Exercise and Mind - Set

Here's an interesting study that may help motivate people that are trying to lose weight, or simply improve their lifestyle. In my experience working with clients, I have learned that being positive and staying focused about the purpose of what they are doing and why, significantly plays a factor in being successful about their goals. It is very important to have that clarity in mind, while doing the activities related towards the end result. This study proves my claim.

I just hope nobody starts using or thinking that this idea will also apply even when not doing activities at all. Though the thinking process of losing weight may have increased, yet no activities or nutrition control are being done, the goal will never be accomplished. This study is simply suggesting, to an already active person, to raise their level of consciousness when doing their activities or while exercising.

Mind-Set Matters: Exercise and the Placebo Effect

• Alia J. Crum¹¹Harvard University and
• Ellen J. Langer¹¹Harvard University

• ¹Harvard University

Address correspondence to Alia Crum or Ellen Langer, Department of Psychology, Harvard University, 1330 William James Hall, 33 Kirkland St., Cambridge, MA 02138, e-mail: ajc@post.harvard.edu or langer@wjh.harvard.edu.

Abstract

ABSTRACT—In a study testing whether the relationship between exercise and health is moderated by one's mind-set, 84 female room attendants working in seven different hotels were measured on physiological health variables affected by exercise. Those in the informed condition were told that the work they do (cleaning hotel rooms) is good exercise and satisfies the Surgeon General's recommendations for an active lifestyle. Examples of how their work was exercise were provided. Subjects in the control group were not given this information. Although actual behavior did not change, 4 weeks after the intervention, the informed group perceived themselves to be getting significantly more exercise than before. As a result, compared with the control group, they showed a decrease in weight, blood pressure, body fat, waist-to-hip ratio, and body mass index. These results support the hypothesis that exercise affects health in part or in whole via the placebo effect.