[pizza234]

That is not an effective strategy.

Decisions are backed by the environment (in a broad sense), so it's important to understand (for the sake of effectiveness) which changes can be done to the environment, to stimulate taking such decision[s].

[dv35z]

I'll say one thing - my dad is 70, doubtful he's ever had a gym routine. But, as he's gained wait, he's had interest in better diet, losing weight. He told me he'd consider exercise. So I took him to his nearby gym, wrote down two checklists (an "A" day, and "B" say) and showed him the exercises, how weights & machines work, got him familiar/comfortable/unafraid of it. I think a big "friction" is people thinking "I have no idea what I'd even do in the gym". So having a plan helps that. That was a few weeks ago, and he's been in the gym a couple times a week in the morning. Super proud of him - as you can imagine, getting my older stubborn dad to learn a new truck is a tough sell!

[CalRobert]

Well, you can change your own environment. This is personal, but what has worked has been one of:

* Have a gym close to work (i.e. 5 minute walk or less) and a corporate culture that lets you take 45-60 minute lunch breaks. Bonus - I find this makes my afternoons much more productive.

* Live 6+ cycle-able miles from work and ideally have a shower at work

* Be a student with a gym near your classes and an hour or two to kill between them

When one of these things is true I always manage to get a decent routine going. Without that I have always failed. Moving away from southern California to a place where I walk and cycle everywhere has helped.

[eyan]

I was being kind, sir.

What I was trying to say is: I don't give a flying raccoon if people want to exercise or not.

So yeah. No strategising from me.

[pizza234]

Depending on the social structure, problems of individuals may have a socialized cost; if this is the case, also people who don't give a flying raccoon or not, do actually pay for that.