Have you ever wondered why so many people fail at the attempt to start an exercise program for their New Year's Resolutions. In fact more than 80% of these Resolutions are unsuccessful within the first 3 months of making the commitment. The answer lies mostly in the lack of preparation and understanding of the Stage Approach to Change.

Only during the last decade has behavior change been understood as a process of identifiable stages through which we pass. The extensive research into smoking and alcohol abuse has opened up new doors with understanding about the change process. This better understanding of change has been applied to Health Promotion and now more specifically to exercise behavior. So how do we apply this logic to our own daily struggles with beginning or sticking to an exercise program?

Well let's begin by looking at the Stages Of Change individually as one would move through from Pre-Contemplation to the Action and Maintenance Stage. This would represent a successful transition from start to finish with the goal being successful at attaining a long term sustainable exercise program.