The idea that there is a perfect workout that will work for all people has been circulating for ages, with the help of many fitness experts, athletes and personal trainers telling stories of how they maintain their physique or that of their clients. Unfortunately, most people are not famous celebrities who can afford to pay a personal trainer to wake them up every morning and monitor their exercises, with the added benefit of a nutritionist telling them what to eat. Most people have basic access to a gym, a track, or a basic home workout machine. They look to celebrities for their fitness goals and read magazines to find the perfect workout; unfortunately, there is no such thing. This idea is a complete myth, and I am personally frustrated beyond belief every time I read a new Cosmo telling me how to get my perfect butt or abs. Often it is a movie star's personal trainer giving the workouts, which makes it seem believable--if he did it for her, he can do it for me, right?

The idea that a personal trainer writing or encouraging any one perfect workout, whether it be for one body part or the entire body, is preposterous. A personal trainer is supposed to be just that--personal. Every person has a different body, a different goal, a different reason to work out. In order to discover your perfect workout, even if you DO have the help of a personal trainer, you need to answer a number of questions. Why do you want to work out? What do you want to change about yourself? What are your long-term goals? For example, are you working out to lose weight, or to prepare for softball season? Are you hoping to run a marathon or do you just want to tone your arms a bit? Do you want to use machines, loose weights, or nothing at all? Are you looking for flexibility or strength? Also consider your body shape. If you have naturally strong legs, you might want to expend more energy on your arms, or if you have back pain, you might be able to find workouts to help that. All of these things will influence the types of things you do during your workout.

In order to find--or, more accurately, develop--your perfect workout, answer your questions and think about how to attain your goals. Cardiovascular activities, such as running or jumping rope, will help you lose weights. For strength building, low amounts of reps with heavy weights will serve you best, but for toning, more reps with less weight will benefit you. A gym membership might be a good place to start--you can experiment with the machines (ask for help if you don't know how to use them) and find what feels right. A number of gyms have the added benefit of giving you a personal trainer for a certain amount of time during your first visit. Enquire around and see if you can find a place like this.

If a gym isn't your ideal situation, find out what is. Running and jogging can be done on the road or in the woods, and a lot of weightlifting can be done at home with free weights of home machines. Another possibility is to enroll in a class, such as a martial arts or yoga class, that will help you reach your goal and teach you something new and interesting.

Regardless of who you are, your perfect workout is something you can enjoy doing while drawing closer to your fitness goals. One last thing: remember to always stretch and move around plenty before and after a workout, and drink plenty of water!

**NOTE: I am not a personal trainer, sports doctor or any other type of expert in this field. I am a college student with a physical therapist for a mother and a lot of athletes in her family. If you want professional advice, look for a professional!**