Behavior Analysis | BehaviorFit | Health, Fitness, and Applied Behavior Analysis

New BehaviorFit Course – Assessment 101: Assessing Health and Fitness Behaviors

After several months of planning, a new course is available for purchase through the BehaviorFit courses page. The goal of this course is to provide a general of overview of assessment strategies when targeting health and fitness behavior change. New Course – Assessment 101: Assessing Health and Fitness Behaviors To learn more about the course, […]

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Bumper Plates And Stimulus Control

Behavior Analysis

Why different colored weights at the gym? Because of a behavioral principle called STIMULUS CONTROL! Defined. Stimulus Control = the process by which stimuli (colors) are associated with different outcomes (weights) in the environments (the gym). This principle is important because it guides our current behaviors to make the best choice. Most bumper plates follow

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BehaviorFit Guest Appearances on Physical Activity Researcher Podcast

Behavior Analysis, Physical Activity Recommendations

I had the privilege to join Olli Tikkanen of the Physical Activity (PA) Research Podcast. Olli and I had a lengthy conversation about behavior analysis applied to health and fitness and the role of technology. Olli broke our conversation down into two parts. Part I: Behavior analysis is such an important tool as… Dr Nicholas

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Motivation is NOT Real

Behavior Analysis, Motivation

At best, it is a label. “Motivation” labels our own behaviors. It is a verbal statement that correlates with a particular rate of responding, given a set of environmental variables. It is merely a prediction of our own behavior. (The say-do correspondence is separate issue itself. You may say that you are motivated given certain

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Lift weights? Know About Rest and Interresponse Time

Behavior Analysis

When the coach says rest every 2 minutes, do you? Weightlifting is all about Interresponse Time (IRT). Lift a little, then take the appropriate rest. Many smart coaches, physiotherapists and exercise scientists have figured this out. What is IRT? IRT = the duration between the offset of one exercise before the onset of the next;

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Resurgence Applied To Physical Activity

Behavior Analysis

Resurgence is a behavioral principle that can account for switching of fitness behaviors. By definition, resurgence = When previously extinguished target behavior “resurges” when a more recently reinforced target behavior is extinguished. Loosely speaking, you get bored of one activity and go do something else. Resurgence Explained Phase 1 Running receives reinforcement and occurs at

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5 Ways To Analyze Sleep Data

Behavior Analysis, Data Analysis

Sleep is often discussed as a meaningful health target. People always ask: How do I get more sleep? Am I fully recovered? What is the ideal amount of sleep for me? While answers to these questions are highly individualized—at the end of the day—any analysis of sleep, recovery, and related data should always come back

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Delay Discounting and Health Behavior

Behavior Analysis

Much of our health and fitness behavior is all about choice. Delay discounting is an important behavioral principle that tells us how our choices are affected by certain outcomes. We may be more “impulsive” and choose the immediate reinforcers (drugs, booze, donuts) because we can have them NOW. Choosing other reinforcers with delayed consequences (improved

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Analyzing Fitness and Heart Rate following a positive COVID-19 test

Behavior Analysis

Following a postive COVID-19 test, I immediately felt the effects on my fitness performance. As any good scientist would do, I looked back at my data to discern any trends and gather a basic understanding of anything going on. (Before I review my findings, I’m thankful I’ve only had minor symptoms, my heart goes out

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BehaviorFIt’s Pillars of Health: 5 Rules To Live By

Behavior Analysis, Recommendations

Behavior + Fitness = BehaviorFit We are what we do. How fit and healthy we are boils down to our fitness behaviors that repeat…every, single, day. Health and fitness are general categories, rather accumulations of these behaviors. We say that we have good health when certain metrics align (e.g., desired weight, normal blood pressure). Of

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