How to feel motivated towards physical activity. Identify your stage and produce the adequate behavior change.

Have you asked yourself how can you feel motivated towards physical activity? Maybe you haven't even think of it. Maybe you already exercise but need more motivation to keep going or you're one that is always exercising because it's a lifestyle for you. No matter which stage you're at right now, motivation is always needed not only for exercising but for everything in life!

We're always in a process of change and what drives that change is your decisional balance, meaning how you weigh the advantages and disadvantages of engaging in physical activity, and your self efficacy, which means the confidence you have in your ability to be active despite barriers or pretexts.

Why is this important? Well, attitude plays a big role in the adoption and maintenance of the right behaviors. In this case, behaviors towards being and staying active.

I've heard many times in my life this: If you don't use things, they fail or spoil. Such truth that is! That's a huge reason to keep moving!!! But you should know that depending on the stage you are, you'll need a different motivation. So first thing will be to identify in which stage of physical activity you are.

Stages of change

According to Drs. Prochaska and DiClemente, there are five stages of motivational readiness to change:

1) Pre-contemplation.- Example: A person who is not even thinking about exercising.

2) Contemplation.- A person who is thinking of becoming active but isn't doing something about it.

3) Preparation.- A person who is already exercising but not yet meeting the minimum of 30 minutes per day.

4) Action.- A person that exercises regularly.

5) Maintenance.- A person that has been active for more than 6 months.

I must say, that all people tend to move back and forth the cycle, so it would be important to promote your self-efficacy. While you advance towards action and maintenance, you'll see more advantages than disadvantages of being active, and that will drive more motivation to help you turn exercise into a healthy lifestyle activity.

So how can you gain the motivation needed towards exercise depending on the stage you’re in?

As mentioned in the article by Dori Pekmezi, Brook Barbera and Bess H. Marcus published in July 2010 in the ACSM Health and Fitness Journal, several studies have shown that people are more successful and less likely to drop out when interventions are matched to their motivational readiness for change.

The following table will help you find the specific stage of change you are in, then the goal to achieve in order to be able to advance to the next stage.

Of course highly motivated people can do whatever they set to accomplish. Become one, set your goal and like Nike’s brand phrase says: Just Do It!

In order to get more tips and ideas we recommend to read:

Physical activity can be achieved by following these tips.

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