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Are you the type of person who doesn’t feel the burn until you pass the five-mile mark, or are you more the type who gets fit by pumping iron? Perhaps you’re like me, and you consider carrying a heavy load up the stairs quickly to be a full-body workout that combines the best of both worlds. Hey, don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried carrying four loads of laundry up the stairs at once.

The difference between strength training and cardio workouts is like the difference between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lance Armstrong–simply said, comparing the two is absolutely pointless. And while both may be different, they each have their strengths. You’ll find the same thing with these workouts, and both would help you get in shape.

All right, but you still want to know–am I benching or stretching? Pumping or running?

A Little from Column A, A Little from Column B

OK. You’re at the point where you want to work out, but you can’t figure out if it’d be better to go to the gym and lift some weights or go running every other day and sign up for a yoga class. This is a good place to be–you’re ready to get fit, and you’re willing to do whatever it takes to get you there.

My recommendation? Try out both regimens for two weeks, and see how your body responds. After all, the vast majority of the population will never get a body that looks anything like what you see on TV or in the magazines. But what you can do is achieve a personal satisfaction with your fitness level, and truth be told, that’s really what you’re looking for–personal satisfaction with yourself physically.

Commit Yourself

So how long should you actually keep up these regimens? Try to stay committed to a particular style of workout for a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of four before switching or making a final assessment. Your body will need time to adjust and get used to a regular schedule. You’ll begin to see results after two weeks and noticeable differences after a full month of working out. At that point, when you’re done with both, compare the two.

And while you check yourself on the outside, make sure to check out how you feel on the inside, too. Are you enjoying your workouts? Do you feel a sense of accomplishment each time you’re done? If so, you’ve found your niche. If it’s a struggle for you to get up and get physical, though, then you need to stop. If you’re not pleased with your workout, you won’t be trying as hard, which will ultimately lead to a sense of dissatisfaction in yourself.

Visualize

What does the body you want look like in your head?

It can’t be some celebrity’s body, either. No, the image in your head has to be yours–what do you want to achieve physically? If you want to lose weight, you might lean toward doing a more cardio-focused exercise to help shed some extra pounds. Or maybe your problem is that you eat and eat and eat and still find yourself looking for something to hold onto every time a strong breeze comes along. If that’s the case, you may want to begin building muscle to pack on some weight.

To achieve a level of fitness where you’re both comfortable and happy, you have to take the time to do the research and listen to your body. See how it responds to reps you put it through, and then get into a routine of doing the same thing again and again. Be kind to your body, and it will respond.

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