The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a combined model of Transtheoretical model and self-determination theory on the promotion and maintenance of exercise behavior among college students. This study consists of two stages: 1) cross sectional study 2) interventional study. Inclusion criteria: volunteer students, having no apparent diseases or orthopedic barriers, students who were in preparation stage of their exercise behavior (the 5 stages of behavior change include: pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance). After determining the stages of change in exercise behavior in cross sectional study, students who were in preparation stage, were randomly allocated into experimental and control groups. The experimental group (66 students) received the intervention based on TTM and SDT, including: 20 sessions 45 to 60 minutes lectures for 12 to 14 participants about increasing their knowledge of exercise behavior, pros and cons in exercise behavior, goal setting in exercise, time management to fit exercise behavior in daily life and individual interviews, focus group discussions, role playing, simulation and video with a credible role model, rewarding oneself for activity and also sending SMS. The control group (67 students) received classical intervention based on Guilan University of Medical Sciences strategies. In fact, this group did not receive any intervention by the researcher. Evaluation was conducted by stages of change in exercise behavior and METs, before intervention, post intervention and after 8 months.