Use of self-regulatory techniques (lower order theme)
While some disliked self-monitoring PA behaviours (14%) at six-and-12-months, others reported that self-monitoring PA with pedometers had improved both their competence and motivation for PA. At 24-months, participants employed self-regulatory techniques including self-monitoring, adjusting PA expectations (e.g. based on health), using problem-solving to overcome specific barriers (e.g. walking indoors to stay active when the weather was poor), habit formation (repeating activities regularly until they became a daily routine) and action-planning (e.g. to manage competing commitments) to stay motivated and maintain activity despite challenges (e.g. competing commitments, declining health and adverse weather).