The secret benefit of fun exercise routines
A recent study showed that if you think about your workout in positive terms, you'll also eat less dessert and high calorie snacks.
If you think about your workout in positive terms, you'll probably exercise more often and enjoy it more. For example, if you look forward to getting out into nature, you'll go running more often. Or if you take pride in what your body can do, you won't mind the sweating and fatigue as much. We've looked previously at some other ways to enjoy the hardest part of your workout here.
A recent intriguing study showed that there's an amazing benefit to thinking positively about your workout and focusing on fun: You will eat less dessert and high calorie snacks.
The researchers compared what people ate after physical activity when it was called something enjoyable - "a scenic walk" - versus when it was called "an exercise walk". Those who went on the "scenic walk" consumed less dessert at mealtime and consumed fewer high calorie snacks.
They next looked at runners in a competitive race. The more fun the runners rated the race, the less they ate of high calorie junk snacks afterwards.
Why would this be?
Their hypothesis was that when we exercise, we want a reward for our work. If we see our exercise as an unpleasant experience, we look for a bigger reward. Something to compensate for the unpleasant experience. So in the study, exercisers who thought they were doing something unpleasant rewarded themselves with more dessert and snacks.
However, when we enjoy our workout and have fun, that is a reward in itself. We don't look for something more because the exercise itself was pleasant.
Your take home point: Think about your exercise in positive terms. Focus on what you like about it and enjoy the most. As well, have fun. Your waistline may very well thank you for it!
Read more Sports Doc for Sports Medicine and Fitness.