New research has found that your reason for exercising can affect how much food you eat afterwards. If your reasons are for fun or to enjoy yourself, you eat less compared to if you are doing it just to exercise.
These new findings from the Cornell Food and Brand Lab study involved two studies where adults were led on a 2 km walk around a small lake and were either told it was going to be an exercise walk or a scenic walk. In the first study, 56 adults completed their walk and were then given lunch. Those who believed they had been on an exercise walk served and ate 35% more chocolate pudding for dessert than those who believed they had been on a scenic walk.
In the second study, 46 adults were given mid-afternoon snacks after their walk. Those thinking they taken an exercise walk ate 206 more calories of M&Ms, which was over twice as much - 124% more - than those who had been told they were on a scenic walk. "Viewing their walk as exercise led them to be less happy and more fatigued," says lead author, Carolina Werle, professor at Grenoble Ecole de Management in France.
Together, these studies point to one reason why people in exercise programs often find themselves gaining weight. According to Werle, the notion is that some exercisers have a tendency to reward themselves by overeating after their workout.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Preston on Friday July 11 2014, @04:45PM
If I'm coding for fun I eat less (and do a better job). I bet that people that do more things for fun have more money, better jobs, and are in better health.
Even doing things like playing video games for fun. A lot of unhealthy types that play video games treat them as a second job whose means are to fuel an addiction.
The key is to find enjoyment in all you do, know when to move on to something else, and to have balance in life.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Ethanol-fueled on Friday July 11 2014, @05:40PM
It's hard to keep good spirits in America with nothing but bad news on T.V., a poor economy, the ever-looming threat of layoffs and the difficulty of getting a job without nepotism once you've already been laid off. Being in a constant state of worry with nothing to look forward to makes exercise difficult and exacerbates unhealthy habits.
Perhaps our society would be more physically healthy if it were more emotionally healthy, so there would be a lot more fun even with traditionally "boring" exercises such as running -- during a run, you really have to work after a painfully slogging warm-up period to get to that endorphin rush.
That being said, unless you're a professional athlete (or a construction worker) by trade, it helps to have both "fun" exercises (in my case, kayaking and surfing) as well as plenty of coffee and good music for the drudgery of "maintenance" exercises like running or weight-lifting.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by strength_of_10_men on Saturday July 12 2014, @12:00AM
I dunno, I already like to exercise so maybe this study focuses more on people who don't otherwise exercise?
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Lazarus on Friday July 11 2014, @04:56PM
Much of my exercise, other than the weight lifting, is playing Kinect and Playstation Move games. Lots of fun, and the more intense games really get my heart going.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 11 2014, @05:41PM
"Viewing their walk as exercise led them to be less happy and more fatigued," says lead author..
I didn't RFTA, but this conclusion sounds unfounded. Its more likely simply that people who did an "exercise" walk felt more entitled to eating more than people who did the "scenic" walk, even though both walks were the same. I think off the wall psychological conclusions about each groups happiness is a bit of a stretch.
(Score: 1) by hellcat on Saturday July 12 2014, @03:12AM
I did RTFA and it is well summarized in the header here.
Totally agree with you. In psychology and business, we know that there's 'tricks' to influencing subjects. All it appears here is that these 'researchers' have revealed these tricks - but without really learning anything.
Basically, if I want you to eat more of something, I can present it in such a way that makes you feel obligated. Telling you that you just exercised means that you're doing more work than you normally would. You eat more.
I can use the same tricks to get you to buy more cookies, raffle tickets, or mutual funds.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Gaaark on Friday July 11 2014, @06:04PM
I find that when drinking on the job, i drink far more than if i am drinking for fun.
I drink, i fall down, people laugh but then i get fired.
And now i drink for fun! :)
(an aside: RIP Frank Drebin!)
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by rts008 on Friday July 11 2014, @06:10PM
Sounds like you need more practice. :-)
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Friday July 11 2014, @06:23PM
Sounds like someone needs to 'lend' me a case of Chivas Regal for the weekend, friend! :)
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by rts008 on Friday July 11 2014, @07:35PM
Nice try. :-)
(Score: 0, Flamebait) by Ethanol-fueled on Friday July 11 2014, @06:43PM
Oh, so you finally got fired from the Sperm Bank after all those years drinking on the job?
Too bad, so sad. Here, let me whip you up a fresh one, for old-tyme's sake.
*sklapsklapsklapsklap...*
(Score: 2) by Tork on Saturday July 12 2014, @01:33AM
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈