Mental Fatigue Prior to Aerobic Exercise Reduces Exercise Pleasure and Negatively Affects Implicit Attitudes Toward Future Exercise.

We investigated the effects of mental fatigue (MF) on affective responses during an aerobic exercise session at moderate intensity. We submitted 12 insufficiently active adults (50% women; M age = 24.9 years, SD = 3.0; M BMI = 24.3 kg/m2; SD = 2.6) to two 30-minute pre-exercise conditions: an MF condition (Stroop Color-Word task) and a control condition (watching a documentary) prior to their performance of 20 minutes of aerobic treadmill exercise at 40-59% of heart rate reserve. The minimum washout interval between conditions was two days. Perceived MF and motivation to perform physical exercise were assessed before and after conditions with a visual analog scale of 100 mm. We assessed participants' affective and exertion responses with the Feeling Scale, Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) and heart rate during every two minutes of physical exercise. Implicit attitudes toward physical exercise were assessed by the Implicit Association Test before the MF and control conditions and after the physical exercise session. The participants in the MF condition reported lower pleasure (M difference = -1.57, 95% CI = -2.64 to -0.50, d = 0.93, p = .008) and higher exertion (RPE) (M difference = 1.16, 95% CI = 0.04 to 2.27, d = 0.66, p = .043) compared to those in the control condition. Participants who experienced MF also reported a more negative implicit attitude toward physical exercise than in the control condition (ß = -0.47, 95% CI= -0.73 to -0.21, d = 1.41, p < .001). While these findings should be cross-validated in subsequent research with a larger and more diverse participant sample, there appears to be value in minimizing pre-exercise mental fatigue to avoid negative MF effects on the exercisers' affective experience.

Exercise behavior patterns and associations with subjective well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the behavior and practice of planned and structured physical exercises. This study aimed to investigate the association between changes in physical exercise behavior and subjective well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed in Brazil and included a total of 595 individuals recruited through social media platforms, personal and professional contacts. Each participant responded to self-completed questionnaire via an online survey between March 29 and May 7, 2020. The characteristics of physical exercise (frequency, intensity, and duration) were collected before and during the pandemic. The subjective state of mood was measured through the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire during the pandemic. A generalized linear model was employed for the analysis. RESULTS: Exercising during the pandemic only promoted protective effects on the subjective mood. An exercise frequency of 3-5 days/week was associated with improved vigor and between 6-7 days/week with improved vigor and total mood when compared to not exercising at all (p < .005). A moderate intensity was associated with improved vigor, and a high intensity with improved vigor, total mood, and less fatigue in comparison to low-intensity exercise programs (p < 0.05). Maintaining the same duration of exercise sessions during the pandemic was associated with lower scores of depression/anxiety, fatigue and irritability, and improved vigor and total mood, while performing longer sessions with improved vigor when compared to short exercise sessions (p < .005). CONCLUSION: Regular exercising during the pandemic promotes positive changes in the subjective well-being. Our results reinforce the need for adopting and maintaining a physical exercise routine during the COVID-19 pandemic as a protective effect on mental health.

Dropout predictors at gyms: a retrospective study / Preditores de abandono em academias: um estudo retrospectivo / Predictores de abandono en gimnasios: un estudio retrospectivo

ABSTRACT This study aimed to verify the risk factors associated with gym regulars' dropout over 12 months. This is an observational, retrospective, cohort study. The sample consisted of two gyms (Gym 1: n=2027, age=39.1 ±13.1 years; Gym 2: n=1775, age=36.8 ±11.6 years). Each participant was followed up for 12 months, or until dropout, by controlling the biometric entry system using a turnstile. The adherence rate was of 11% at Gym 1 and 19% at Gym 2. At both gyms, training frequency ≤3x/month and 4-6x/month was associated with dropout. At gym 1, being a female, aged ≥43 years, and enrollment between October and December were dropout predictors. At Gym 2, dropout was associated with contract length ≤31 days and 32-186 days and enrollment between April and December.

RESUMO Este estudo teve objetivo verificar os fatores de risco associados ao abandono durante 12 meses. Este é um estudo observacional de coorte retrospectivo. A amostra consistiu de duas academias (Academia 1: n=2027, idade=39,1±13,1 anos; Academia 2: n=1775, idade=36,8±11,6 anos). Cada participante foi acompanhado por 12 meses ou até o abandono, pelo controle do sistema de entrada biométrica, usando uma catraca. A taxa de aderência foi 11% na academia 1 e 19% na academia 2. Em ambas as academias, frequência de treino ≤3x/mês e 4-6x/mês foi associada ao abandono. Na academia 1, ser mulher, idade ≥43 anos, e matrícula ocorrendo entre outubro-dezembro foram preditores de abandono. Na academia 2, o abandono foi associado com duração do contrato ≤31 dias e entre 32-186 dias, e matrícula ocorrendo entre abril-dezembro.

RESUMEN El objetivo del estudio fue verificar los factores de riesgo asociados al abandono durante 12 meses. Este es un estudio observacional de cohorte retrospectiva. La muestra estuvo constituida por dos gimnasios (Gimnasio 1: n = 2027, edad=39,1±13,1 años; Gimnasio 2: n=1775, edad = 36,8±11,6 años). Se realizó un seguimiento de cada participante durante 12 meses o hasta el abandono, controlando el sistema de entrada biométrico, mediante un trinquete. La tasa de adherencia fue del 11% en el gimnasio 1 y del 19% en el gimnasio 2. En ambos gimnasios, frecuencia de entrenamiento ≤3x/mes y 4-6x/mes se asoció con el abandono. En el gimnasio 1, ser mujer, edad ≥43 años, y la matrícula realizada entre octubre-diciembre fueron predictores de abandono. En el gimnasio 2, abandono se asoció con una duración del contrato ≤31 días y entre 32-186 días, y la matrícula realizada entre abril-diciembre.