The Champion Within

In 1989 WQED/Pittsburgh produced a documentary called “The Champion Within” (Wells, 1989), it explored exercise physiology research on how we can improve the human body’s athletic capablities at all stages of life. There were several segments, some dealing with athletes. However, the most inspiring as far as exercise motivation involved older age groups trying to …

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Top 10 tips for staying motivated

In an article in Shape Magazine (Whitman, 2001) Whitman talked to top psychologists and trainers to get the best 10 tips for staying motivated for fitness workouts. 1. Know your mission – Michael George, owner of Integrated Motivational Fitness in LA, asks his clients to understand their reasons for working out and how it will …

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Runners quest to escape terminal helplessness

Dr. Graham, a professor of religious studies at Michigan State U., found that runners in his study had many reasons for running. (Graham, 1979) He noted some were competitors, others ran to escape the pressures of life. Others experienced a rebaptism into the newness of life, or a quiet time similar to those of prayer …

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Contrasts between exercise adherers and dropouts

Len Kravitz, Ph.D. professor at the U. of New Mexico summarized relevant research published in the early 2000’s in an article titled “Exercise Motivation: What Starts and Keeps People Exercising”. (Kravitz, ND). He contrasts the process and attributes that lead to exercise participation and the factors that cause exercise dropouts. Research shows that 50% of …

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Weight Loss

One of the best books on weight loss is The 9 Truths about Weight Loss, by Daniel Kirschenbaum, PhD. (2000). Kirschenbaum was director of the eating disorders program at Northwestern U. Medical School, where he was professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. He grew up with a weight problem as a kid and so became …

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