If you are one of the millions of people who struggle to stick with an exercise program, Michelle Segar has a secret for you: It is not your fault; it is a faulty system.

After years of studying the science of motivation, Michelle Segar, Ph.D., Director of SHARP -- the Sport, Health, and Activity research and policy center at the University of Michigan -- has created a framework for rethinking exercise, one that replaces a prescriptive mindset with one more aligned with human behavior and emotion. Filled with practical tips and strategies, Michelle’s bestselling book, No Sweat: How the Simple Science of Motivation Can Bring You a Lifetime of Fitness, is informed by years of putting these findings into practice with people just like you.

In this episode you will learn:

how to short-circuit the vicious cycle of failure
why fitness apps are not enough
why willpower is not the answer
the science of decision making and reward
the power of self-determination theory - initiating behavior because you should versus because you find it meaningful
the more moderate recommendations for physical activity - which are known by less than 1 percent of physical activity professionals

Episode Links

Paulo Freire

Dan Ariely

Behavioral economics

Reward Substitution

Self-determination theory

No Sweat Resolutions Quiz

2015 USA Best Book Awards

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CM 016: Michelle Segar on Rethinking Exercise and Motivation

Curious Minds at Work