Overworked Brain = Loss In Motivation = Caving Into Temptation
Overworked Brain = Loss In Motivation = Caving Into Temptation
I have been reading a book called Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman, winner of the nobel prize in economics. So far it is pretty interesting and relevant in regards to our fat-loss/fitness journey.
What Dr. Kahneman and numerous others have tested and discovered is that both self-control and cognitive effort are forms of mental work. Studies have shown that people who are simultaneously challenged by a demanding cognitive task (at work or play) and by a temptation are more likely to yield to the temptation.
So if you are at work and performing a task that is cognitively challenging it drains you mentally and…this is the key…slowly zaps your self-control. This means if one of your co-workers asks if you want a piece of cake at 10:30 AM, before the difficult task. You will likely be able to say, “No, thank you.” BUT…if you have been slaving away at some mentally arduous task and using up your self-control juice…the chances of you caving and binge cake dramatically increase. What makes this scenario even scarier, is if you are able to say, “No” the second time, you used up even more self-control juice. Crazy right!?
Slowly Losing Motivation
In short, self-control requires attention and effort. Repeated studies have shown that if you have to force yourself to do something (like, say no to chocolate cake), you are less willing or less able to exert self-control when the next temptation comes. This means the use of self-control is depleting and unpleasant and plays a key part in losing motivation.
Why!?
Busy Brain = Drop in Blood Glucose Levels
When you are actively involved in difficult cognitive reasoning or engaged in a task that requires self-control, your blood glucose level drops. Just like when you train really hard in the gym and your muscles become depleted of glucose, the same thing happens to your brain.
Ever wonder why after a super hard stressful day at work you are much more likely to say, “Screw it! I am going to drink and eat whatever I want!” Well now you know. Your brain is, in sense starving for glucose, “sugar.” The only way to satisfy this monster is to….
What To Do About It?
Step 1: Plan your weeks meals (or if that is overwhelming just plan breakfast). That way you are aren’t using up your self-control juice on choosing a food.
Step 2: Shop, go buy all the food you need on your list. You won’t have to think about what to get, no need to use up self-control juice on what to get. Simply grab and go.
Step 3: Prepare and/or cook the food for all your meals. Then once the crazy day starts you already have food ready to go and prepared so you don’t have to think and you don’t have to let your brain starve.
Step 4: Don’t think…just follow the plan.
Step 5: Go be awesome!
Kellen Lake @ Just You Fitness Winston Salem…The physical location is almost done. Can’t wait to start helping busy people remove the wiggle from their middle from this new location! If you would like to work together on your goals, let me know! I would love to help.
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