Researchers Debunk Willpower and Teach the Secret of Easier Weight Loss
Do those of us carrying a few extra pounds lack the willpower of our trimmer compatriots?
Researchers at the University of Minnesota say that while that's a popular explanation, it might not be true - and they think they can explain why as well as teach the skills that could lead to more moderate consumption of unhealthy foods.
Based on a series of experiments, the researchers concluded that people with high self-control didn't really have more willpower, they just stopped enjoying the consumption of unhealthy foods (became sated) faster than people with low self-control.
And it's a lot easier to stop doing something when it stops being enjoyable!
Fortunately, they say that people with low self-control can get to satiation faster simply by increasing the attention they pay to eating.
The Experiment
In an experiment, they found that when people with low self-control counted their swallows of unhealthy foods with a baseball pitch counter they became sated much faster than when they paid less attention to the quantity being consumed.
Commentary
Commenting on the significance of the findings for weight management, lead researcher Joseph Redden noted, "People can essentially use attention for how much they are consuming instead of relying on self-control. Really paying a lot more attention to the quantity will lead people to feel satiated faster and eat less."
The full research results can be found in the Journal of Consumer Research.
Post a comment 0
Copyright Notice
We welcome republishing of our content on condition that you credit Choose Help and the respective authors. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Helpful Reading:
-
Beat Cravings with Urge Surfing
For the next 10 seconds, try not to think of a pink elephant…Impossible, right?! The fact is, the more you try to suppress an impulse to use drugs or alcohol the more fixated your mind becomes on that very impulse, and this is bad news for anyone serious about maintaining their sobriety. Fortunately, you don’t have to drink or use and you don’t have to fight or suppress your cravings, all you have to do is surf over them and they’ll disappear – using a proven mindfulness technique known as urge surfing.
Read the complete article -
How to Let Go of Guilt and Shame
Alcoholics and addicts do things in active addiction which leave them feeling guilt and shame. Learn what you can do to get over your guilt and shame to forgive yourself and let go of the past.
Read the complete article