[Voodoo Vince]

Weak 'willpower muscle' stops workers hitting gym after office

An undeveloped 'willpower muscle' may be the reason workers can't face going to the gym after the office, researchers claim.

By Murray Wardrop
Published: 7:00AM BST 28 Sep 2009


Mental stress reduces people's willpower to hit the gym after work, research claims

Canadian scientists found that the more emotional or mental challenges a person faces in a day, the less resolute they become to work out physically.

However, the findings should not deter us from keeping fit. Experts believe that willpower is like a muscle, which needs to be exercised to avoid the temptation of a night on the couch instead.

Kathleen Martin Ginis, an associate professor of kinesiology – the science of movement – who led the study, said we all have a limited amount of willpower which is whittled away by stress.

Miss Martin Ginis, from Canada's McMaster University, explained: “Cognitive tasks, as well as emotional tasks, such as regulating your emotions, can deplete your self-regulatory capacity to exercise."

Her team of scientists used a so-called "Stroop" test on volunteers to reach their conclusions. The experiment involved showing participants words associated with colours but printed in a different colour – for example the word “blue” written in red ink.

Subjects were then asked to name the colour of the ink, despite the temptation instead to say the printed word.

Miss Martin Ginis said: "After we used this cognitive task to deplete participants' self-regulatory capacity, they didn't exercise as hard as participants who had not performed the task.

"The more people concentrated on the cognitive task, the more likely they were to skip their exercise sessions over the next eight weeks.

"You only have so much willpower."

However, there are ways we can stiffen our resolve. The research found that listening to music before going to the gym can help, as well as making commitments to work out with friends.

The study, published in journal Psychology and Health, also concluded that willpower can be stretched by constantly challenging yourself to resist temptations such as eating a piece of chocolate cake, or forcing yourself to study an extra half-hour each night.

Miss Martin Ginis added: “There are strategies to help people rejuvenate after their self-regulation is depleted. Willpower is like a muscle: it needs to be challenged to build itself."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/s...er-office.html

[REV300]

Really takes will power to hit the gym after a tired day of work.

[Wilberish]

Totally no mood to do any strenous exercise after all these willpower of mine being blown away by stress

[Betasg]

try having a cup of coffee n a bar of chocolate.

[Boyven]

Mayb u can ask a few buddies along for company and have fun hitting the gym ~

[monk]

I know it's hard to drag your feet to the gym after a tiring day.
I believed you need to make it a habit first then it will be automatic in future.
For me, the motivation to get me started in the first place is hiring a PT to help with my fitness level.
After a few months, it becomes a habit and you will want to go.

[Amy135]

I totally agree with you,monk!

[dumbdumb912]

How to get motivated to hit the gym after work?

[monk]

Originally Posted by dumbdumb912

How to get motivated to hit the gym after work?

Like I said...for me - I spent some money to get a PT to help with my fitness and then after a few months, it became a habit.
I believed once it's a habit, it will be very easy. It's getting "motivated to hit the gym after work" that need some work.

[gimmebanana]

Originally Posted by dumbdumb912

How to get motivated to hit the gym after work?

for me if i intend to go gym after work tat day. before tat i will eat alot of carbs. like many meals many rice. Then full of energy, automatic will go gym. if no energy then die lor, go home retire.