[Sportsandrec] Danielle and your roommate

[Thornbury, Kelly]

Talking someone into exercising who has no internal motivation to do so is arguably one of the most difficult, misunderstood behavioral changes ever. Because she realizes that she needs to do something, she's already taken the next step (look over the Theoretical Model of Change you've probably come across in your studies, and apply them to exercise...your roommate is stuck in the "contemplation" stage. The "secret" is to find activities she likes, and it doesn't have to be structured exercise. Walking a half hour daily would be a significant increase over what it sounds like she's doing now. While diet or exercise can work alone to regulate body weight, neither is as effective as doing both, and again it sounds like the diet alone approach isn't working to her satisfaction. That thirty minutes can be broken up into smaller ten minute segments, so things like walking across campus to class, or just taking a ten minute walk, counts towards that thirty minute goal. Studies here have shown that simply increasing the total number of steps you take during the day by about 250 steps has a significant affect on body composition. Within reason, more activity is better, but anything is better than nothing. 

If your roommate is interested in some ideas or information, contact me off-list. 

Kelly