1. ACE Personal Trainer Manual 5th Edition
Chapter 2: Principles of Motivation and Adherence
Lesson 2.1

2. UNDERSTANDING MOTIVATION
Numerous theoretical constructs have been proposed to explain motivation and its relationship with performance and achievement.
Sources of motivation include:
The individual, much like a personality trait
Other people’s encouragement, guidance, and support
Things, ideas, and events
The individual must buy into the process and into the motivators, and every client will need guidance and help in maintaining and building motivation for sustained exercise participation.
Two commonly discussed approaches for evaluating motivation are:
Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
Self-efficacy
There is a great difference between motivating someone to start a new program and motivating someone to stick with a program once he or she has begun. For the purpose of this chapter, and to best address the issues that personal trainers face on a daily basis related to adherence, the focus will be on increasing the likelihood that people will adhere to a program once they have started. In other words, personal trainers must learn to maximize the experiences of their current clients.

3. UNDERSTANDING MOTIVATION
Intrinsic motivation
Intrinsic motivation is when a person is engaged in exercise activity for the inherent pleasure and experience that comes from the engagement itself.
People who are intrinsically motivated report being physically active because they truly enjoy it.
Such involvement in an activity is associated with positive attitudes and emotions (e.g., happiness, freedom, and relaxation), maximal effort, and persistence when faced with barriers.
Having more intrinsic participation, motives, or goals associated with exercise, such as social engagement, challenge, and skill development, is clearly associated with greater exercise participation.

4. UNDERSTANDING MOTIVATION
Extrinsic motivation
Extrinsic motivation involves the engagement in exercise for any benefit other than for the joy of participation.
People who are extrinsically motivated report being physically active because of some external factor, such as to:
Lose weight
Become healthy
Make a spouse happy
Look good
Meet new people
Those who are extrinsically motivated are also likely to experience feelings of tension, guilt, or pressure related to their participation.

5. UNDERSTANDING MOTIVATION
Intrinsic and extrinsic continuum
While many people truly enjoy being physically active, most adults depend on some amount of extrinsic motivation and fall somewhere on the continuum.
Personal trainers should:
Aim to maximize enjoyment and engagement
Strive to enhance the feelings of accomplishment
Foster the development of motivation and how the client generally views exercise
Empower the client with the perception of control of his or her own participation
Help the client create mastery of movement
Provide consistent and clear feedback
Create a workout environment that is aesthetically pleasing
Encourage client ownership and involvement in the program
Teach self-sufficiency and autonomy
People who enjoy the experience are likely to continue working with a personal trainer and remain involved in an exercise program.

6. SELF-EFFICACY
Self-efficacy in an exercise context is defined as the belief in one’s own capabilities to successfully engage in a physical-activity program.
Self-efficacy:
Is positively related to motivation because when people believe that they can effectively engage in exercise behavior, they do so with a positive attitude and more effort and persistence
Influences thought patterns, emotional responses, and behavior
Is particularly relevant in challenging situations in which people are trying to achieve a goal

7. Relationship between motivation and self-efficacy
By being aware of self-efficacy levels, personal trainers will be better able to consistently motivate their clients and help them create positive self-belief.
Additionally, personal trainers should:
Use communication and awareness to be in touch with thought patterns of their clients
Create short-term success by designing a workout that the client will master, which will demonstrate growth and achievement
Be aware of how much feedback a client needs and then provide that support
Help clients reevaluate appraisals of their physiological states to create more positive interpretations
Teach clients to appropriately identify muscle fatigue, soreness, and tiredness, and help clients view the “feelings” of working out in a more positive light

8. SELF-EFFICACY AND MOTIVATION
By being aware of self-efficacy levels, personal trainers will be better able to consistently motivate their clients and help them create positive self-belief.
Additionally, personal trainers should:
Use communication and awareness to be in touch with thought patterns of their clients
Create short-term success by designing a workout that the client will master, which will demonstrate growth and achievement
Be aware of how much feedback a client needs and then provide that support
Help clients reevaluate appraisals of their physiological states to create more positive interpretations
Teach clients to appropriately identify muscle fatigue, soreness, and tiredness, and help clients view the “feelings” of working out in a more positive light

9. MAINTAINING CLIENT MOTIVATION
It is important for any individual who participates regularly in a physical-activity program to implement strategies to prevent the occurrence of a relapse to an inactive state.
Relapse from regular physical-activity participation is common and should be expected:
Schedule changes
Vacations
Illness
Financial changes
Time and prioritization
Dislike or dissatisfaction with the program
Unexpected events
Personal trainers should educate their clients about the potential occurrence of a relapse and prepare them in advance so that they are able to get back on track with their activity programs soon after experiencing a relapse.
The most important tool in dealing with a relapse is planning ahead and being prepared.

10. MAINTAINING CLIENT MOTIVATION
Assertiveness
Assertiveness is defined as the honest and straightforward expression of one’s thoughts, feelings, and beliefs.
The more assertive clients are with regard to their progress, concerns, accomplishments, and struggles, the more likely they are to achieve long-term success.
By teaching clients to be assertive, personal trainers can help prevent program relapse.
When an individual is not assertive, it is because he or she lacks self- confidence or feels vulnerable.

11. MAINTAINING CLIENT MOTIVATION
Self-regulation
Personal trainers should strive to teach their clients to become effective self-regulators of their own behaviors, schedules, time, and priorities.
The more control a client has, the more likely he or she will be to adhere to the program.
Clients must be taught to self-monitor and to make behavioral changes that will maximize their success.
Once clients perceive control over their behavioral outcomes, they are more able to deal with barriers and challenges as they arise.

12. MAINTAINING CLIENT MOTIVATION
High-risk situations
Clients and trainers who identify high-risk situations will be more prepared to deal with program barriers and relapses.
Personal trainers should:
Identify those clients who appear to be most at risk for program relapse:
Individuals who have poor time-management skills
Those who lack social support
Those with busy schedules
Provide extra education, support, and guidance for clients as they participate in their programs
Be constantly aware and watch for signs that clients are overwhelmed, frustrated, or worn out
Take the time to teach clients additional coping skills, including time management and prioritizing

13. FACTORS INFLUENCING EXERCISE PARTICIPATION
Research shows the following factors influence a person's decision to engage in exercise behavior:
Personal attributes
Environmental factors
Physical-activity factors
Understanding these factors can help prepare personal trainers for the various challenges that clients may face during the course of participation in an exercise program.

14. FACTORS INFLUENCING EXERCISE PARTICIPATION
Personal attribute factors:
Demographic variables
Health status
Activity history
Psychological traits
Knowledge, attitude, and beliefs
Demographic Variables
Adherence has been proven to be consistently related to the following:
Education, income, age, and gender
Health Status
Individuals who suffer from chronic illness, such as heart disease and diabetes, typically exercise less than those who are healthy.
Although physical limitations may be a factor for reduced physical activity, it may also be that common misconceptions still exist that those with chronic disease should not exercise.
Goal setting with clinicians might be one effective way to ensure more change for those newly diagnosed with a chronic illness.
Activity History
Activity history is arguably the most important and influential personal attribute variable.
Past program participation is the most reliable predictor of current participation.
Psychological Traits
Psychological traits refer to general tendencies that people have in their personality or psychological makeup:
Accounts for individual differences among people and are often difficult to define and measure
Self-motivation, which is reflective of one’s ability to set goals, monitor progress, and self-reinforce, has been shown to have a positive relationship with physical-activity adherence
Knowledge, Attitude, and Beliefs
Modifying the way an individual thinks and feels about exercise has been shown to influence his or her intentions regarding being active:
Health perception
Locus of control
Perceived barriers

15. FACTORS INFLUENCING EXERCISE PARTICIPATION
Environmental factors:
Access to facilities
Time
Social support
Access to Facilities
When fitness facilities are conveniently located near a person’s home or work, he or she is more likely to adhere to the program.
People with greater access are more likely to be physically active than people with less access.
Personal trainers should ask their clients about access issues and understand how convenient or inconvenient it is for each client to reach the facility.
Time
A lack of time is the most common excuse for not exercising and for dropping out of an exercise program, as people perceive that they simply do not have time to be physically active.
This perception is likely a reflection of not being interested in or enjoying the activity, or not being committed to the activity program.
Personal trainers must teach their clients to change their perception of time availability through the use of goal setting, time management, and prioritizing.
If an individual considers health and physical activity top priorities, he or she will find—or make—the time to be active.
Social Support
Social support from family and friends is an important predictor of physical-activity behavior.
Support from a spouse is shown to be an important and reliable predictor of program adherence.
The presence of an active partner may bolster motivation for, and adherence to, physical activity.
Personal trainers must be proactive in creating and establishing a support network for the client.

16. FACTORS INFLUENCING EXERCISE PARTICIPATION
Physical-activity factors:
Intensity
Injury
Intensity
The drop-out rate in vigorous-intensity exercise programs is almost twice as high as in moderate-intensity activity programs:
Six times as many women and more than twice as many men choose to start moderate-intensity programs than vigorous-intensity programs.
These results are true regardless of whether intensity is measured by percentage of heart-rate reserve or by ratings of perceived exertion (RPE).
Injury
There is a reliable relationship between physical activity and injury, such that the higher the level of physical activity, the higher the risk for developing an activity-related injury.
Injuries that occur as a result of program participation are directly related to program dropout.
Injured exercisers are able to participate in modified exercise programs and often report engaging in significantly more walking than non-injured exercisers.

17. FEEDBACK
Providing clients with information about their progress and performance is one of the most important roles of a personal trainer. Without this knowledge, persistence suffers and people give up.
Extrinsic Feedback
Reinforcement
Error correction
Encouragement
Intrinsic Feedback
Information that clients provide themselves based on what they feel, see, or hear
Long-term program adherence is dependent on the client’s ability to provide his or her own feedback.
It is important for personal trainers to not give too much feedback. As client motivation, self-efficacy, and ability develop, personal trainers should allow their clients more opportunity to provide themselves feedback by tapering off the amount of external feedback provided.
Feedback serves an important role in motivation because it provides a guide to clients of how they are doing. General motivation comments during a training session can keep clients on track. Feedback also helps in the goal-setting process. Both intrinsic and extrinsic feedback can contribute to knowledge of results and provide information about progress toward goal attainment. Whether a client is achieving goals and experiencing success or is falling short of desired performance levels, it is up to the personal trainer to help the client use the feedback information to adjust and reestablish goals for continued motivation and program participation

18. LEADERSHIP QUALITIES
An effective personal trainer will become a leader who successfully influences the way his or her clients think, feel, and behave.
A personal trainer looks and behaves professionally:
Appearance
Clean, neat, and non-threatening
A personal trainer should look like someone who is at work and ready to help others.
Appropriate attire
Personal trainers should avoid looking as if they are ready to workout or just finished a workout.

19. LEADERSHIP QUALITIES
The art and science
Leadership is both an art and a science and must be practiced and perfected.
It may be helpful to view the personal trainer role as that of a coach who is working together with the client to achieve common goals.
Trust
The trust in a client–trainer relationship should never be broken, as a great deal of confidential information is shared.
If the credibility of the trainer is compromised or if trust is lost, the client will likely withdraw from program participation with a negative perception of the fitness industry.
Listen
Customize the client’s program based on his or her preferences and apprehensions.
Make the client’s experience unique and personalized.
Excitement
Clients appreciate personal trainers who demonstrate excitement for their craft.
Clients want to work with a trainer who is innovative and educated.
Excitement from the personal trainer not only builds client motivation and adherence, but also enhances his or her credibility and the client’s level of trust.
Show you care
When clients perceive that their trainer is thinking of their overall well-being, the client–trainer relationship is further enhanced and the client becomes more vested.
An effective personal trainer will include the client in all aspects of the program, which maximizes adherence.

20. LEADERSHIP QUALITIES
Personal trainers are also entrusted with creating a positive and enjoyable experience.
Personal trainers should take time to think about their clients’ experiences through the clients’ eyes:
What type of overall experience is the trainer providing?
How clear are the communication and the plan for success?
How stable is the support?
How professional is the environment and interaction?
These are all critical questions that personal trainers should be able to answer about their own services.

21. BUILDING CLIENT ADHERENCE
Because there is no single right way to create and enhance motivation and adherence, trainers must be aware, creative, and compassionate with their interactions and programming as it relates to the following:
Program design
Role clarity
Goal setting
Contracts and agreements

22. BUILDING CLIENT ADHERENCE
A significant and time-consuming part of a personal trainer’s job is exercise program design.
The trainer must have the ability to design a safe and effective physical-activity program in regards to the client’s:
Preferences
Schedule
Experience
Apprehensions
Constraints
If a trainer is unable to create customized programs, he or she will be unable to build a stable business that is based on promoting long-term adherence to physical activity. A great deal of patience, listening skills, and creativity are required to successfully customize a program, but once a trainer takes the time and energy to listen and meet the needs of a client, the trainer will understand what it means to truly make a difference.

23. BUILDING CLIENT ADHERENCE
Goal setting
Personal trainers should take the time to teach their clients about setting proper goals.
All goals should follow the SMART guidelines:
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Time-bound
In addition to SMART goals, keep these issues in mind during the goal-setting process:
Avoid setting too many goals.
Keep the number of goals manageable and attainable.
Avoid setting negative goals.
It is important that the client is thinking about achievement, not avoidance.
Set short- and long-term goals, as well as process and performance goals.
Clients should be achieving short-term successes in each workout.
Revisit the goals on a regular basis.
Goals need regular adjusting and should be consistently used as a tool to help direct attention and effort and to promote persistence.

24. BUILDING CLIENT ADHERENCE
Contracts and agreements
Creating clarity within a program related to expectations and goals can be the difference between success and failure.
When used effectively, these documents can:
Give the entire training process clarity
Define what the client should expect
Define what the program entails
Explain the rationale for the program design
This process enhances the communication between the client and the personal trainer and should give the client an accurate perception of the program.