How to reach your 2016 weight-loss goals

Enjoy food and workouts to lose weight

If you want to lose weight, choosing a diet and workouts you actually enjoy makes all the difference!

A new study, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, found that people value having a positive experience when they are in the middle of an activity, like exercising, although this matters less to them before or after they start the activity.

The researchers conducted six experiments - including exercising, visiting a museum and lab tasks - designed to explore the motivational effects of two types of incentives: those linked to the outcome and those linked to the experience itself.

When people were asked to evaluate what's important to them in the middle of an activity, they valued the experience more than when they were asked about it outside of the activity. For example, those working out at the gym valued having an enjoyable workout more than those who were surveyed before working out. However, people valued the outcome of the workout (e.g., improved health) similarly inside and outside the activity.

What does this mean?

In other words, even if you think it doesn't matter whether you enjoy the diet menu or exercise programme, it makes a big difference in the long run. The more enjoyable and fulfilling your diet and exercise plan, the more likely you are to stick to it and reach your goals in 2016!

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