Behavior Change Paper Essay

Imagine a world where college students sack up step discover of their school and paseo into a McDonalds. Imagine a world where popping machines touch to make millions of dollars per year by placing soda machines in schools and universities. Imagine a world where in our society, approximately twenty percent of todays youth are considered obese. Imagine a world where obesity is killing much people than hummer each day. Imagine this world as our reality. Worldwide, obesity is a growing concern due to a wide range of contri anding factors, and is an epidemic that scum bag be controlled if a wellnessy lifestyle of habitue reading and a well-balanced diet are affirmed and incorporated into our bothday life. Because obesity is so prevalent in the coupled States especially the southeastern portion such as North Carolina, I decided to do my sort change spew on increasing my carnal employment for sixsome weeks by exercising at least three long time a week, balancing my diet, and also subbing sodas and juices for more water. With obesity on the rise, I debate that it is very important to stay fit and maintain a healthy diet.Increasing my physical bodily caperction was definitely challenging, but I learned so much about myself finishedout, and I am so grateful that I accomplished such a challenging task. In the past I pitch tried to accomplish this goal, but I disc over while doing this project, that I started to approach the same barriers that I did when trying to accomplish this goal once before. unmatched of the main challenges was time management. I could never find the time to squeeze in thirty legal proceeding to an hours worth of exercise when I had exams to prepare for, project deadlines, and fiddleing twenty hours every week. Who has time to exercise? When will I be up to(p) to exercise? Even though these barriers were exhausting to overcome, increasing my physical drill felt ten times better and helped reduce a locoweed of those c onstant stressors that I constantly kept experiencing. Obesity has shape a serious public health concern affecting a significant portion of the population in countries such as the United States and many other developed countriesthroughout the world.According to the American Heart Association, among Americans aged 20 and older, over 154.7 million are overweight or obese. 79.9 million were men, and 74.8 million were women. Not notwithstanding are American adults obese, but also our future children of America According to the American Heart Association, 23.9 million children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years are overweight or obese with 33% cosmos boys and 15% being girls. With these rising numbers, childhood obesity can potentially become the number star global grampus around the world. The numbers of adult and childhood obesity are even higher among the African American and Hispanic communities, where nearly 40% of the children and adults are overweight or obese. If we dont sol ve this problem, one third of all children born in 2000 or later, will suffer from diabetes at some prove in their lives. Many others will face chronic obesity related health problems such as stub disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and asthma (Lets Move). One of the many ship charge to reduce some of the obesity trends we see as health educators is to increase physical activity by exercising and encouraging at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day. some other way to bm on change in our clients is to push and influence the many health benefits of increasing physical activity such as weight loss, stronger heart and lungs, increased bone density, reduced risk of heart disease and some typecasts of cancer, temporary relief from daily stressors, more confidence about how we see ourselves, and more energy. Who wants to huff and puff just going up one flight or stairs, or saltation to make it into our jeans? Increasing physical activity has many benefits that are not on ly physical, but psychic as well. As a health educator, I would march on my client to take physical activity one day at a time. Dont bombard yourself with too much activity in one day that you become too sore to want to exercise the next day. Also, association goals No goals are impossible and make the goals fit you If you desire to lose weight, think to yourself what are you unforced to sacrifice to accomplish this goal. How much do you want to lose? In what time frame do you desire?Another big advice that I would encourage is to organize your schedule One barrier that I unendingly experienced throughout this project was time management and finding the time to actually bring in out and get pathetic. One big accomplishment to overcome this barrier that I discovered was flavour into my planner and planning out the times and days that I had enough time toexercise. Not only organize, but also find an activity that you recognise and own it One physical activity that I found fun during this project was yoga Yoga very put me in a peaceful state of heed and it made me forget how much homework I had to complete at home or whether I paid my phone bill on time. I truly connected with my body and loved it gain ground positive self-talk During this project, I found that I would negatively talk myself out of exercising because I would be too lazy or if the weather wasnt on my side I would tell myself, Oh no, cant work out today because its too coldAlways think positively Start slow and tell yourself that you CAN do it and the want and inspiration to exercise will become natural. Throughout this project, I knew that I needed a PLAN. I needed something that would inspire me three days a week to either hit the gym or go outside and engage in physical activity. One way that helped me accomplish my goal was placing sticky notes on the refrigerator to go work out or a question of whether I exercised today or not. These sticky notes also shake up my roommate to enga ge in physical activity as well Hey, I mean you have no choice when you are about to grab that ice cream to estimate at the access and say, Oh man, should I really be eating this ice cream today? Did I work out today equal I promised myself? Knowing that I had a daily re creative thinkerer to exercise really pushed me to go outside and get active or if the weather was a little sticky, I would encourage myself to work out inside by doing squats during commercials of my favorite TV shows or playing tennis on my Wii for at least 30 minutes.I knew that whatever I chose to do, I wanted it to be fun and inspiring to get me up and moving and change my lazy behavior especially when it comes to exercising. Also, completing my hebdomadal checklist really hit home for me and could help me see trends in my behavior or vulgar obstacles that I endured for that week. Not only did the weekly checklist help, but also writing a journal illustrating my transit helped me really become motivated a nd show how much I have changed from the beginning of not even persuasion of exercising to loving exercising and how much fun it can be once you find the practiced activity that suits you and makes you want to move This project really inspired me. I cant believe that it is the end and I am a little sad. I had so much fun identifying why I wasnt exercising and what I could do to change my behavior. I found some common trends in my obstacles from my weekly checklist such as homework, time management, andself-motivation. I knew that based off these common trends, I needed to find some strategies that would influence me to work out.I found that organizing my schedule, placing workout gear in my car, and managing my time really helped me accomplish my goals. Also, my new puppy Lola helped inspire me to go outside more and encourage physical activity by walking Lola everyday and not only encouraging physical activity for myself, but also Lola as well. I want her to have a healthy heart a nd lungs This project was very challenging, but I knew that with the right steps of motivation, I would complete it with no worries and also continue my journey As a future health educator, I have learned that change is hard. This behavior change project really opened my eyes to how amazing changing a behavior can be and what a long journey it can be as well. This project helped me be able to identify a behavior and target what main reasons and goals can be set behind this behavior. I really enjoyed this project and it really helped me see that I can do anything that I put my mind to. I want to continue operative out and you never know, I could be your next Baywatch baby I would encourage my clients to set goals, stick with them, and if they see themselves slipping, to bounce back and get back to it like I did.Exercising can be fun when you choose things you love I would tie my journey to the Transtheoretical Model of behavior change. the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) focuses on the decision-making of the individual and is a model of intentional change. The TTM operates on the presumption that people do not change behaviors quickly and decisively. Rather, change in behavior, especially habitual behavior, occurs continuously through a cyclical go. The TTM is not a theory but a model dissimilar behavioral theories and constructs can be applied to various stages of the model where they may be most good. The TTM posits that individuals move through six stages of change pre contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and termination. For each stage of change, different intervention strategies are most effective at moving the person to the next stage of change and subsequently through the model to maintenance, the noble-minded stage of behavior. In the beginning, I can definitely say that I was in the precontemplation stage where I had no intention of exercising or changing my lazy behavior.I knew in my mind that I was not going to change an d that this would be a waste of time, but then I entered the contemplation stage where I said to myself, Hmm maybe I couldstop being a couch tater and see what exercising is all about. As the project progressed, I entered the preparation or determination manakin and got excited to get moving and start my journey of working out or doing some type of exercising three days per week. I set out a game plan and organized a schedule to motivate me to move and also get my roommate and puppy up and moving too Thats when I took action I got up and stayed focused on actually working out and staying healthy I relapsed a few times, but I never let it get me down I knew that increasing my physical activity would help me and I need to MAINTAIN it Now, I am in the maintenance phase where although this project is over, I want to continue doing yoga and maybe look into some Zumba A little shake shake shake can always get you up and moving and ready to start your dayThis behavior change project has shown me that I can do anything that I put my mind to. I really enjoyed learning about myself throughout this entire process and so thankful that I have successfully decided to incorporate a little exercise in some way throughout my day. I have changed for the better in a way that I thought I never could. My parents are proud of me, my friends are proud of me, and most of all, I am proud of me. I overcame my laziness and actually found something I can possibly love in my own way and decided that I am a great person through it all. I have flaws and I also make mistakes that I am not proud of, but this is I. This is whom I am and changing has shown me that I can do anything and has given me a better sagacity as to who I am as an individual. This class has shown me with hard work and self-motivation, I can accomplish anything that is placed in front of me. This experience will always share a place in my heart and I will never forget the memories and life lessons that I have collected on my journey of becoming a better me.