The art of move smart

Transcription

1 A combination of physical, social and mental activities changes behaviour permanently The art of move smart Text: Caroline Mangnus Last year, MoveMens Magazine highlighted three themes in the context of a healthy lifestyle and the basis thereof. This review article describe the effects that improving a person s lifestyle, has on their own health. And how you, as a healthcare professional, can assist your client in this. MoveMens was invited to the FIBO for the launch of a new lifestyle concept aimed at permanent behavioural changes: MOVESMART. Overall concept The lifestyle articles published by MoveMens last year already concluded that it is very important for a professional to ensure that the personal goals of their client is taken into account and responded to, and that they are addressed in a language that suits them. But also that you choose a gradual approach to the lifestyle change. Lastly, and certainly not the least important, you have to take into account the interaction between three pillars of lifestyle, namely exercise, nutrition and relaxation. MOVESMART.company presents its new concept MOVES- MART.EATFRESH! MINDSWITCH? as support for professionals who want to permanently address the lifestyle of clients in a practice, club or of independent lifestyle coaches. The

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3 coaching concept combines the latest (scientific) knowledge in the areas of exercise, nutrition and relaxation with the latest technology. Software and hardware are optimally connected to each other. With the built-in loyalty system it is also possible to ensure that clients not only start, but also keep at it for longer. Guiding clients to a healthy, active and vital life is central in this concept. Thanks to smart A proper brain balance leads to a better recovery after physical exertion, and that the effectiveness of a training is thereby increased formulas the contents, objective, service and product around lifestyle interventions are integrated as such that it yields (health) benefits for everyone concerned. MOVESMART.company does not do this themselves, but licenses the overall concept to entrepreneurs in motion. How does it work? Before the actual behavioural change is put in motion, it is important to know where your client stands in the field of exercise, nutrition and relaxation. And not only that, but also the personal goals (what is important to someone), motivation (how much does someone want something), specific needs (does someone have a clear preference for one of the themes) and self-management (is someone able, or unable to independently bring about changes) should form the basis of a customized program. Naturally this also takes account of physical or mental limitations or conditions, should they be present. This MOVESMART.check is done based on a questionnaire that your client fills out using the app. The result is a first photograph which shows how well he scores overall on the different

4 lifestyle areas, but also indicates where the most and fastest benefits can be achieved. This photo appears in the MOVESMART.index. This index shows the grading with respect to the optimum situation, for the three lifestyle domains. This index always results also be achieved using another route? If someone wants to have more energy, this can be achieved following the route of better relaxation, but also that of more exercise. Personal preference then plays an important role. The follow-up advice takes into account all these factors In the app is a continuous and consistent movement toward the desired healthy behaviour returns and is the opening screen for the app, even if someone is working on the program. Actions are therefore immediately followed by feedback. Outside the index scores, an opinion follows on what the follow-up should look like. Which approach is recommended for which domain? This takes into account your client s situation. He is well aware of the importance of a healthy lifestyle? Should one specifically be challenged on a particular theme? Does he prefer working in a group, or rather individually, or even at home? Does he really want to work on a specific theme, or can and therefore provides tailored advice. The big advantage is that you can let your client start with the right program at the right time, from the beginning. In doing this, you skip the familiar frustrations with someone who has been very active in the movement area, but is still bothered with tips on the importance of exercise, because this happens to be the standard route. He is already aware of this. But perhaps he was not yet aware that a proper brain balance leads to a better recovery after physical exertion, and that the effectiveness of a training is thereby increased. Behavioural change Now that the picture is known, it is Coach The coach plays an important role in the first phase. Although the system provides advice and dictates which approach is best based on the measurements, it s up to you as a coach to help your client be more decisive in a healthy lifestyle. It is not always a matter of not wanting to, but also of not being able to. As a coach, you will follow an intensive training so that you can call yourself fully fledged MOVES- MART.coach. The training is not just about learning to work with the app and administering the tests, but also to enthuse and inspire your client.

5 Reward healthy behaviour With the MOVESMART.credit reward system, units are saved with physical, social and mental activities. These credits express the correct dosage of the activities that your client should develop in order to book progress. If you follow this schedule someone can never do too much or too little. Too little isn t good, but it is also important that someone doesn t do too much. For example, sufficient rest needs to planned in order to recover from an exercise. Because the credits can be earned with different types of activities, as a coach, you can also bind you clients who are motivated more to follow the program independently (outside or elsewhere), but who need periodic advice on whether or not they are doing well. This means that someone who follows a cooking class to learn how to cook healthier, will remains under the care of the coach, but the workshop doesn t necessarily need to be performed in your own centre. This can also apply to anyone who wants to train independently outside (such as running). He periodically returns for the retest, but other than that, he follows the program from the app. This way your client saves credits per domain (where necessary). The maximum number of credits you can only earn if you make a combination of physical, mental and social activities, in the correct manner. This encourages Unlike many health apps, your client won t simply receive general advices, but he will get personal feedback and advice. Your client will identify with the information, attention for all domains, despite the possible preference that someone may have. Apart from the fact that the credits reflect the correct dosage, they also form a loyalty system. The credits that somebody saves throughout the week are (only) released with the retest. If someone shows that he has achieved his personal goals in the test, and if this is also visible during the retest, he will receive the credits. One can save these credits for some time, then redeem them for discounts on health related products or services. time to start with the lifestyle change. Lifestyle can be defined as a change in your lifestyle habits, or your behaviour. There are currently different models to achieve behavioural change. Central, however, is always that this should be a phased approach. So too within MOVESMART. This conceptual approach is reflected in the app, so that there is a continuous and consistent movement toward the desired healthy behaviour. Phase 1 Awareness To take the first step to a healthy lifestyle, it is important that you make your client aware of the points in his current behaviour, that he could improve. This can be done by providing information about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Completing the check itself will help with this, and also gets one thinking. However, the feedback from the check is much more interesting. The information regarding a person s position on the three levels, regarding his personal motives and present conditions or limitations, ensure that you can provide tailored information. That is exactly what the app does. Unlike many health apps, your client won t simply receive general advices about what is good for his health, but he will get personal feedback and advice. Your client will identify with the infor-

6 mation, thus increasing awareness. To strengthen this more, and make with real measurements. nal goals and self-management skills of a person, lead to a tailored him even more aware that the cur- Phase 2 Assessment rent behaviour has to be improved, Taking the MOVESMART.test provi- dation also indicates which activi- the app also offers the ability to ex- des the output values on the three ties are recommended to achieve recommendation. This recommen- healthy behaviour, but also what This unique system combines the ideal program (the correct dose of activities at the correct time) to a loyalty system support is needed to achieve this (on-line / off-line, participation in group activities, or not). The test is repeated every 13 weeks, so that progress can be measured and the program for your client remains current. Credits are also redeemed perience this. Depending on where domains. The test is always a mea- the quick wins are, your client is sure of physical fitness, agility and asked to track his exercise behavi- strength. The body composition is our, dietary patterns or brain activity also measured (fat percentage, waist and to compare it with the existing size etc.), as well as blood pressure standards in this area. This makes and several blood levels (glucose, him very aware of this position, and cholesterol). A depth stress test is strengthens his awareness. The tips taken on-line and energy, motivation and advice that he will receive from and resilience is determined. Finally, the app arises from the rich informa- an analysis of the sleep pattern is car- tion that is available at that time. In ried out. All of this together provides a these two weeks, the client is invited full reflection of a person s situation. to literally find out what his position The results of the test, in combination is. Not through a questionnaire, but with the previously identified perso- with this retesting (see framework). Phase 3 Activation From the test and the consultation that you had with your client, you can activate programs. The programs are deployed from the MOVESMART.app, but in practice this may also be your own programs that you re used to working with. Your client will receive an action plan with weekly targets, expressed in credits. This unique system combines the ideal pro-

7 gram (the correct dose of activities at the correct time) to a loyalty system. This combination guarantees safety (the personal situation, existing limitations and preferences are taken into account), and the motivation to keep working on promoting healthy behaviour. With your client, you can choose from (a combination of) physical, social and mental activities. In all these areas, there are programs available at every level. Physical activities include exercise programs (in practice or club, at home by the television with an exercise bike or outside in the nature), circuit training, running specific schedules or a hiking competition. Healthy and fresh food are central in social activities, and this may include cooking workshops, fresh boxes, Sport fasting or following specific eating rules. Programs such as mindfulness, yoga, on-line stress programs or mental coaching can be grouped under the mental activities. You don t have to offer all these programs yourself; using the MOVES- MART.app, you can search for the nearest location that offers certain programs that are in line with the needs it is even more important to prevent fresh food and more relaxation. But and wishes of your client. In phase 3, these diseases. By timely intervention in people who have an unhealthy the client is also encouraged to share the lifestyle change with a partner, lifestyle, or who are experiencing the family or even the neighbourhood. early stages of the aforementioned The social context is essential in this disorders (pre-diabetes, obesity, an sustainable behavioural change. The inactive exercise pattern and / or the environment will be involved and regularly invited to participate in (parts dule makes is more than clear, for first symptoms of stress). The sche- of) the program. example, that a more active exercise patter alone will already have huge The new healthy habits should be unconsciously integrated into everyday life I need hardly explain the relevance effects on the prevention of diabetes, of a healthy lifestyle. It is evident that cardiovascular diseases and mental the most important welfare diseases disorders. Add the effects of a healthier diet en and a better brain balan- of this time (type II diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases and stress) ce, and it is clear that we, as society, are the result of an unhealthy lifestyle. need to change our attitudes when it Fortunately, good medicine is available for these lifestyle diseases: heal- comes to health. thy exercise patterns, healthy and

8 Phase 4 Affirmation Clients who started with a health program, often struggle to maintain it. Especially when the first results are noticeable and a person starts feeling better, the experienced need decreases. The risk that clients give up and fall back to their old behavioural patterns, is therefore large. It is therefore important to help your client find a way to sustain the behavioural change. The new healthy habits should be unconsciously integrated into everyday life. To consolidate this and prevent relapse, events and challenges are offered from the concept at this stage. In the area of exercise, it works well when you put a higher or greater purpose in the perspective. For example, participation in a major sporting event with a sporting buddy. During the test you can suggest this, as coach, and you can choose a training schedule that will work best for this the Zevenheuvelen or the Dam tot Damloop, for instance. When it comes to nutrition, it is especially important to include fresh food in the daily routine. For example, by teaching people how to build and maintain their own vegetable garden. Thus, your client is not only busy with fresh food when cooking, but he can also combine this with gardening. Gardening is a great physical activity that gives mental peace. By organizing people to cook together and cook for one another in an organized manner, eating will be given more and more of a social nature, making it easier to keep up and to involve the social environment. On the mental level this could include reflection tours or (natural) retreats. The retreat itself is a nice way to unwind, but also provides new leads to find the right brain balance in daily life in a better and easier way. MOVESMART.combi If your client scores well on all fronts and has found the right balance between the activities, thus saving lots of credits, he can redeem them for a discount on a revitalizing holiday. Sufficient exercise, healthy diet and time for rest and relaxation are optimally combined. MOVESMART is not just a product with a application, like the many others out there. It is a way-of-life that many people secretly dream of, but which they simply can t manage to achieve. It is also the solution to a major problem in our society and with our clients. For almost all chronic diseases that cause much distress, a healthy lifestyle is naturally the best medicine. Obviously in order to prevent, but also to treat.