coyotes enjoy small group activitis such as Pilates or small group personal training. Coyotes enjoy doubles tennis, a walking group made up of close friends or a small group private boxing class. When coyotes use cardio equipment they like to do it with a friend.
- Personality Type: Tiger. Lone Hunter: Confident, introvert. Likes to go out on his or her own on weekends. Adventurous but likes to march to his or her own music.
Tigers enjoy running outside or training on cardio equipment, such as a cross-trainer or treadmill, either listening to an iPod or watching TV. Tigers enjoy self-directed workout programs or one-on-one training with a workout partner or personal trainer. Tigers also enjoy swimming laps.
- Personality Type: House Cat. Quiet introvert. Likes to stay home and read a book or watch a good movie, with a special friend. Enjoys taking a break at a coffee shop all by him or herself. Tends to be reflective.
House cats enjoy Pilates, yoga, Body Flow group exercise classes, walking on a treadmill or walking outside. House cats like to wear an iPod when working out on a piece of cardio or enjoy individual TVs on the equipment so they can watch their own shows. House cats also enjoy one-on-one personal training with an appropriately matched personal trainer, possibly even with a good friend.
Of course, many activities apply to more than one personality type. Biking classes, for instance, can appeal to all personality types because you can either be in your own world on the bike or be interacting with the group.
The important thing is to think of the types of environments you seek out in your leisure time and in which you feel most comfortable, and then choose exercise activities that duplicate those environments. If you do, you will find yourself looking forward to your workouts. Know thyself! (There I go again, cleverly working the title into the body of the fit tip. Well, maybe not so cleverly this time, was it?)
Answer to last week's fitness quiz:
"What is a double-positive exercise?"
An exercise that causes the concentric (shortening) contraction of complimentary muscle groups, such as the biceps and triceps.
Answer to last week's extra credit quiz:
"What is a savant?"
A savant is a person with a learning disability such as autism that is gifted in a specific area such as math, remembering facts and figures or music.
This week's fitness quiz:
"What are probiotics? "
Extra credit quiz:
"What is the origin of holding a wake for the deceased? "
Corny Joke of the Week:
Two silk worms were in a race. What were the results? A tie!
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