Usual activities comprise of those performed regularly as part of the daily routine. These activities comprise of those one does at his home such as climbing a flight of stairs, at work such as walking from the parking garage to office, and those that form part of daily living like bathing and dressing. Usual activities are normally of low intensity and brief. There are also intentional activities that entail those undertaken together with the usual ones. Additionally, moderate activities are the ones requiring effort that equates to walking briskly. Vigorous activities in general use large muscle groups and cause sweating, faster breathing and faster heart rate. Engaging in a combination of these activities is what exemplifies a physically active lifestyle. Therefore, it can be noted that a physically active lifestyle is a combination of usual, intentional and vigorous activities.
Understanding that people’s physical activity ought to be augmented is not enough for enhancing their activity duration, intensity and frequency. Motivating people to initiate, continue and sustain physical activity will enable them to embrace an active lifestyle that results to varied health benefits. Having an understanding of the social and physical predictors of physical activity behaviors is crucial to contribute to active lifestyles. The pathway for the enhancement of motivation of physical activity, positive health outcomes, and activity behavior comprise of four aspects: supportive relationship, perception of autonomy or choice, feeling of competence, and enjoyment of participation in the activity (Stuntz & Weiss, 2010). Availing information to people about frequency, benefits, and duration of physical activity is not enough for enhancement of behavior of physical activity. Slight alterations in physical activities framing can have a significant influence on people’s physical activity behaviors and motivation.
References
Stuntz, C.P. & Weiss, M.R. (2010). Motivating children and adolescents to sustain a physically active lifestyle, American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 4(5): 433-434.
