The Role of Behavior in Physical Fitness Levels

Healthful Vitality | 03/06/2022 | The Role of Behavior in Physical Fitness Levels

Further to the six components of physical fitness that we discussed in the previous article, now we shall discuss the role of behavior in physical fitness levels. By and large, your behavior is the single most factor that determines the sustenance of your physical activity. 

What is the role of behavior in physical fitness levels?

Generally, a positive behavioral impulse urges you to do more physical activity. Likewise, increased physical fitness, in turn, leads to a positive behavioral change. Overall, various aspects of behavior play an important in physical fitness levels. That being said, we shall dive into 5 important roles of behavior in physical fitness levels.

5 Roles of Behavior in Physical Fitness Levels

1. Helps to maintain adequate diet and nutrition

Primarily, having a proper eating habits is a prerequisite for physical fitness. In that sense, both undereating as well as over overeating is to be avoided. More important is, what you eat compared to how much you eat. As suggested by a cross-sectional study, small frequent meals (SFMs) containing all the essential nutrients may help you to control your satiety. [1] However, you should not increase the total quantity of food intake.

2. Motivates you to start with your workouts for physical fitness

First of all, you should have proper motivation to start with your workouts. Usually, having an aim of attaining a firmer and lighter body can give enough motivation. Moreover, being physically fit can reduce the risk of having heart diseases and diabetes. [2] Thus, you should be behaviorally motivated to make the first step towards your goal.

3. Helps you to maintain a sustained workout schedule

True, motivation can help you to get started. Then again, motivation is temporary. To be sustained in your workouts, you should have to set a long term goal. On the whole, a sustained workout is essential for you to attain good physical fitness. [3] For this, you should stop depending on motivation. Rather, you can think about the positive outcomes of physical fitness. In short, motivation helps you to get started while having a goal helps in long-term sustenance.

4. Helps in having an optimistic attitude

Probably, lack of physical fitness can lead to a negative self-image. However, having an optimistic attitude plays an important role in achieving good physical fitness levels. Notably, your emotions can affect your hormone levels. Believe, one day you could also achieve ample physical fitness. Biologically, optimism can stimulate the release of neurotransmitters responsible for joy and motivation.

5. Helps to have a productive lifestyle for long term physical fitness

Last but not least, you should be punctual in your daily routines. Usually, wasting time can result in piling up of your works. This, in turn, builds up stress and a feeling of helplessness. The pressure of pending tasks, sooner or later, will lead you to skip your workouts. Thus, you should try to make it a habit to complete your daily tasks. Moreover, accomplishing your tasks can keep you motivated in a long run. In conclusion, being persistent in your daily chores is a behavior having an important role in physical fitness levels.

References:

1. Kant AK. Evidence for efficacy and effectiveness of changes in eating frequency for bodyweight management. Adv Nutr. 2014;5(6):822-828. Published 2014 Nov 14. doi:10.3945/an.114.007096. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25398748/

2. Reiner, M., Niermann, C., Jekauc, D. et al. Long-term health benefits of physical activity – a systematic review of longitudinal studies. BMC Public Health 13, 813 (2013). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-813

3. Balducci S, D’Errico V, Haxhi J, et al. Effect of a Behavioral Intervention Strategy on Sustained Change in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: The IDES_2 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2019;321(9):880–890. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.0922. Available at: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2726985