Option 3:Fitness Choices

1. Option 3:Fitness Choices CQ 3: What influences peoples choice of fitness activities?

2. Critical Question • What influences peoples choice of fitness activities?

3. What the syllabus says Students learn about: • motivators and barriers to participation -access to facilities -convenience of use -cost -feelings about fitness and exercise -exercise as a priority -influence of other responsibilities, eg family, work   • Students learn to: • describe their own exercise preferences by considering: - their motivation for exercising - the influences acting on their choice of exercise for fitness - their feelings about establishing a training partner - barriers that they need to overcome.

4. Motivators and Barriers to participation • A barrier is a circumstance or obstacle that prevents communication or that keeps people or things apart. • Motivation is an internal desire to achieve • Lack of motivation can be a barrier itself • Activity : Make a list of all the barriers to participation in physical activity you can think of. Discuss ways to motivate people top be active

5. Motivators and Barriers Access to facilities • Factors that restrict access to fitness facilitiescan be a significant impediment to exercise participation. • Physical isolation and financial circumstances can limit access • Geographic challenge can be a significant factor in limiting access – smaller towns less facilities because not able to support or make comercially viable • In this case, local councils and government are responsible in supporting these facilities

6. Example • Another strategy is to encourage private and public sector cooperation, as well as using fund-raising measures to subsidise some of the costs. • The town of Tingha in north western NSW has had a Community Swimming Pool project running for some time and is raising funds to build a local swimming pool. Nathan Blacklock, the former Rugby League player, is a prominent part of this community project for the town in which he grew up.

7. Access to facilities impact on motivation • committing to exercise can require additional motivation • Options limited to forms of exercise are free, low cost or accessible. • Country towns also face challenges when competing in large team sports because numbers can be limited. • Travel times and distances for competitions can also be prohibitive.

8. Convenience of Use • The issue of time can impact on people’s ability to exercise • Convenience may mean something is close to home or work or easily accessible by public transport • having fitness facilities and services conveniently located takes away a significant barrier • However, there is potential to take them for granted and not access them adequately • Many people sign up for gym memberships and don’t use them • However keep them , thinking eventually they will find the motivation to go • It is a similar story with the purchase of home equipment

9. How to stay motivated • Having convenient access to fitness opportunities is important. • To maximise benefits, people must: • clearly identify their reasons for exercising, • set measurable goals • do research before making expensive commitments

10. Cost • The ability to afford to join a fitness centre, buy fitness products or exercise clothing and shoes can be a barrier to people’s ability to exercise. • Lack of money can restrict the range and type of activities available. • Many physical activities are very costly. Eg Playing in a social competition, using a fitness centre or a swimming pool. • The limited range of exercise choices left may not be appealing, so participation decreases.

11. Strategies • Local councils and higher levels of government subsidising costs of developing and maintaining exercise facilities is one strategy that can work. • For example, building skateboarding facilities in community parks is a relatively cheap way of providing an exercise option that will be freely used by large numbers of young people.

12. Negative feelings about Physical Activity • The exercise experiences people have when they are young can affect their attitudes to exercise. • When these experiences are unpleasant, negative feelings about fitness and exercise develop and can form a barrier to exercise for adults

13. The concept of exercise has become associated with undertaking physical exertion and experiencing related pain and fatigue in pursuit of ‘fitness’. • Some people are inspired by this concept, whereas others find it unpleasant. • This has led to the promotion of ‘physical activity’ as the dominant concept in improving health

14. Fitness and exercise are still clearly linked, however, the term ‘physical activity’ implies potential for the activity to be undertaken at a lower level of intensity, for it to be an enjoyable experience, • For enhanced health and wellbeing, not necessarily enhancing fitnes

15. Exercise as a priority • In people’s busy lifestyles today exercise is not a priority. • people work long hours at stressful jobs may not perceive exercise as a priority • For some people who do not recognise the important health benefits of regular exercise, exercise is not important. • Need to educate people about benefits and introduce them to enjoyable activities that suit their needs • People who truly value fitness, will find the time and opportunities to exercise

16. Influence of other responsibilities • Throughout life, there are different transition stages that are common experiences for many people • Responsibilities that are inherent in these and other stages of life can impact positively or negatively on participation in exercise • Going to university, getting married, having children, work are all life stages that come with a degree of responsibility • A growing social life my restrict opportunities and motivations to exercise, similarly the challenges of working and raising a family may reduce motivation. • Having young active children may provide opportunities to be active • Retirees can use their time off to engage in regular activity which is important for both mental and physical health