 "It used to be intimidating for me to walk into a sports equipment store. The salespeople would be confusing, and I was never satisfied with what I bought. But now I have the information I need to make an informed decision about the right equipment for me." Barbara M., NJ |
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 Motivational Tips 5 Stages of Change Fitness Facts Goal Setting Tips Health and Wellness Exercise Equipment Weight Loss Health Library Trainer Blog About Us Home |
Stage 1, Pre-Contemplation This stage represents the beginning of the Change Process. Most often the people who are within this stage are not currently thinking about becoming involved in an exercise program. This doesn't mean that this individual has never exercised before. Surprisingly, the Pre-Contemplation Stage is full of people who have tried and failed for whatever reason and might be stuck ''Not Thinking About It'' for months, years, or possibly a lifetime. The stage is also full of people who are not thinking about exercising because they don't really believe that the Health and Wellness benefits associated with being physically active really apply to them. A classic example would be that of someone who is very overweight and de-conditioned who believes that the statistics on Hypo-Kinetic diseases such as Diabetes, Heart Disease, Stroke, etc. don't really apply to them as an individual. Somehow they feel that they might be lucky enough to escape the risk. With all the research and information available to show the Health Benefits of exercise and the Negative Consequences associated with a Sedentary lifestyle, you would hope that this person would come around to ''Thinking About It''. |
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So how might a person start thinking about becoming involved in an exercise program? Someone will often move from ''Not Thinking About It'' to ''Thinking About Exercise'' for several reasons. An intervention from a Trainer, Health Professional, or concerned family member with attempts to provide encouraging and positive reasons for starting to be physically active, might be one reason. It could also come from a life altering event that exposes the irrationally of the belief, such as a heart attack, stroke or sickness of someone who is very similar in health to them. Lastly it just might come from the individual themselves as a revelation that enough is enough and they have hit the tipping point for starting to think about it. Okay so now we will assume that the individual has moved from ''Not Thinking About It''; to ''Thinking About Exercise'', and is moving into the Contemplation Stage. I often like to take an opportunity to congratulate someone who moves into the Contemplation Stage. For example, while teaching a class on Successfully Starting an Exercise Program, I ask all who are attending who have not been thinking about exercising (Pre-Contemplation) to raise their hands and I begin to applaud, congratulating those individuals for moving into the Contemplation Stage just by being there!Click here to read on about the Contemplation Stage. Click on any of the pieces of the pie to go to more information about that Stage of Change. 
Or, Learn about the 5 Stages of Change by clicking on any one of these links: Pre Contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action and Maintenance. |
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