Eat More for Cash!!
It’s a new year, and time for more advice on how to lose weight and get fit without actually having to do anything repellent like saying no to a pop tart. My idea is based on psychology. The catch is that it does take an upfront cash investment from others to get started. Not to point fingers or anything, but my family has been too stingy and selfish to help me achieve my fitness goals, so I’m hoping the intelligent readers of this fine paper will support me.
The psychological principle in question has to do with motivation. There are two types, The first is intrinsic; meaning that your motivation and behavior come from within. It’s what you truly want to do. In my case, I love to eat. It’s literally my favorite thing.
The second type is extrinsic; which comes from the outside. Work is the classic example for many people. But the thing with work is that it comes with an outside motivator–the paycheck. Don’t get me wrong. I’m very fond of my paycheck. But here’s the thing. Even though I genuinely enjoy my job, if you were to hear the amount of whining that I do in the morning, you might get the idea that I’m being forced to carry heavy bags of rocks up steep mountains in the hot sun all day.
I’m far from the only one. There have been all sorts of studies that show that often when people are paid to do something, even if it’s something they enjoy, that thing becomes much less fun, and they will often stop doing that thing altogether even if they are paid.
I think I can make this facet of human nature work for all of us. It’s risky, but with your help I’m willing to try the experiment. Right now, I need no encouragement to eat pizza, brownies, buffalo wings, salami, cheese, bread, butter, chocolate and then for the main dish I like to have…. You get the picture. But what if I were paid to eat? What if, when I came home my husband said, “Hi honey! I’ll pay you five bucks to have a deep-dish pepperoni pizza for dinner. WOW! I’d jump on the opportunity! No brainer! Order that pizza immediately! And after I’ve eaten three slices plus breadsticks and salad, if he offered me another dollar to eat another slice, I would do that no problem! Then, if my daughter were to call and offer me two dollars to eat the double chocolate brownie with fudge frosting. I’d feel as if I’d won the lottery.
But the next day, while still overfull from the night before, I might be slightly less enthusiastic about eating a pile of waffles (though no doubt, I’d expand to the occasion). But what if they kept bribing me to overeat day after day? Another helping of bacon? How quickly would I start saying weird things like, “I’m full. You’re going to have to pay me at least $20 to eat a slice of pie.” I’m betting that in short order, too much food would become a burden. Like most humans, I’m contrary by nature. If the motivation to overindulge was moved outside of myself, I bet I’d start eating when I was hungry, stop when I was full and be glad that I didn’t have to bother with any more until the next meal.
So! in the interest of science, all you have to do is to start sending me money and telling me what you’d like me to eat. Next year, when I’m looking great in a swimsuit, I’ll let you all know, and you can get your family and friends (assuming they are more generous than mine) to support you.
Best diet ever!!
The psychological principle in question has to do with motivation. There are two types, The first is intrinsic; meaning that your motivation and behavior come from within. It’s what you truly want to do. In my case, I love to eat. It’s literally my favorite thing.
The second type is extrinsic; which comes from the outside. Work is the classic example for many people. But the thing with work is that it comes with an outside motivator–the paycheck. Don’t get me wrong. I’m very fond of my paycheck. But here’s the thing. Even though I genuinely enjoy my job, if you were to hear the amount of whining that I do in the morning, you might get the idea that I’m being forced to carry heavy bags of rocks up steep mountains in the hot sun all day.
I’m far from the only one. There have been all sorts of studies that show that often when people are paid to do something, even if it’s something they enjoy, that thing becomes much less fun, and they will often stop doing that thing altogether even if they are paid.
I think I can make this facet of human nature work for all of us. It’s risky, but with your help I’m willing to try the experiment. Right now, I need no encouragement to eat pizza, brownies, buffalo wings, salami, cheese, bread, butter, chocolate and then for the main dish I like to have…. You get the picture. But what if I were paid to eat? What if, when I came home my husband said, “Hi honey! I’ll pay you five bucks to have a deep-dish pepperoni pizza for dinner. WOW! I’d jump on the opportunity! No brainer! Order that pizza immediately! And after I’ve eaten three slices plus breadsticks and salad, if he offered me another dollar to eat another slice, I would do that no problem! Then, if my daughter were to call and offer me two dollars to eat the double chocolate brownie with fudge frosting. I’d feel as if I’d won the lottery.
But the next day, while still overfull from the night before, I might be slightly less enthusiastic about eating a pile of waffles (though no doubt, I’d expand to the occasion). But what if they kept bribing me to overeat day after day? Another helping of bacon? How quickly would I start saying weird things like, “I’m full. You’re going to have to pay me at least $20 to eat a slice of pie.” I’m betting that in short order, too much food would become a burden. Like most humans, I’m contrary by nature. If the motivation to overindulge was moved outside of myself, I bet I’d start eating when I was hungry, stop when I was full and be glad that I didn’t have to bother with any more until the next meal.
So! in the interest of science, all you have to do is to start sending me money and telling me what you’d like me to eat. Next year, when I’m looking great in a swimsuit, I’ll let you all know, and you can get your family and friends (assuming they are more generous than mine) to support you.
Best diet ever!!