Lab 9

Support & Rewards

Support

Research has shown that having a good support system can greatly increase the chance of success in reaching and maintaining goals. Many times when students go off to college, people change their place of residence or jobs; they lose part of a support structure that may have been in place for many years — such as family and friends. Losing this support can hinder in the success of achieving new goals or maintaining previous goals and habits as it relates to health and fitness.

Finding the needed support can be easy for some but harder for others. In this lab we will examine sources for support in reaching your health and fitness goals.

Rewards

It can be hard at times when we try to change or add a new health behavior – especially when first starting out. Finding ways to reward yourself, to help maintain motivation, is a great way to help keep you going. However, it is important that you identify rewards that will help keep YOU motivated.

There are two main types of rewards – intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. Intrinsic rewards are non-material rewards. These would include such things as feeling confidant because you accomplished something, feeling healthier, feeling more energetic, and just feeling good about yourself because you did it. Sometimes intrinsic rewards are not enough to help get us past times when motivation is lost. In these cases is helpful to have extrinsic rewards or rewards you can touch, feel, and smell. In this lab we will exam rewards that may be helpful for you to reach your health and fitness goals.