![]() The brain uses 20 per cent of energy produced by the body and if we haven’t eaten enough, our ability to maintain willpower suffers. Planning a regular meal pattern and choosing wholegrain starchy carbohydrates and other slow-energy-releasing foods as part of a balanced diet will help ensure you have the energy supplies you need. But that doesn’t need to be the case.”ĭr Baumeister believes willpower is related to the energy that is available to the brain. That day is therefore mentally classified as a failure. Dr Baumeister says: “Dieters may have a fixed target in mind for their maximum daily calories, and when they exceed it for some reason, they may regard their diet as blown for the day. To increase your chances of success, don’t set goals that are too strict and don’t let one slip-up convince you the whole day is a write-off. For example, if you decide you’re going to go from couch potato to marathon runner in one month by exercising every day until you drop, your unrealistic goal is likely to fail after the initial burst of enthusiasm. The ‘realistic’ part is important for your willpower to succeed. These are: setting measurable targets, making them realistic, and having the willpower to follow them through. There are three steps to making the right decision, according to Dr Roy Baumeister, Professor of Psychology at Florida State University. ![]() ![]() It seems that people with good self-control stay out of trouble and minimise problems If you don’t eat the biscuits, your rational brain has triumphed. For example, when you crave sugary foods, you might try to resist by concentrating on the negative effects on your teeth and your waistline – or by focusing on positive motivations, like being able to fit into your favourite jeans. Both are involved in decision-making, but the strength of our willpower determines our actions. In other words, your rational brain can overcome your impulsive, emotional brain. He defines it as “just a matter of learning how to control your attention and thoughts”. Professor Walter Mischel, based at Columbia University, New York, was one of the first psychologists to study willpower. But don’t despair if your self-control is lacking – understanding how willpower works can help strengthen it. Changes like these can help reduce your risk of a heart event if you have heart and circulatory disease, or reduce your risk of developing heart disease in the first place. Willpower is essential for avoiding unhealthy habits (like smoking or eating certain foods) and adopting healthy habits, such as regular physical activity and eating more fruit and vegetables. But as you brush the last crumbs from your lips, you’re already regretting your lack of willpower. Imagine there’s a big slice of cake in front of you. Miranda Fitzgerald explains how we can all become willpower superheroes Self-control is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. ![]()
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