Finding the workout that works

Can’t decide which exercise is right? Your body knows.

There are as many benefits to exercise as there are ways to get your body moving. Every body is different, and we all have different goals. The key to choosing an activity that suits you is simple: listen to your body.

Trying new things is one of the best parts of life. No matter whether you’re faced with an injury that forces you to re-evaluate or you’re keen to mix things up, there’s an activity out there for you – it's just about weighing things up.

When I injured my knee in 2015, as well as re-evaluating my footy career, I had to reconsider the type of exercises I relied on to keep me fit.

Running has always been such a big part of my life, but it began to dawn on me that I wouldn’t be able to run forever. These days I run every second day, but it's only going to get harder for me to keep at it without getting sore. It occurred to me that this was the perfect opportunity to try something different – that's when I decided to give cycling a go.

Getting on the bike was something I was always keen to do. It’s been good for me because it’s helped me keep fit while being kind to my joints. It's also a great social sport. Before I started, I weighed up the pros and cons of the sport and how it might suit my injuries and time constraints.

To help you take that first step in a new direction, let’s look at the pros and cons of some popular activities. Hopefully, it will help you choose one that’s right for you.

Former Australian Rules footballer Chris Judd is familiar with how to get your heart rate up and push yourself physically. Twice winner of the prestigious Brownlow Medal, Chris is an honoured sportsman and father to four children, Oscar, Billie, Tom and Darcy. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.