By Shaar Garner, Contributor
Have you ever said to yourself, “I’m going to start exercising tomorrow!” and really, in the moment, mean it but it never happens. Well, you’re like millions of Americans who make that bold pledge to themselves and never quite get around to tomorrow. Here’s a fun bit of information that may (or may not) get your engines revved up to get started toward a new and better you!
5 Stages of Change for Exercise
1.Pre-contemplation- not intending to change
2.Contemplation- thinking about changing
3.Preparation-preparing to change
4.Action- taking action <6 months of exercise
5.Maintenance- > 6 months of regular exercise
Stage 1 – Pre-contemplation
Thoughts such as: “I won’t” and “I can’t”
·Unaware of the problem
·Uninterested in changing
·Barriers always outweigh the benefits
4 R’s
Reluctance
Rebellion
Resignation
Rationalization
Stage 2 – Contemplation
“I may”
·Aware of the problem
·Thinking of change in the future (within 90 days)
·Unaware of how to start
·Barriers still outweigh the benefits
Stage 3 – Preparation
“I will”
·Planning to change
·May take some action toward change, but not regular or consistent
·May modify or reduce behavior
·Time frame of change; within 30 days
·Benefits and barriers are equal
Stage 4 – Action
“I am”
·Taking regular action (< 6 months)
·Require considerable commitment of time and energy
·Needs external motivation
·Building new behavior patterns
·Benefits outweigh barriers
Stage 5 – Maintenance
“I still am”
·Regular action > 6 months
·Easier to maintain new behavior
·Relapse can happen
·Less of a chance of relapse
·Benefits far outweigh the barriers
If you decide to go for it, happy exercising!
As adapted from The Cooper Institute (TM)