Exercise, weight loss, and fun.... All about perspective?

                In a recent study, researchers examined the relationship between physical activity and consequent food intake. Two groups of women were given the task of going on a 30 minute walk.  The first group was given a 1-mile course map with instructions to record their energy level at points along the way. The second group was given the map and an MP3 player with instructions to record the quality of sound at the same stopping points. Both groups were served lunch following the experiment, and researchers recorded the food choices of each participant. They found that the women who believed they were walking for exercise made poorer for choices and ate more total calories than the second group.

                This got me thinking about my exercise habits and perspective. Although my goal isn’t always necessarily weight loss, I consistently find myself focusing on what I am getting out of exercise rather than simply enjoying it. I think this can be most relatable in terms of running. For most, running is a means of weight loss, and is always measured in terms of distance, time, or calories burned. Nearly every run I go on is chance to beat my time or reach a certain distance, and inevitably, I burnout. It’s exhausting to put that much pressure on yourself! In my experience, the constant work-reward relationship between exercise and diet inevitably becomes overwhelming. There tends to be so much focus on burning enough calories to account for food intake, it is easy to forget how enjoyable exercise can be.

                The next time you go for a run, try this: Find a neat place to run you haven’t been before, don’t bring a watch, and don’t pick a route. Settle into a nice pace and go wherever your feet take you. Make sure to take the time to enjoy your surroundings and let your mind wander. When you are done, take a second to evaluate how you feel. A little different, relaxing maybe? Who knows, maybe after taking up a new perspective on exercise, you may be surprised by the results!

Give it a try!

The study mentioned above is one of three in the article. If you are interested in reading further, here is the link:

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11002-014-9301-6#page-1