This was a segment on NPR yesterday about a study on why we might tend to “be bad” after “being good” .
When you are an experienced dieter, you know how to “be good”. You know all the rules and tricks in order to take in less and burn more calories. You could probably could write a book on it!
It is interesting to learn from research in the field of marketing. It gives us great clues in to what drives us, what motivates our decisions . This term used called “licensing” is a handy one. It describes that switch that seems to happen when we have been following the plan closely for a while and then suddenly, without warning, we switch and make a complete 180 degree turn to do the exact opposite of what we know we “should do.
When we are trying at achieve a goal like weight loss, we can get really focused on all the rules. We follow what someone else tells us we need to do and try really hard to stick with it. We can become like a child sitting at a fancy restaurant trying really hard to be polite, use good manners and sit still. Eventually, they will lose it (hopefully not in the restaurant!). Its like trying to hold our breath – there is only so long we can try hard to ignore signals from our body to do what we want and need to do.
Stringent, intense, hard-core exercise programs put us in that position. We are working so hard to measure up, to perform, to keep up, to ignore pain and fatigue signals from our body. That it can only last so long. Eventually we are going to head in the complete opposite direction.
Moderation is key. It is not glamorous, flashy or newsworthy, but it works when it comes to exercise. Studies indicate moderate intensity of cardiovascular exercise is enough to improve stamina. Moderate amounts of training, like one set three days a week, works to improve strength.
So moderate is enough and pushing hard makes us lose motivation…. hmmmm maybe we can finally lose the idea that we need to try to be good and not be bad and simply enjoy moving again!
Keep Moving, Be Well,
Janet
Please share these posts with anyone you know interested in losing weight with or without weight loss surgery. Click here to learn more about the UMass Memorial Weight Center
These weekly blogs are general guidelines. These guidelines apply to patients who are cleared by a physician for the type of exercise described. Please contact your physician with any concerns or questions. Always report any symptoms associated with exercise, such as pain, irregular heartbeats, and dizziness or fainting, to your physician.
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