Discover your exercise type

That's the advice local personal trainers would give people who are about to launch an exercise program.

"If they understand how committed they are in reaching their goals, they can get into a situation that gives them the best ability to learn or be motivated in," says Gene Mapanoo, the personal training director at the Tucson Jewish Community Center.

Would you feel comfortable in a gym? With other people who are at your fitness level? How about with a personal trainer in a private studio?

Take the survey below and discover your exercise personality.

Exercise personality quiz

1. What gets you exercising on a regular basis?

A. I love to sweat.

B. Encouragement from my friends.

C. I need someone to push me.

2. How well can you operate fitness equipment and execute exercises?

A. I know what exercises and machines work which muscles.

B. I can get by, but my technique is sloppy.

C. I have no idea.

3. When do you like to exercise?

A. Anytime. I'm there.

B. In a regularly scheduled class.

C. When I'm told to.

4. How do you feel about working out around other people?

A. Doesn't bother me as long as I can do what I want.

B. I'd love to make new friends and share my exercise experience.

C. Ugh.

Answers

Mostly A's:

You know what you want — most of the time — and when you want it. A gym or fitness center fits your needs.

"You have a wide range of tools available," says personal trainer Dawn Kulesa. A well-equipped facility provides you with lots of cardio and strength equipment and classes to help you achieve goals you've already identified. You can easily move from machines to weights to classes and back, which adds variety to your workouts.

There are other ways gyms offer flexibility. You can work alone or with a bud, take a group class or get advice from a personal trainer. A gym that's open from before sunrise to beyond sunset allows you to exercise on your schedule.

Consider when choosing: Make sure you'll use the gym often enough to make it cost-effective, says Kulesa, owner of Lifestyle & Fitness Coaching.

Mostly B's:

You want to socialize and have support while you exercise. A regularly scheduled exercise group gives you both. You likely can find a group that matches your interests, including sports conditioning, boot camp, weight loss, yoga, aerobics, circuit training, walking, bicycling and running.

"The major component is social," says Kulesa. "There's not just accountability with the trainer. There's accountability with others. And it tends to be more fun."

You also benefit from the eyes of a personal trainer who can help you improve your technique, says the JCC's Gene Mapanoo.

Small groups — they can be as small as two people with a trainer — meet in a variety of settings, from gyms and studios to private or public outdoor spaces.

Consider when choosing: Pick a group that matches your fitness level and goals, says Mapanoo, former volleyball coach at Sabino High School. That way you all move toward the same goal at about the same rate.

Mostly C's:

You need lots of coaching and encouragement, but you hate exercising in front of others. Seek out a personal trainer for one-on-one instruction. A trainer devises a program for your specific needs, then helps you implement them in a gym, at a private studio or in your home.

"You're getting a personal coach making sure you are performing the correct exercises and performing them correctly," says Mapanoo.

Because you set up appointments with the trainer, you're more likely to stay committed.

"It's like a doctor's appointment," says Kulesa. "You're not as quick to blow it off."

Consider when choosing: Find someone you're comfortable with and who matches your temperament, says Kulesa. Don't work with a drill instructor, for instance, if you hate shouting as a motivational tool.