Monday, March 29, 2010

Cognitive Dissonance and Fitness

Some things from college you never forget. Debits and credits from Accounting. Supply and demand from economics. And from behavioral psych? You guessed it! While a complex subject for our purposes let's just say that cognitive dissonance is the brain's way of resolving an unresolvable conflict so it doesn't drive itself crazy. For example: you buy a car and the next day your friend buys a car but pays $1000 less. At first this may not bother you, but before long your brain will do some damage control in order to heal this blow to its ego. You will begin to say things like: I paid a little more, but I love the interior I oredered. Or, the dealership I got it from has a better service department. Get the idea? 


OK, so what does this have to do with fitness and our discussions so far? Simple. Just because we have come up with some techniques to leave our emotions outside of the gym doesn't mean our brains aren't furiously trying to rectify this imbalance. The same is true when one is dieting. The brain and the sytems it controls counterattack with unrelenting force and surrender is inevitable- unless you can somehow satisfy the brain into thinking it's been taken care of and give it something else to chew on. The task we could give our dissonant brains is right in front us: keeping accurate records of our workouts, diet, and progress. Think about how happy your subconscious will be to see page after page of well documented data , your workout calendar a tidy history of your effort and the menu for the week proudly affixed to the refrigerator with one of Tony's "Great abs are made in the kitchen " magnets. Excuse my frivolity but seriously, these techniques are well known and constantly proposed in the workouts from BeachBody, but perhaps understanding the mechanics will help us to more willingly comply so we can gain their true benefit. When you think about it the entire BeachBody series especially P90X is a perfect tool to balance the needs of the body to fitness and the mind to order and harmony and really explains why so many people who attempt to put together their own fitness programs eventually fall away. 


Simple rules change your life. 


Next time you are in Staples treat yourself to a ring binder, some dividers, download the worksheets from the BB website and post your calendar then step back see if you don't immediately notice a subtle difference in your attitude.

Now that your cognitive half is happy all that's left to do  is pick up the remote control and  keep pushing play.

Class dismissed!

No comments:

Post a Comment