Quiz

The weather is frightful, but you've got a bad case of cabin fever. You:

Question 1 of 10

The weather is frightful, but you've got a bad case of cabin fever. You:

• Slip on waterproof boots and go for a walk anyway
• Hop in the car and drive to the gym
• Take your mind off it by taking a long bath or tidying up a closet

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When you were a kid, you were happiest when you could

Question 2 of 10

When you were a kid, you were happiest when you could

• Draw or do crafts
• Climb trees and explore the great outdoors
• Play hockey, tennis, soccer or other sports

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Attending a four-day yoga retreat sounds like

Question 3 of 10

Attending a four-day yoga retreat sounds like

• Fun
• Torture
• Something you would do if your friends came along

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What are your favourite rhythms to clean or cook to?

Question 4 of 10

What are your favourite rhythms to clean or cook to?

• Upbeat: Pop, Motown, rock
• Mellow: Jazz, New Age, classical
• Ambient: Silence, clock ticking, birds chirping outside

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Going to a matinee movie on a beautiful summer's day is

Question 5 of 10

Going to a matinee movie on a beautiful summer's day is

• To be avoided -- you'd rather be outside
• A great way to unwind
• Worth it only to see a film with Oscar buzz

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My favourite way to break a sweat is:

Question 6 of 10

My favourite way to break a sweat is:

• On a treadmill or elliptical machine
• Swimming, be it indoors or out
• Trouncing the competition in a sport

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I'd exercise more if only...

Question 7 of 10

I'd exercise more if only...

• The gym were nearer to my home
• Family or friends enjoyed the same sports and activities as me
• I could find the right class, preferably one that doesn't require jumping or bouncing

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The Winter Olympics make you wish you were an athlete in this discipline:

Question 8 of 10

The Winter Olympics make you wish you were an athlete in this discipline:

• Downhill skiing
• Figure skating
• Biathlon

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When sweat gets in your eyes during exercise, you:

Question 9 of 10

When sweat gets in your eyes during exercise, you:

• Are so focused that you barely notice it
• Dab it off with a towel and keep going
• Sweat? What sweat?

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After a workout or physical activity, you love it best when you feel:

Question 10 of 10

After a workout or physical activity, you love it best when you feel:

• Refreshed and peaceful
• Like you won, or attained a personal best
• An endorphin high that lasts all day

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The results are:

The results are:

• Your exercise style: Low impact, soothing
  
  You need a workout that nourishes your body and spirit. Jarring sweat-fests don't appeal to you.
  
  If you aren't already practising yoga, Pilates and swimming, try them for an upcoming workout. Enjoy, but remember to get your heart rate up for optimal health. "Yoga and Pilates are forms of moderate resistance training and need to be balanced with a cardiovascular workout," says Toronto-based certified personal trainer Adam Benn.
  
  "If you don't enjoy sweating, then walking, swimming, biking are all excellent forms of cardio and don't have to involve you swimming in your own brine," Benn says. "You should focus on working to elevate your heart rate. And depending on your fitness level, this can range from the feeling of very light to light exertion (for beginners) to light to heavy exertion (more intermediate exercisers)." According to Benn, you should do this three to four times a week.

• Your exercise style: Sporty or outdoorsy
  
  If you're easily bored on the treadmill or pumping iron at the gym, it could be because you're a competitor at heart or you'd just rather be outside.
  
  Hiking, ball hockey and tennis are just a few heart-healthy activities that can substitute for an indoor workout and appease your inner sports-lover. Don't let cold weather stymie you either, try these five ideas for winter fitness, but do remember to add resistance training for healthy bones.
  
  "Resistance training does not have to be done in the gym. Portable dumbbells and bands can be taken outside and used in a variety of ways that can provide resistance," says Toronto-based certified personal trainer Adam Benn. "No equipment? No problem! Squats, lunges, push-ups and curl-ups train different areas of the body. Choose five resistance exercises. Perform 12-15 repetitions, and do them two to three times. Do this three times a week," Benn says.

• Your exercise style: High-energy cardio
  
  Getting an intense cardio fix is the goal of your workouts. Yoga and Pilates move too slowly for you. You probably know exactly which machines and activities yield the endorphin rush you crave from a sweat-it-out session.
  
  However, "Cardio junkies need to make sure they are performing a variety of cardiovascular exercises. Variation is key in order to continually challenge the body," says Toronto-based certified personal trainer Adam Benn. "Try using different cardio machines and going to different classes to vary your workout."
  
  Remember to mix in resistance for a well-balanced routine. "A large number of exercisers, especially women, are cardio-focused. Probably 80 per cent of women just do cardio," Benn says.
  
  But don't fear resistance training; you won't get bulky, he adds. "Hormonally, it's just not that easy for a woman [to get bulky muscles].
  
  Pick five resistance exercises. Do 12 to 15 repetitions, two to three times. Resistance training should be performed three times a week," he adds. Don't hesitate to contact a certified personal trainer for tips and suggestions.