Behavior Change and Health News
Sport Psychology Class Experiences Active Living Every Day
Dr. Jack O’Malley’s Sport Psychology class at the University of Scranton usually attracts a fairly fit group of students each semester. About half of them are exercise science majors, so they already know a thing or two about physical activity and its benefits for the body. Many are varsity athletes and follow a regular exercise regimen. Last semester, Dr. O’Malley gave them an option to complete the Active Living Every Day program as part of their course requirements. Would college students find anything worthwhile in a behavior change course intended for sedentary adults? It seems they did.
“Lazy and lethargic”
For many people, not just college students, being active means working out 3-5 times a week. Some may feel that if they can’t block out that amount of time several times a week, there’s not much they can do to be active. However, as they learned in Active Living Every Day, Dr. O’Malley’s students found they could do other things throughout their day to fit in activity that didn’t require a lot of time. Here are some comments from students:
“I feel that this program was extremely effective in modifying my behaviors because as I read more of the book each week, I was motivated to change behaviors that were considered lazy and lethargic. This book is also extremely useful in becoming aware that exercise does not always involve rigorous activity and sport, but that it involves simple physical activity that can be completed without machines, a gym, or a personal trainer.”
“I exercised often in the gym but outside of the gym is where I realized that even I needed to focus more. I began taking the stairs more, I’d take longer routes to certain destinations, I didn’t spend extra time looking for a closer parking spot, I walked around while on the phone, and so on. What I never knew, and what I see as being a wonderful way to start out without feeling overwhelmed or incapable, is that it can only take 2 minutes a day to start out. This surprised me at first, thinking they weren’t enough, but what better way to start out something that takes a lot of discipline than starting out very simple?”
Changing inactive behaviors
Dr. O’Malley admits he was a bit leery at first about offering Active Living Every Day as part of this course. “I knew they would need to plug in their own goals, rather than use the suggestions in the course that would apply to a sedentary person. But the behavior change principles applied very well and the students found the program to be very effective. It’s a wonderful application of the behavior change principles that we study in Sport Psychology.”
Setting goals and self-monitoring, two key aspects of the program, struck a chord with O’Malley’s class. See what they had to say:
“I was able to maintain motivation because for the first time I actually started monitoring my activity and progress. I can say that I am now a more active person after completing this assignment.”
“After reading this book, I have learned to set goals and motivate myself through exercise. The book has also helped me in other aspects of life such as gaining confidence, defusing stress, and managing my time.”
“Not only does the book include journal sections, but so does the online program. Individuals can self-monitor their own progress. By enlisting support from others, setting goals, gaining confidence, and rewarding myself for a job well done, I was able to help myself maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.”
Effective for all ages
To date, Active Living Every Day programs have been successfully offered for older adults, employees at their worksites, hospital clinic patients, the community at large, and students on college campuses. Dr. O’Malley’s class project lends credibility to the claim that adults of all ages—regardless of their current level of physical activity—can learn behavior change strategies from this program that they can apply to their own lives.
“I am an exercise science major and am well aware of exactly how important exercise can be in reducing deadly heart disease and obesity risks, but ever since I quit the tennis team to have more time to study and work I have not exactly been the model of a typical exercise science student. I thank my lucky stars that I had the opportunity to participate in the ALED program. I would definitely recommend that you continue to use this program in your future classes because if it could help me change my old habits, I think it could help just about anyone.”
“Even though this book is aimed towards someone who does not work out at all, I have definitely found it to be very effective for myself as a division III athlete. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to begin an exercise program, or anyone who wants to reap the benefits of living an active lifestyle.”
“As a personal trainer, I would certainly recommend the Active Living Every Day course to anyone who came to me looking for a way to change their lifestyle. This program is incredibly easy to follow, and the online supplements and journal only make it easier. If a person is looking to change his or her inactive lifestyle, then the Active Living Every Day course can help to keep them on the path to lifelong vitality and health.”
For more success stories from Active Living Every Day participants, explore the Program News archives by clicking here. For more information about Active Living Partners programs, please contact us at 800-747-4457, send an e-mail to michelleo@hkusa.com, or visit our Web site home page at www.ActiveLiving.info.
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