Two groups of people were gearing up to go for a walk. One group was told they were going on a scenic, enjoyable walk and the other were told they were going to get a workout. Later, when food became available the “workout” group ate more desserts and snacks than the “scenic” group. The researchers believe that when people view of exercise as work, they are more likely to reward themselves later than when they think of it as enjoyable part of their day.
For most of human history, people just moved as part of the day. They didn’t wear fitbits, go to gyms, or reward themselves for moving.
The dilemma with activity in today’s world is that we have to fit it in. In order to be successful at this, we have to turn it into a “want-to” in our mind. So if exercise is viewed as work, for instance, it’s probably not happening during the holidays. But it’s seen as a highly-valued part of daily life, then it is.
This week, let’s be mindful of our family’s “view” of physical activity, and how that impacts how much we move. Let’s focus on the benefits exercise gives us this crazy time of year:
Energy
Productivity
Quality sleep
Better food regulation
Crave more nutritious foods
Better mood
Sharper thinking
More focus
Time with loved ones (if done together)
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