Hey , I remember back several years ago when I was teaching a dozen fitness classes each week and personal training all day every day. I would easily do hours of cardio each day of the week.

 

But something strange used to happen to me on Friday nights at 5pm--I turned into a crazy person. Well, not really, but I distinctly remember feeling "free" to eat and drink to my heart's desire, as if subconsciously rewarding myself for doing a great job of depriving myself all week and kicking my own butt in the gym. 

 

And did I ever reward myself!! Drinks, bagels, Mexican food, pizza, WENDYS (!), chips, dips, cookies, etc. I remember literally eating to my heart's desire for 48 hours straight.

 

 

This is what I call "weekend mode," where we maybe start to feel deserving of sweets and cheats as the end of the week nears as a reward for being so good all week. And by Friday we've just said, "What the hell ... I've already blown it for this week, I'll start again on Monday!" Sound familiar? I did this for YEARS.

 

So what is that about? I have written on it before, but it also involves a psychological concept aptly named, The What-the-Hell Effect :) I did a video about this last year in anticipation of the holidays, and I think it is applicable any day of the year.

 

 

Dr. Kelly McGonigal talks in-depth about The What-the-Hell Effect in her amazing book, The Willpower Instinct. If you have not read it, I highly recommend it. It touches upon many of the reasons we feel guilty when we cheat on our diet and how to remedy feelings of guilt, shame and self-disgust. It's a JillFit must-read!

 

I hope you have a super week and as always, drop me a line to let me know what's going on in your world!