Final answer:
A person planning on exercising within the next 6 months is in the Contemplation stage of change. It's advisable to start small with exercise and to reward oneself for achieving exercise goals. Regular exercise and healthy lifestyle choices can positively influence overall health and aging.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a person is planning on exercising within the next 6 months but has not yet started, they are considered to be in the Contemplation stage of change. This stage involves thinking about making a change but not yet taking action.
It's important to avoid an all-or-nothing point of view when approaching exercise. Starting with as little as ten or 15 minutes per day of moderate activity, like walking around the neighborhood, and gradually increasing exercise time is a positive way to begin.
To reinforce positive behaviors, it's beneficial to be kind to oneself and to provide rewards for achieving exercise goals.
Behavioral interventions, including making lifestyle changes, can help in maintaining these adjustments, such as a healthy lifestyle.
This aligns with the idea that regular exercise and lifestyle choices can mitigate the progressive impact of aging on the body.