Although prescribing exercise by the feelings that are induced is different from traditional practice, it can solve a large piece of the exercise-maintenance puzzle. In two recent studies,4,6 participants with EFI patterns that were “correct” were several times more likely to remain with their exercise programs than those with changes thatwere “incorrect.”
Assessing emotion change over time.Using emotion change over time focuses on the link between maintaining regular, manageable amounts of exercise and thetypical improvements in various aspects of emotional wellness, reduction in fatigue,and an overall sense of improved self-worth and well-being. Only after realizing the benefits that regular exercise has on these important emotional states can they contribute to motivating continuity. By assessing “baseline” emotional states (before anexercise program starts), and carefully following their “movement” over time, exercise professionals can help participants see the value thatexercising regularly has on these critical wellness factors.
The first stepfor evaluation and feedback of emotion change is to educate participants that continuing their exercise programs will likely benefit their stress levels, energy levels, overall moods, and feelings about self-ability and self-worth, along with the physical changes that will come over time. You should acknowledge when prescribing exercise for adherence that physical changes are often slower than desired by the participant, and try to add”value” to exercise persistence over simplylooking better in the mirror.
The second step requires that a baseline on one or more emotional variables be taken. The simplest way may be to ask participants to evaluate themselves (1 to 10) on several key words or phrases. In The 30-Minute Fitness Solution,questions such as, “Do you feel tense, anxious or uneasy?” and “Do you feel tired or sluggish?” are used.12You can also use an abbreviated version of the Profile of Mood States (a psychological inventory),13 which allows you to measure levels of stress and tension, depression, fatigue, anger and energy level (vigor) quite easily.
The third step requires that the same questionnaire be given at several-month intervals,as your follow-up schedule allows. The changes in scores are summarized,usually graphically,and shared with participants. The information regarding mood and energylevel change over time is almost always quite pleasing, and typically demonstrates the greatest rate of progress during the initial several months. This important success, then, is fully detailed.
3 The mood-improvement information greatly aided in their persistence with exercise and, eventually, exercise amounts wereincreased to the point of positively affecting physiological variables (e.g., weight, body fat, cholesterol, resting heart rate and maximum volume of oxygen uptake). Because of this, fitness professionals should acknowledge the emotional benefits of well-managed exercise, as they would strength and cardiorespiratory gains. Your focus on these issuesis an important aid to adherence.