Drink beer for a flatter stomach. So, get home, failure in front of the TV, pop a beer and debate with himself about going to the gym. It feels so relaxing, sitting there, another beer would hit the spot. Heck, look at the time. It's almost not worth the time to work. You can wait until tomorrow.
... Does this sound familiar? Of course. According to behavioral psychology, there really is no short-term rewards to leave a comfortable chair and a beer to get change, go to the gym or the park and perhaps embarrassing himself in front of a lot of people. Where's the reward in that?
Not so fast, there's Archie Bunker. You can still work with what you have and become an exercise machine in a few weeks or even days.
We will keep the routine: go home, drink beer, sit in front of the television. But, let's insert a walk around the house or block before sitting down with beer. Do that for 3-5 days until it feels natural. Hey, I was walking, I deserve a beer. Wow, your brain says. Walk leads to a beer and I feel good.
Then step to a higher level. Twice around the block, once a post office, then go home and have a beer. The brain does not like the delay, but the reward is there, so all is well
After that, you have to be on the bike, by the way, (it may be raining, so what), quick workout, pump a few weights, pull the rubber cables, cool. Heck, look at the time. Race back home, shower, eat, sit and have that beer. You deserve it!
Congratulations, you just programmed to exercise with a beer or two.
What we do not want is to get blotto after a short-term job (as we did as young paratroopers). You ruin the conditioned response. That is, your brain associated with the exercise of drunkenness total. Error. A little exercise with a small reward, like a beer will keep you on track.
I know. It sounds too simple. Give it a try. Remember, the first year, then the small reward.
