title: Can previously sedentary females use the feeling scale to regulate exercise intensity in a gym environment? an observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent research suggests that the Feeling Scale (FS) can be used as a method of exercise intensity regulation to maintain a positive affective response during exercise. However, research to date has been carried out in laboratories and is not representative of natural exercise environments. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether sedentary women can self-regulate their exercise intensity using the FS to experience positive affective responses in a gym environment using their own choice of exercise mode; cycling or treadmill.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen females (24.9 years ± 5.2; height 166.7 ± 5.7 cm; mass 66.3 ± 13.4 kg; BMI 24.1 ± 5.5)) completed a submaximal exercise test and each individual's ventilatory threshold ([Formula: see text]) was identified. Following this, three 20 min gym-based exercise trials, either on a bike or treadmill were performed at an intensity that was self-selected and perceived to correspond to the FS value of +3 (good). Oxygen uptake, heart rate (HR) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured during exercise at the participants chosen intensity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results indicated that on average participants worked close to their [Formula: see text] and increased their exercise intensity during the 20-min session. Participants worked physiologically harder during cycling exercise. Consistency of oxygen uptake, HR and RPE across the exercise trials was high.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data indicate that previously sedentary women can use the FS in an ecological setting to regulate their exercise intensity and that regulating intensity to feel 'good' should lead to individuals exercising at an intensity that would result in cardiovascular gains if maintained.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Child Health, University College London, Population, Policy and Practice, UCL Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH UK ; Sport and Health Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, St Lukes Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU UK.
authors.forename: Charlotte C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hamlyn-Williams
authors.affiliation: Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity, Sansom Institute, University of South Australia, 101 Currie St, Adelaide, SA 5001 Australia.
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tempest
authors.affiliation: Sport and Health Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, St Lukes Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU UK.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coombs
authors.affiliation: Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity, Sansom Institute, University of South Australia, 101 Currie St, Adelaide, SA 5001 Australia.
authors.forename: Gaynor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parfitt
keywords: Affect; Exercise prescription; Ideographic responses; Physical activity; Ventilatory threshold