It may not come as a surprise that the people who take more responsibility in their exercise regimes get better and more consistent results than those who take the back seat and leave the work to someone else, but the evidence shows that Self Regulation plays a key role in adherence and progressiveness of exercise programs. Self Regulation refers to one’s own monitoring of progress, knowing your own specific goals and working toward them with your own feedback and monitoring system, so you are totally involved in the progress of your regime.
The opposite of self regulation is when people go on autopilot with their health and fitness doing the same old thing or just doing whatever goes without much focus or direct goals.
This might sound funny coming from a trainer who’s entire business resides on people who come for coaching and who wouldn’t have a job if no one sought professional advice, but the reality is that we’ve never enjoyed training people who don’t care that much for their results or just want to put the responsibility of their health in someone else’s hands and let you do all the work. Nor do we enjoy having to be the motivator 100% of the time. Ideally, we are the coach that consults, advises, directs and guides with specific detail but not hold the hand entirely while the client sits on auto-pilot mode without proactively linking the process with the intended result.
Instead, let your trainer set the program, guide you in the direction, technique and execution and show you the differences that make the difference, but ultimately take responsibility for your behaviour, commitment and adherence. You will enjoy it more and be more empowered, with greater self-discipline in the end.
