5 Steps Toward an Active Identity

5 Steps Toward an Active Identity
Article By: Melissa Sperl

Never been able to describe yourself as "active"? Here's how.


If you're like most of us, you identify yourself in a number of ways: By your job ("executive" or "mom"), by your relationships ("son" or "sister"), by your personality characteristics ("organizer" or "procrastinator").

But do you ever identify yourself by your activity level, or your approach to exercise? Maybe you're not yet ready to call yourself "active," or even to start saying you have an A.I., or "Active Identity." That's fine — it's important that you really be ready. But it can't hurt to start thinking about the levels of change you'll make toward developing an A.I. We'll help you do that here.

Work your way toward active identity
Lifestyle changes and new habits are developed at different levels, all of which are important. But the changes that happen closest to your core, or your identity, are longer lasting. And they can help you maintain the outer-level changes that helped you get there.

Sound confusing? Review the list of the Levels of Change below; they're listed in order from outermost (this is the level that you have the most control over, so it's easiest to change) to innermost (which is your identity). As you look through the list, think about ways you could alter that level of your life as you work toward having an A.I.

Environment: What in your surroundings helps you to be active? Hinders you? What changes can you make to your environment that will encourage you to be more active?

Behaviors: Which new activities have you started since you started Weight Watchers? How do you fit them into your day? What's getting in the way of your starting more activities?

Capabilities: What can you do now that you couldn't do before you lost weight? Is there an activity you'd like to try? What's been holding you back?

Beliefs: How do your beliefs — the way you feel about yourself — impact your ability or motivation to stay active? Have your beliefs about your ability to be active changed since you started Weight Watchers?

Identity: How do you achieve an A.I.? What does it feel and look like to you?

Remember, new habits take time to form. If being an active person seems overwhelming to you, take it level by level, step by step. You'll have an A.I. before you know it!