By failing to use our bodies, we allow our muscles to weaken and our joints to become stiff. Then when we try to start an exercise routine our bodies resist the sudden extra force. And this isn’t just physically discouraging. Mentally, someone who tries to exercise and finds it too difficult or painful will be quick to pick up a defeated attitude.
Once people get a taste of what exercise and proper nutrition can do to improve their health and quality of life, they often are motivated to continue to pursue a healthier lifestyle.
Beginning a new exercise or nutrition program is a form of behavior change. There are five stages – Which stage fits you and do you think you can work on making it to the next stage?
Precontemplation – Person has no intention of changing his behavior and may not even see any need to do so. However, something has taken place to at least get his attention (example: high blood pressure, adult onset of diabetes, etc.).
Contemplation – Aware that they has a problem whether its obesity, increased risk of disease, or simply being out of shape. Despite this realization, they have not made a commitment to change, but is still weighing the pros and cons of making a change.
Preparation – Person has made the decision to change their behavior but has yet to put the change into action. People in this stage have made attempts at change in the past and failed because they didn’t have a plan.
Action – Person makes the time and commitment to modify their lifestyle. In this stage people make lifestyle choices that benefit their health on a daily basis.
Maintenance – Person who remains consistently committed to their healthy new lifestyle for an extended length of time.
Some people remain stuck in one of these stages for an extended period of time while others bounce back and forth between them.
Info from US Career Institute
No comments:
Post a Comment