Experienced effects and behavior change
PA.It
Most of the participants experienced that participating in the study had a positive impact on their PA habits, describing that they became more focused on performing PA and that it felt easier to be more physically active in their everyday life than earlier. Some explained they found a lot of joy and fun in performing PA now, and they got in better shape.It really affects me, It’s really fun and a lot more motivating when I see that I can run four times a week, and I am in a much better shape now (ID 20).Some participants set goals for their activities/training, doing regularly exercise two or more times a week on fixed days, or had a plan for the different types of exercise during a week. Others were happy just to go out for a walk sometimes during the week, and were more focused on doing everyday activities (i.e., walking instead of taking the bus). Many participants made a plan to have time to prioritize PA, whilst others were active when it was possible (e.g., while their children were on activities, on their way to and from work). Some experienced that they lost some weight as a result of being more active, with a consequent positive effect on their self-esteem and ability to perform PA.It is good to be physically active and feel the endorphins I gain after being active. It is a satisfactory feeling to be happy with myself and not have the bad conscience for it (ID 3).Some participants experienced better sleep quality or lowered stress levels when doing PA regularly. Others pointed out the effects of their increased activity level as a good and important overall investment in their own health, especially for those being from the higher age group (≥40). There were also participants who had not experienced any objective or subjective health gains during the first 6 months of the study.I had a desire of increasing my level of PA by joining this study, but nothing has changed, and I have a persistent low level of PA. It is not exactly motivating, and I do not feel any benefit of the interventions (ID 12).