The issue of exercise adoption has received more research attention than exercise adherence and is based mainly around the concept of behavioral change. Adopting any lifestyle-modification program, including exercise, requires an individual to break old habits and develop new ones. The motivation to start a new program can come from any source, such as concern over health, an upcoming event, wanting to look better, and peer pressure. The most important factor, however, in starting an exercise program is the individual. A person cannot be coerced into starting to work out, but he or she must be somewhat ready to make a change. This poses an ongoing challenge to all health and fitness professionals who spend their careers trying to get people to change. Understanding the transtheoretical model of behavioral change (see Chapter 4) and using interventions specific to an individual’s stage of change will help increase the success of any health and fitness professional who is trying to help others adopt a new behavior. It is important to note, however, that factors that may motivate an individual to start exercising are not the same factors that will keep them participating in an exercise program over the long haul. While getting people to start a new program can be challenging and frustrating, it is a mistake to think that this is the only battle that health and fitness professionals will face. The true challenge for the health and fitness industry is creating programming and exercise environments that maximize the likelihood that a person will stick with the program and adopt an active lifestyle.
PRINCIPLES OF MOTIVATION AND ADHERENCE CHAPTER 2
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Motivation is a complex construct that refers to the psychological drive that gives behavior direction and purpose. There is no simple answer or magic pill to create motivation, which requires the personal trainer to practice awareness, communication, and consistency. Once trainers become proficient at helping to motivate others, they will understand the impact they have in changing lives and promoting life-long physical activity.
For the purposes of a health and fitness professional, exercise adherence refers to voluntary and active involvement in an exercise program. For the majority of clients, a moderate-intensity exercise program is appropriate, and according to the United States Department of Health & Human Services (2008), adults should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity each week. These guidelines are based on the substantial health benefits received from this amount of activity, but they also recognize that any activity is better than none. Additionally, it is recommended that adults engage in muscle-strengthening activities that are moderate or high intensity and involve all major muscle groups on two or more days a week, as these activities provide additional health benefits. For people who are physically active, reaching these
