Dedicated to Fitness: What Drives the Die-Hards?

You see them out there in the wee hours of the morning each and every day – without fail – getting in their morning run even on the coldest or darkest of days. Or sometimes they appear alongside your car on a streamlined bike pedaling a flat, open roadway… in the middle of a torrential downpour. The die-hard fitness enthusiasts are among us and, while they may seem few and far between, their dedication can serve as an inspiration and guide for those who haven’t quite settled into their own pattern of consistent physical activity.

So, what drives a person to want to be so active in the first place and what motivates him or her to keep going even when life gets hectic? According to research, fitness enthusiasts have high levels of self-efficacy (believing they can accomplish a task) and self-motivation as well as a belief in the benefits of activity and the lack of perceived barriers. In addition, there is usually a high level of enjoyment of the activity or activities they participate in, as well as support from friends and family.

A study conducted by researchers at the American College of Sports Medicine found that the strongest reason long-term exercisers choose to continue their program is because they are concerned with achieving physical fitness. This is fairly typical among long- and short-term exercisers, as fitness and health are among the most frequently-cited reasons for being physically active. Beyond physical fitness, long-term exercisers cited the following as being motivational factors for continuing their programs:

• pep and energy
• enjoyment of activity
• better sleep
• more alert
• more relaxed

Better physical appearance and weight management were also mentioned, but to a much lesser degree of importance overall.

In the study, physically active people were found to be primarily "autonomous" exercisers as they rarely worked out with others and did not view exercise as a social event. They were also less likely to put a great deal of planning or prior thought into their exercise sessions because they usually prioritized exercise.

On the other end of the spectrum, those who dropped out of exercise programs were found to have less self–motivation than those who stick to their programs and many times they reported not having time to work out because they lacked the motivation to make time.

So, we can learn some things from those die-hards we pass in the morning on the coldest of days – it’s important to pick an activity that you truly enjoy and that provides you with satisfaction upon participation because this in and of itself is motivational. In addition, focusing on and setting long-term or lifetime goals, such as aiming to be fit and healthy, works better when trying to adopt and adhere to a fitness program than setting a goal of losing 10 lbs for an upcoming event.