Each type has its own learning style, so understanding your style can help you learn faster, and can help you clarify your interests and motivation factors. Knowledge of your learning style can help you be less frustrated with yourself and your personal trainer. Who said the path to fitness had to be all uphill? See the table below for type specific suggestions.

Are you using personality type and still stuck? If you are certain you haven't been mistyped, consider some of the following reasons that fitness might not be fun for you yet:

• Many people have to manage their stress before they can successfully develop a playful approach to fitness. Although many fitness experts claim exercise reduces stress, starting something new that you don't feel particularly optimistic or competent with can actually add to your stress instead of reduce it. Personally, I have to be in a good place emotionally to exercise, and I've always envied those who can do the reverse -- use fitness to put them in a good place emotionally. Find other fun ways to manage your stress, such as bubble baths or crossword puzzles, and when you're happier and less stressed, fitness will probably become easier for you. Follow the link to our Stress Management section to learn playful ways to manage stress (Ice Cream for the Soul).
  
  
• After years of trying and failing to get where you want to be in term of fitness, you may need to add more extrinsic rewards to your goals and plans. Make a pile of gift certificates to use as daily or weekly rewards, such as self-made coupons for a manicure or pedicure, a massage, or something more tangible like a new candle or scarf. Create a "frequent flyer" program to reward yourself. You earn points just for showing up and doing your best, regardless of whether you reach your performance goal. For instance, find out the cost of a vacation to that enticing resort, and have every Sunday morning walk with your spouse and every visit to the pool or gym count as $1 toward your trip.
  
  
• You may need to make a conscious effort to change some of your thoughts and ideas about what fitness activities are and are not, and reassess how important taking care of your physical health is to you and your family. Check out the topics of "learned optimism" and "cognitive restructuring" under the wellness portion of this web site.
  
  
• In your enthusiasm, you may have made your goals too optimistic for your current fitness level. Shorten distances, increase time frames, change technique, or switch activities until your strength and/or your endurance improves. For instance, if your goal was to swim ten lengths of freestyle, and you could barely finish five, try starting with back stroke or breast stroke instead of freestyle. Gradually do every third then every other lap using freestyle, until you can do the whole ten using freestyle. It's okay to have overestimated your current fitness level. The key is to redefine your goals and make a new plan, rather than quit with a sense of helplessness and frustration. After all, haven't yet doesn't mean can't!

       To learn more, please order the new book.