Exercise contemplators: unravelling the processes of change

Explores what people contemplating exercise (exercise contemplators) described, using the five processes of change that are considered by those who adhere to the Transtheoretical Model of Change, as most important for changing exercise behaviour. Also examines four delay tactics. Analysis of structured interviews with eight exercise contemplators identified three main findings, which show that the existing conceptualisations of the processes of change lack relevance to everyday accounts of trying to become more active. Further, in practice the processes were not readily differentiated by people, although process questionnaires require people to make these differentiations. Individuals reflected their optimism for change using two dimensions. How often an individual process was used seemed less important than the personal significance of experiences or events, especially the negative actions of significant others. The findings may help to explain why “process of change” questionnaires fail to predict change for exercise. The complex mix of the ways that processes and delay tactics are used, and how they are described, illustrates how challenging it may be for these people to change without help. These issues also affect counsellors who wish to develop stage‐matched counselling based on these elements of change.