I just figured out why it’s so hard for people to lose weight — and keep it off: Willpower is a scarce resource.
Running across a WebMD article that highlights a study in which it is explained that willpower is a limited resource in all of us and that may explain why it’s so hard for people to exercise on a regular basis — and eat well at the same time. Basically the theory says that if you use your willpower up on something during the day, say for example not eating a donut for breakfast or even plowing through finishing up that marketing report that you are writing, then when it comes to needing some willpower later in the day you’ll be a pushover.
Now there is hope. Apparently, willpower can be trained and improved just like your muscles and cardiovascular system can be improved with time in the gym.
When I think about my own personal willpower stores, I buy this research. I know that psychologically, if I exercise hard in the morning, I’m psychologically more willing to permit a sweet snack to make it in to my mouth later that day. By the same token, a hard day at the office (say a series of intense meetings) can pretty much sap my willingness to hit the elliptical machine at the end of the day.
The WebMD piece has some general “tips” on how to battle this phenomenon on a daily basis — you should do a quick read of the article. My own take is that if you focus on just one aspect like exercise and build it in to your schedule as a #1 priority, in a short amount of time you will indeed build up a good dose of willpower to make sure that you don’t easily pass on getting in your hour at the club.
And the easiest way to do this in my book is to schedule it in to my day no matter what else is on my calendar — and of course, whenever possible, do it first thing in the morning so if you do indeed have a limited amount of willpower, you’re at least using it up on a high priority.
Originally published on Medium on September 27, 2009. This Substack version is maintained as the canonical archive.