Are you a couch potato who counts trips to the fridge as exercise? Someone who has great intentions to stick to a fitness routine but ultimately falls off the wagon? Or are you a fitness nut who’s always pushing it to the next level?

No matter your fitness personality, there’s always room for improvement, and what better time than the new year to motivate you? Athletico Physical Therapy, a leading provider of physical and occupational therapy in the greater Chicago area, notes a few simple tips can help you keep working toward your fitness goals.

So, which type of fitness personality are you?

Couch potato – You know you should exercise, but you can’t even imagine where to begin. Start by scheduling a physical with your doctor, who can assess whether you have a medical condition that may predispose you to developing an injury, and guide you regarding what you should or shouldn’t do. Next, consider hiring a personal trainer. It’s particularly difficult to know where to start when you haven’t exercised for a long time (or ever!). A personal trainer can help you figure out what will work for you, as well as provide the best techniques so you don’t hurt yourself. Once you reach various goals, rewarding yourself with a new pair of shoes or a night at the movies is a great way to stay motivated. 

On-again-off-again exerciser – You have the best of intentions, and start off strong, but after a few weeks or months, your sneakers are gathering dust in the back of the closet. There are several things you can do to keep yourself in the game. Enlist a workout buddy, which will help motivate you to follow through. Write down your goals and put them on the refrigerator to help remind you to keep going. Forgive yourself when you have setback – it happens to everyone – just don’t let it derail you.

Hard-core fitness nut – You pride yourself on staying fit, but the morning run just doesn’t do it anymore, and boot camp class is boring you to tears. Why not try a tri? Triathlons combine swimming, biking and running, which provide good muscular balance. However, even the most experienced athlete needs to have caution when starting a new activity. Your muscles may be quite developed, but only for one type of exercise, so watching your form is key to remaining injury-free. Also, be sure to gradually increase your activity level or strength training, by no more than 10 percent a week to prevent muscle strains.

Whatever your fitness level, if you’re in pain, don’t push it.  Get a free 30-minute injury screening at Athletico, which includes an assessment of your condition, suggestions on how to care for it, and a plan to move forward. Visit www.athletico.com to learn more and find an Athletico near you.