Are you a pear, an apple, or a banana? Most of us fit into these three body type categories. Gauge the type of exercise you need most by knowing what kind of fruit matches your shape best.

Many of us are apple-shaped. Our heaviest weight is around our middle, and when we gain, that's where it goes. Getting fit and healthy means losing that extra padding around our waistlines. Maybe easier said than done? Not necessarily. Try Pilates or yoga on a regular schedule. These exercises have been proven to help tone and strengthen the deep core muscle group in your waistline.

Losing weight around your middle will make you feel better and look great. It's fun to regain that hourglass figure that makes your clothes look so attractive. The benefits, however, are not just superficial. Women with extra weight in their abdomen are putting themselves at a greater risk for heart disease, diabetes, and many other serious health conditions.

Exercises designed specifically for your waistline are easy to fit into a tight schedule. All you need is motivation and the ability to remember to do them. We're all motivated. That one is easy. Just take a look at any magazine cover or web site and you'll see perfect examples of the kind of figure you want. Unfortunately, motivation also comes in the form of illness.

Don't stress your body with junk food and inactivity. Whether you are a pear, an apple or a banana, exercise every day and pay attention to your trouble spots. As we get older, it becomes harder to motivate ourselves and we allow our routines to rule us. The fruits and vegetables that we consume are packed with vitamins and natural energy that makes us feel good, while the prepackaged goods are usually full of unnecessary calories that are increasingly tougher to work off during exercise.

No matter what stage of life you're in, and which kind of fruit suits you best, if you are determined to make all your habits healthy ones, you'll soon be a genuine peach.