The Art of Manliness

Overcome the Decision Traps Around Diet and Exercise

Apr 25, 2022

Michelle Segar, a behavioral science researcher and health coach, dives into the common pitfalls of diet and exercise habits. She argues that focusing solely on motivation can lead to failure, as understanding obstacles like temptation and perfectionism is crucial. Segar introduces a three-step decision tool to overcome these disruptors and encourages embracing imperfections in health journeys. By highlighting the joy of flexible, enjoyable choices, she empowers listeners to redefine their relationship with diet and exercise for lasting change.

43:47

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Episode guests

Michelle Segar

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Quick takeaways

Focusing on willpower, motivation, and rewards alone is insufficient for lasting changes in diet and exercise; addressing obstacles and disruptors is crucial.

Exercise and eating should be approached as conscious choices, considering situational factors and disruptions, rather than relying solely on automatic habits.

Deep dives

Concentrating on willpower, motivation, and rewards may not be enough to drive behavior change in diet and exercise.

Many people fail in their efforts to make behavior changes in diet and exercise because they focus too much on willpower, motivation, and rewards. These factors may drive behaviors temporarily, but they do not lead to lasting changes. The podcast guest, Michel Seger, a behavioral science researcher and health coach, explains that it is crucial to also acknowledge and address the obstacles that prevent desired decisions related to diet and exercise. By understanding and dealing with disruptors such as temptation, rebellion, accommodation, and perfection, individuals can develop a three-step decision tool to make choices that support long-term behavior change.

Intro

3min

Transforming Habits: The Joy of Exercise and Eating Well

20min

The Psychology of Rebellion in Health Choices

3min

Navigating Diet and Exercise Challenges

13min

Embracing Imperfection in Fitness

3min

Empowering Mindful Choices through Stress Management

2min

Applying Decision-Making Processes to Life's Complex Choices

2min

When it comes to making behavior change around diet and exercise, it's no secret that many people fail in their efforts. My guest would say that's because too often we only concentrate on the things that drive us towards that change — whether willpower, or motivation, or the rewards that turn behaviors into habits — and that we need to think more about the obstacles keeping us from making the decisions we desire.

Her name is Michelle Segar and she's a behavioral science researcher and health coach, as well as the author of The Joy Choice: How to Finally Achieve Lasting Changes in Eating and Exercise. Today on the show, Michelle explains why exercise and eating aren't conducive to becoming habits — at least of the automatic variety — and why it's more helpful to think of these behaviors in terms of "life space" and "choice points." She makes the case for why we shouldn't just focus on what drives behaviors, but also understand what disrupts them, and unpacks four of these disruptors: temptation, rebellion, accommodation, and perfection. Michelle then offers a three-step decision tool for dealing with these disruptors, and explains how to develop the flexibility to choose the perfect imperfect option that keeps you consistent and even celebrate and enjoy the decision to do something instead of nothing.