Why some people find exercise harder than others | Emily Balcetis

Why do some people struggle more than others to keep off the pounds? Social psychologist Emily Balcetis shows research that addresses one of the many factors: Vision. In an informative talk, she shows how when it comes to fitness, some people quite literally see the world differently from others - and offers a surprisingly simple solution to overcome these differences.
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[@MimouFirst]

Strange, for me focussing on 'the finish' makes it harder. When I don't pay much attention to my walking or workout it is actually easier for me o.O If I focus on a 'finish' then I constantly get reminded how much I still have to do xD

[@HinataElyonToph]

Yup. I get this so much. I get reminded of how much I have to do and executive dysfunction and/or anxiety is like “some…BODY ONCE TOLD ME”

[@mediacenterman8583]

The journey> arrival

[@MsSera21]

Yeah. This is why I like things like dance, because I'm enjoying myself and not thinking 'oh god is it over already'

[@MikosMiko]

Motivations differ for each individual. I am a fitness freak; I love running, swimming, lifting weights, hiking and challenging myself physically. My wife can’t seem to commit to exercise on a regular basis, but I watched her focus and complete an advanced statistics course in 4 months. I also need to learn stats for my job, and I tried to finish the same course, but it’s been 2 years and I’m still struggling to take those classes, because I have no genuine interest in stats! We all have different motivations. Watching my wife complete a goal I am still struggling to do made me respect her and not judge her for her lack of ambition with fitness.

[@mediacenterman8583]

I would get up at 0600, walk 2k to the local park and put up dozens of shots on the basketball hoop. I would be there for maybe 70mins each day, but to get to the office and do simple data entry was a chore. Motivation is key

[@alwaysuseless]

I love running because I enjoy being outdoors. I enjoy the sunshine, fresh air & scenery. Maybe I'll see a Great Blue Heron or an Osprey. And aerobic exercise elevates my mood. If I had to focus on a finish line, that would be boring & disheartening. Nothing could be more enervating or contrary to the spirit of running than thinking of it as just something to complete. Of course, some days are easier than others. That's not discouraging or encouraging; it's just interesting. I've learned that when I feel like taking a nap instead, I can have a great run (easily run faster) by first taking a short nap. Also, carry enough water (with some electrolyte, if it's warm). The findings presented here apply to out-of-shape, infrequent runners.

[@InqWiper]

I think this is about focusing on the goal for people who don't enjoy exercise. When you have gotten used to exercising you are more likely to enjoy it and focus on what you are doing rather than getting it over with.

[@alwaysuseless]

InqWiper I agree. That's what I was trying to suggest in my last sentence. By elaborating, however, you've made the point more clearly. For the sake of balance, I just thought that someone should describe where getting over the initial difficulty & resistance can lead to. It might be useful to tell inexperienced runners to focus narrowly on the goal or finish line as an initial strategy, and that later, after they feel encouraged by some success, they can revise or relax this strategy to whatever feels more natural.

[@cherryblossom789]

good point. I too like exercise for exercise itself, and I refuse to wait to be happy until I'm in the shape of my life. Everytime I'm at the gym is my "price". Maybe for eating healthier this could apply a little bit though (as I don't like that naturally), but also find ways to enjoy healthy eating while doing it. But if my goal was weight loss, I guess she's right that if I saw myself slimmer, then it would be easier to not eat that fifth piece of chocolate. Anyway: a good video and presentation, interesting experiment. :)

[@BjazzK]

I agree, I believe that if you are too focused on the goal you will lose motivation. Sitting in a classroom and focusing on the clock can make the time pass very slowly. Similarly, if you were to run for 30 minutes, focusing on the remaining time would be a terrible strategy. The studies presented in the video were all related to extremely short term performance. Proper studies would need to look at longer term success. I also noticed that some of the data had a weak correlation and a small number of test subjects. In short, I don't think the evidence is conclusive.

[@lbburgett]

I disagree with the extrapolations made in this talk; they are not representative of the Scientific Method. Basically, she used her presuppositions about what constitutes fitness and extrapolated simple correlation into causality, when no causality was established at all. her data only describe correlations, and would have to be tested at various distances and speeds in order to even make the assumptions she's made. Moreover, It's probable--given existing endocrinological studies--that people who tend to be thick-waisted utilize energy in a different way than those who are thin-waisted. It's already been established that endomorphs (long-limbed, thin people) are better sprinters than mesomorphs (short or average-limbed muscular people with upper-body weight distribution.) And, ectomorphs (average- or short-limbed people with all-over body weight distribution) have a slower basal metabolic rate than other body types. So, you can't just assume that a thick-waisted, narrow-hipped person is "out of shape." It could be that they're built for endurance rather than speed. As one of the members of the mesomorph variety, I LOVE to move, I love to breathe, I love to be outdoors (if the temperature is not too hot), and I prefer to walk for longer distances at a slower rate than this study's parameters. Speed isn't everything--even when (especially when) you consider our evolutionary past.

[@Bc232klm]

So if you focus, it's easier to focus? Fantastic science there.

[@ehcmier]

Back in the late 80s, I discovered I could jog longer if I was merely distracted from the act of exercising, which is what putting effort into visually locking onto a literal finish line, and blurring out the surroundings would do. I wasn't using any visualization tricks, but had an enjoyable conversation with a friend. Normally, for me, breathing harder from exertion is uncomfortable and can really impact me second by second to want to stop, but surprisingly, chatting while jogging had no negative impact on oxygen intake or discomfort, and I felt better overall. Also, jogging in the daytime, under the sun, is brutal, overwhelmingly uncomfortable, with problems lasting hours afterward, while jogging in cool night air feels great. Reducing awareness of exertion and stress is the trick for me, and the only visual connection to my experience is that, when talking, I unconsciously visualize what I'm talking about, when referring to persons, places, things, recalling events, imagining any of that in a fictional sense, but I'm not exerting visualization. Also, whatever's distracting me cannot be boring or another set of problems related to the exercise. It doesn't work for me.

[@daeriousjames2220]

Have to agree with you... i tried once running till i got tired... and eventually i running/jogging 5 km (3.1miles) non-stop in a go... All i had in my mind when i was running/jogging was, how to resolve the conflict between me and my best friend... that is enough for me to keep thinking and eventually got distracted from the act of exercising(running/jogging)

[@purejuice123]

About time for me to start exercising again I used to ride bikes long distances in the mountains and it was fun it wasn't hard it was hard fun now I see it is just hard I got to change my perception a little bit I totally enjoyed the lecture if the only thing you got from the lecture is Obama's blacker or white or I don't think you watch the whole thing

[@jarkkoaitti287]

i've also noticed that exercising is easier if i don't think about time or distance still ahead. i actually run faster while it feels easier when distracted and listening music helps a lot in that. also watching scenery and letting my mind wonder does the same. same thing with swimming, gym etc.. it is harder to get into the "groove" when i am in a bad shape.

[@punkanime18498]

Firstly, some of the premises they based this on are faulty: 1) Having a lower waist to hip ratio means you are healthier. No. While this addresses the idea of obesity, it does not address that some people genetically have different body shapes and it also does not address the idea that below a certain point, that ratio can indicate that someone is malnourished and very UNHealthy. While research can still produce measurable results, the results may not speak to "healthy" exercise habits. 2) A person's claim that they have met their fitness goals means they are less motivated to exercise since they lack the drive to do so. This does not address the idea that some people are just happier with their body, which is in fact a psychologically healthy trait, while those who are unhappy with their body and more likely to exercise may have unrealistic standards, may have warped body image, or in some extreme cases may be suffering from exercise-focused anorexia nervosa. My Conclusions: If your premises are incorrect, then the numbers you are measuring do not actually say the things you think they are saying. If you put people on a spectrum measuring how "fit" they are, you have to take into account more than just their waist to hip ratio. What you may actually be measuring genetic predispositions or tendency towards excessive exercise. When you label a variable "motivation," taking into account only whether someone is happy with where their body is, you may actually be measuring based on someone's self-image or personal fulfillment. Furthermore, if your methods do not capture the true nature of the stated goal, namely long-term habits in exercise in a study where only one set of measurements is recorded per subject, you cannot in fact make any statements about your goal with any accuracy. One other little pet peeve: They did not tell you how strong the correlations were. Granted, this is something you'll never see in a TED talk, but the scatter plot from the first measured perception of distance to the goal based on "fitness" had an extremely weak correlation. The points were so spread out and there were so many outliers that any good statistician would look at that graph and question why that is the case. Drawing conclusions based on these faulty premises will inherently be incorrect. The trends may be real, but without solid premises and appropriate methods, any conclusions drawn will be weak at best, outright false at worst.

[@rahulvig5298]

You have to understand that you can't say that for every person just because "some people" are genetically like that. That percentage of people amounts to very less. Mostly are emotionally fragile and lazy.

[@terezaheiligova1028]

Thank you for this! I was looking through the comment section to see if someone calls out the pseudo tactics

[@HiAdrian]

11:58 Woman on the left is not convinced, woman on the right is sold ;D

[@sanjeev0120]

Adrian Funny

[@theexplorer7139]

Lol good eye.

[@rahulvig5298]

Always the one with short hair, who is pissed.

[@k3vint0wn3r]

Lol

[@ianthebubbian6182]

@@rahulvig5298 looks exactly like a karen

[@xaoife07x]

So basically, exercise is hard for people who don't want to do it. Okay...

[@LCF2105]

Bcuz its exhaaaaustiiiinggg af

[@LCF2105]

@Yeshua is my Ishi indeed !

[@annnee6818]

Or the people who find exercise hard don't wanna do it?

[@ropro9817]

Lol, brilliant observation, right? Who'da thought. XD

[@ropro9817]

Oh, now I get it... this was a TED-X talk.

[@jameswenkheimer9111]

Waist to hip ratio is no measure of fitness.

[@schou0101]

Agreed!

[@TK-fm5ud]

I don't know what this lady is talking about. My waist is 26inches, hips 42inches, and I'm a total beast. Why didn't she use fat % or VO2 max??

[@Whooligan18]

hankypanky IOI so your waist to hip ratio says you're a total beast

[@goobiehoobie]

Exactly! what is "Fitness"

[@theultimatereductionist7592]

I agree. Fitness shouldn't be a measure of how hip I am. (my sincere apologies for that bad joke)

[@samm5913]

This experiment was extremely interesting to me. I found it very fascinating how much it emphasized how powerful the mind can be. I believe these experiments are a breakthrough when it comes to perceiving exercise with a more positive mindset. If this woman can get this information to large amounts of people, I think that it could truly change the way some people live their lives. The thought of exercising is daunting, especially after a long day; however, if by simply focusing on finishing one can make the task seem easier, I think that is motivation in itself. This could be be an extremely positive cycle. This motivation to exercise from focusing on the finish can make the task seem easier, giving the person more motivation to exercise. Her studies showed that people who are motivated also perceive the workout as easier. This motivation to exercise will only result in a higher level of physical fitness, which according to her studies, will only make the task of exercising feel even easier. I truly believe that this mindset could change a lot of health problems in the United States. Exercise is a great way to stay healthy and lower one's risks for chronic diseases. With her studies, she could change society's view on exercise and possibly prevent some of these diseases which are common causes of death for many people.

[@SonnyDarvishzadeh]

i'm actually interested in social science, but why people are focusing on wrong things, haven't you heard of maintaining the right weight is mostly about diet, not exercise? focus on why some people find eating the "right foods in right amount in right time" harder than others i've lost more than 18kg in last few months, all my exercises were failing, and every diet i try is working. you can actually gain tons of fat while exercising the entire day.

[@TheUserUndefined]

Couldn't have said it better myself. The only exercise in my opinion that should be used to help lose weight is strength training, just to maintain muscle mass when trying to lose fat (gaining muscle mass can also SLIGHTLY boost fat loss through increase metabolic rate).

[@mihailung1720]

Getting people to exercise more is healthy. You managed to slim down by only dieting, that's great; now if you also exercised a bit you'd probably also be healthier. It's not all about weight loss all the time.

[@SonnyDarvishzadeh]

Rebekah Hutson rebekah, i chose basic foods, like eggs, oatmeal, peanut butter, .. are these expensive in your area?

[@SonnyDarvishzadeh]

Sebastian Andersom true , by "no exercise worked for me", i meant it's not only one factor, you must watch your diet. or let's say exercise here is optional, but diet is a must. i'd definitely start cycling when i go back to my country, here in malaysia there's no proper facilities for bikes and weather is extremely humid and rainy

[@SonnyDarvishzadeh]

Carson Hunt you're also saying that diet should be taken care of. i'm saying 10 hours of non-stop Taekwondo every day, requiring 10,000 kcal, can be destroyed by a 11,000 kcal diet

[@krotenschemel8558]

Uhhuh... a lot of unscientific methods, conclusion jumped to, mix up between correlation and causation, expressions like "it feels 17% easier" which can only come from someone who doesn't expect her audience to understand math and a lot of unrelated stuff mixed up into one story, to get one message out: "Look at the price/prize and this product placement and this productplacement and this productplacement. And let me finish by suggesting you should compare the products we just showed you and look at the price. That's some serious tricks they pulled there to get a car ad on ted.

[@kakashi76767]

When did she mix up correlation and causation?

[@krotenschemel8558]

When she said that the strategy works, because of the strategy. There are tons of other factors that need to be eliminated, simplest of all self fullfilling prophecy. When you tell people they would perform better when they believe in whatever, because it would make them better, a lot of people will actually perform better. That just how motivation works. So you have that data that the number of better performerrs correleates to a small degree (what was ist? 17%? ) to the people of who have been told the strategy, yet she jumps to a conclusion that it's causation.

[@theultimatereductionist7592]

Well said, Krote nschemel!

[@Erik20766]

Kröte nschemel obviously it's about correlation. Try to show causation between the billions of neurons in a human brain. If all other factors are held constant, you can reliably draw the conclusion that your variable is what's affecting the outcome

[@TheWowwa]

I love this video! As a consumer behaviour researcher I understand how she does the experiments for her study. The priming and baseline conditions works wonderfully. That interaction effects of one of the last series of studies really look like a huge interaction effect in the unfit condition (specially when the level of motivation is manipulated), therefore her study really showing that unfit and non motivated person would find finishing the end line (in this case exercise) as harder than the rest. It's all about our own perception, you maneuver your acts from it. The key word here is change our mindset!

[@19068478]

so thats 14 minutes of my life i'll never get back

[@guillaumebourgault5532]

WTF! The graph at 6:06 is a big patatoid. I agree with the general idea, but the correlation is kind of weak. I think this researcher let her own mind alter the way she saw the graph.

[@vvorttexx]

My thoughts exactly, this graph itself does not show any trend whatsoever.

[@tdreamgmail]

LOL how you can draw a line through that I don't know!

[@Manuelomar2001]

It was a dumbed-down graph. The research into motivational psychology (which is what this talk about about) was real, however. It's legit. Goal-oriented thinking has demonstrable correlation to increased performance.

[@guillaumebourgault5532]

***** I'm pretty sure you are right... I don't question the fundamentals of the research, just the choice of the graph. But still, even as a "dumbed-down graph" without proper axis labels and scale, the trend is pretty weak.

[@INameIsGood]

that line doesn't suppose to connect any points. It's an imagery line. you see a lot of points that don't cross that line and jump to conclusion that it's "altered by her mind". But look closer, the fit people generally saw the distance the same as unfit people, but you have a huge bulk of dots of unfit people on top of that general straight line between fit and unfit. So from this you can draw that line, because even tho huge part of them guessed similarly there are a lot of unfits who guessed the distance being longer. One could argue that there are more unfit people, but that doesn't change this graph.

[@neddyladdy]

To me the answer is to make the exercise incidental to the activity. I would never go for a walk around an oval shaped 400m track. But give me a walk through a pleasant park with water features, trees, plants, birds &etc and I'll do it for a long time and not be aware of the exercise I am getting. Focusing on and end point takes away any enjoyment and thus any desire to do it. Keep it interesting people !

[@notablemind]

All I got out of this video was that lack of motivation and unclear objective can be an obstacle to doing unenjoyable things. You can easily remove this obstacle by doing ENJOYABLE things. For example, some people play basketball not because they want to exercise, but because they have fun doing it. I would think the easiest way to get people to exercise is to do something that is fun. Go indoor rock climbing. Or hiking. Or wrestling. Or cycling along the beach. Or just plain old game of tag on the playground. Whatever is FUN

[@shiftyjake]

I've found remarkable differences in my motivation to exercise based on my living arrangement, job, stress level, etc, but none of these factors were discussed. What I'd really like to know is to what degree different people are prone or even able to "keep their eye on the prize" when it comes to exercise. We evolved in a world where exercise was nearly constant, and rest was valuable. To what degree do our caveman brains actually devalue or demotivate us to exercise when rest is a possibility? We know our brains have methods of motivating us to do all sorts of things, biochemically speaking. Why does that motivation turn on for so few people when faced with the prospect of jogging?

[@cinlocybin]

I'm still trying to figure out how to motivate my friends and family to get more active. It's more complicated than simply focussing on the "finish line". It could be a time perception thing - some people don't think they can find time to exercise. Could be a perception of importance - they don't see exercise has high priority in their life. There could still be a barrier between the mental and the physical, where mentally you want to, but you just can't physically bring yourself around to do it. So many factors!

[@adrienperie6119]

*Oh my god*. This has to be the *DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHiest* of all TED conferences. Focusing on the finish line made them feel like it was easier to reach than focusing on the garbage can next to it, it made them better at reaching it ? Really ? Video or it didn't happen............ Also, most of the "experiences" are unscientific in nature (aka: the results aren't even reliable), the scientists are given large opportunities to influence the subjects, the subjects and their performance are being influenced by their belief in whether or not the strategy they are being given is good or not and the "results" are totally unclear and unscientific themselves. Basically she is demonstrating what every single person who's ever done any kind of physical efforts already knows, poorly. Also who finances this research ? I want in on that, I have a big theory that might change the world as we know it: Will being strung out on heroin have a bad influence on my ability to solve Einstein's field equations ? NOW GIMMEH MONEY.

[@pashumov]

a reasonable response, basically delivered what I was about to say

[@TK-fm5ud]

Adrien Perié @4:15 ...and does it even matter?!?! 🤔🤔

[@luciagarzat]

To exercise, I go running in my neighbourhood. When I keep thinking “you’re almost there”, I find myself getting tired faster than when I’m lost in my own thoughts and looking around.

[@ADSCoachSimonB2112]

What is the biggest difficulty is not the ability to exercise by itself, it’s the time (go to a gym and do it) the cost of the gym and the person trainer. I found that I lost a lot of weight and was in the best shape possible but it was quite expensive to do that and I constantly had to battle with my work to keep that timeline. I stopped doing exercises last year because I changed jobs and was saving money to pay off some loans 6 months later I put on all the weight. So it’s not a straight forward thing.

[@graemeab7634]

There may be a correlation between bodyweight/fitness levels and perception of distance, but that does not mean the former causes the latter. Their perception of "difficulty" as well as bodyweight/fitness levels may just be a symptom of a particular mindset. Could this phenomena be similar to denial in that it is a defence mechanism insofar as the ego needs protecting from the "threat" of self deprecating thoughts when failing to exercise? By which I mean exaggerating the difficulty so they therefore feel more comfortable mentally with not exercising?

[@graemeab7634]

6:18

[@INameIsGood]

it's true, it is defensive mechanism, but you can abandon it and go do the healthy thing instead of giving up because it's more comfortable NOW. It's not a personal attack just a generalized argument.

[@giuliete1]

TED talks is running out of good options for talks and are now inviting practically anyone to come and talk. She makes a whole point about people's perspectives being different and then talks about the "prize" as an absolute, as if everyone was able to set challenging and yet reasonable, concrete goals for themselves. Not to mention the studies, which have nothing to do with dieting or exercise and yet she extrapolates results... How can anyone classify this talk as even slightly serious?

[@johnny8297]

giuliete1 I understand where you’re coming from, but I don’t think her goal was the give dieting and exercise tips, I think it was to talk about perception and how it effects the body. I do agree it’s a bit unscientific but I think she made some valid points (Even though you said that four years ago)

[@annnee6818]

@@johnny8297 What she describes is the scientific method, perception is hard to study and she's making it a little more digestible. I don't really see anything wrong with that but I guess it can be hard to tell the talk from the science method I guess. I didn't find thus told me what I wanted to know either.

[@UhKimboze]

My takeaway from this is that the visual perception of the exercise is what holds us back, less so than the effort of doing it. Interesting. I don't know how I feel about that but it's definitely something I haven't heard before.

[@poisonous_oreo]

Who is here from ADA for note taking for extensive LR assesment?😭🙏🏻

[@ruiningwang1644]

6:15 I'm sorry but the slope of your linear fit seems a bit biased by your perception Mrs Balcetis.

[@theultimatereductionist7592]

Ikr? Exactly!

[@bicisnobombas]

That was fascinating! It seams so obvious when she explains it like this. Thanks!

[@ayenako7072]

"People with strong motivations & strong goals to exercise see the finish line as closer than people who have weaker motivations" "Waist to hip ratio predicted perceptions of distance" "People. who were highly motivated to exercise saw the distance as short." "Even the most out of shape individuals saw the finish line as just as close, if not slightly closer than people who were in better shape." "People who had committed to a manageable goal and who believed that they were capable meeting that goal saw the exercise as easier." "Keep your eye on the prize" - directive to look around in an environment. Focus on the finish line. Imagine a spotlight shining on the goal. people who kept their eyes on the prize saw the finish line 30% closer than people who looked around (and moved 23% faster) people who kept their eyes on the price said the exercise it was 17% easier than people who looked around Use to promote healthier lifestyle

[@Wouldntyouliketoknow926]

So basically people who like to work out finds it easier..

[@Sauramora]

There's merit to this talk but her 'clinical trials' were very unscientific. OF COURSE people who are overweight would feel a distance longer than fit people. And the one with the weights attached to ankles? 15% of the person's body weight is A LOT if you're overweight compared to the ones for a fit person. So, I'm not convinced.

[@Manuelomar2001]

The talk, and the research, were about motivational psychology. You can call them "very unscientific" if you want, but only if you're willing to paint the whole science of psychology with the same brush.

[@ConquerCollin]

***** Her study would be great for a student in an introductory college class

[@ruiningwang1644]

***** I think psychologists should be even more rigorous from a scientific and methodological point of view than the average guy in "hard science". Because the human mind is just one of the most complex things you can find in nature, more than ever you have to be aware of the limits of your models and experiments. So I don't think that psychology is unscientific. But psychology just needs to be much more rigorous scientifically in order to reach any acceptable level of credibility.

[@VanishedDecoy]

Wasn't the main point, though, that, as stated at 7:44, "this only happened for people who were not motivated to exercise"? She goes only slightly later to say that "even the most unfit [of the motivated] individuals saw the finish line as just as close, if not slightly closer, than people who were in better shape."

[@InqWiper]

They were asked how far they though it was. Not how far it felt. To me it's not obvious that fat people perceive things to be further if they have to go there, even though I expected their attitude to be more pessimistic.

[@UsurperKingZant]

She literally says literally too much

[@Knaeben]

+UsurperKingZant literally!

[@jacobpicpic]

+UsurperKingZant There is a reason for that. It works on your brain to highlight those parts. (and makes the parts link automatically)

[@elliottgetz8782]

Amen

[@leapofaithgaming]

Please take a closer look at the graph relating estimated distance to waist-hip ratio. There seems to be very little to no correlation between the two variables. The graph does not label either axis specifically rendering all data insignificant. Please upload the scale to which these results were measured and the actual distance of the finish line from the subject or provide a link to results online. Try to remember that for future graphs as it gives meaning to the result you and your coworkers have worked so hard to produce.

[@leapofaithgaming]

I'm referring to the graph shown at 6:10

[@actsrv9]

I think more than the actual title of the talk, the talk is about recognising that everything we perceive has a daily fluctuating cognitive bias to it, a small additional input error, that we should try to correct when using data to make decisions. It's tough to accept that you are reading the world slightly wrong all the time, and the amount of that slightly wrong changes daily due to a number of parameters.

[@honeymonster147]

Probably the least scientific ted talk ive ever seen, good food for thought though.

[@annnee6818]

Perception is inherently hard to study, because it varies so much between individuals and when you want to make sure what you're actually measuring, it tends to sound a little trite. It's no less scientific though and you can get some interesting results, but we're likely not gonna find anything deeply philosophical with these methods😉

[@tdc7415]

I swear TedTalks is the only place on youtube to find intelligent conversation in a comment section. Grats yall

[@beg_ni]

That's great talk I havo ever heard with good emotions , every speech has very impressive meanings that mentioned by Emily , thank you !

[@nigelanicette9243]

Emily Balcetis has a pretty good point. Our perception can be different in some cases. Fit people see the finish line in a shorter distance and unfit people see the finish line in a longer distance. It's all about perspective.

[@xylophone6278]

I feel that the quality of TED talks has declined over time

[@cheery-hex]

this isn't news to anyone who has had experience getting used to a distance, whether swimming, running, etc. at first you start out it seems so far - it's called perceived effort. then the more you cover it (the more fit you become) you say to yourself 'I used to think that was so short!'

[@CarlyandJasiel]

She does make quite a few points to which i agree with, but there was only one issue i had throughout her presentation: the control. There was lack of a control group for each experiment her team tested, which from a scientific perspective, means it can be invalid. If she had a third group that was told nothing, maybe the results could've been more satisfying. Other than that, i completely agree with how much power our minds can have on achieving goals.

[@Vide0mak3r]

I like this study but one problem: They never tested it on people that were corrected for the positive outcome of keeping their eyes on the prize. In short does the effect (percieving a shorter distance) still occur if people know that the distance is the same but by keeping their eyes on the prize they are basically fooling their brains. If the effect dissappears if people know how this strategy effects our brain then everyone who saw this Ted talk won't perceive the distance closer and will still have a hard time working out (if they had a hard time doing so to begin with).

[@greatjasmintea]

I understand her idea of setting motivation.but I am constantly so stressed out so its hard for me to even set my mind to motivate.still I have to do exercise because I am fat:/ And I don't have friends too.yeah she seems a very beautiful with good mood,that's all I got to see from this talk.

[@theultimatereductionist7592]

I am not going to lie nor apologize nor feel bad: physical exercise is simply not for me. There exist a billion things more important for me to do.

[@Blasphemicaljuk]

Can it be ruled out whether "physically fit" parameter correlates with spacial perception because the person might be better trained at tasks involving spacial perspective, which is very frequent for most sports?

[@eb5698]

So how do I apply this to my goals and have them appear closer than they are without any distractions?

[@thisisbutterflyboy]

That was spectacular, thanks

[@jbb8261]

I didn’t know it could take so long to get to the point

[@SolesOfPassion]

Perception is everything.

[@bobbypatton4903]

Interesting. As a mountain climber, I am familiar with staying focused on the finish. As the summit comes into view it feels so close, even if it is still hours away and thousands of feet to go. Summit fever drives people to act unstoppable.

[@kentondragon9263]

Good chat..I can see how eye on the prize training can motivate you in other areas of your life..school work, job, studies..Cos when you trained to your brain to overcome exercise this way..you could in theory apply it to all aspects of your life..brilliant. 👍👍

[@LAB0132]

Could you list sources in the video description?

[@ropro9817]

I think 'seems near' and 'seems far' is the wrong question to ask. It's peoples perception of _effort_ required.

[@AnimeshSharma1977]

"But the big question" is what was the spread around the percent difference mentioned in the presentation ;)

[@MoniTbitu]

Even though her methods of scientific study are incredibly sub-par to say the least, I agree with the general notion of her talk. How you see things is integral to how well you perform in life. You can view 30 minutes of exercise as difficult, boring, and not worthwhile. At the same time, you can see 30 minutes of exercise as the gate to a leaner physique, a slimmer waist, and a longer healthier life. It doesn't make it any easier. It just makes it "worthwhile", so you end up doing it.

[@지금여기에-d1u]

thank you!

[@lordmeow182]

"did not realize that what we were changing from one photograph to the next was whether we had artificially lightened or darkened his skin tone. " Based on the video, of the pictures, it seems that the background is also artificially lighter or darker, not just the skin tone. And since these are the same pictures is one real, the other artificially altered? Both artificially altered? If only one was artificially altered and the other original, were they tested on a different group to determine which if subjects could determine which was the artificially altered image and which was the original?

[@TM-ui6wx]

I loved the conclusion.

[@Chronix74]

I'm a guy so I don't usually comment on people's clothes but goddamn! this woman has a very nice taste!

[@Natatattatification]

Kubi It looks like a she's wearing a pillow case

[@高煥舜]

So can the method apply to 100 meters sprint? I am literally skeptical of it .

[@kanishkjain3062]

i liked the way u researched mam...

[@KnotXackly]

I can already sense the "body-positive" people getting very offended by this factual and insightful Ted Talk.

[@valeriaribas2728]

Congratulations! It was very interesting.

[@indigotrade298]

fun fact do you know that empathy is a greek word and it means to have hate for something (usually for no justifiable reason). that is the way we use it. i dont know the reason why, but in english its positive and has a different meaning... i am just saying because she used it so many times.

[@dgphi]

In her tests, the finish line was in sight. In general, that won't be the case. What does "eye on the prize" mean in that case? In my experience, the goal can be too daunting if it is a long way away, and it's better to focus on what you are doing in the moment.

[@TiagoSoares17]

We all see the world at our own way but all of us can change that.

[@allenculbertson8170]

God bless you and thank you

[@cjcottell]

Literally keep your eye on the prize and think Obama is white!

[@ChillToThisSong]

Just remember, have your opinion and perspective, you're entitled to it. But that doesn't mean you're correct.

[@ma32321]

this woman is incredibly awesome. DOUBLE LIKE

[@MidniteRaver06]

Moral of the story. Be focused on your goal! Train, don't just workout.

[@saintsation12]

Honestly people give up in the gym because they realize it’s hard and give up the negative thoughts of I’m not good enough win. Creating a healthy lifestyle is quite literally rooted in self love and is 90% mental If you believe you don’t deserve better you’ll stay stagnant if you believe you deserve better you’ll become better that motivation not a physical goal gets you in the gym and keeps you there work on the insides the outside will follow

[@BinhNguyen-nn5dk]

great talk! Very useful

[@trist5612]

Would you rather go through pain for a little or be insecure about your body

[@MsNataliaNatasha]

Simple and genius!

[@Wkidone]

I see this in action on a daily basis with sales teams and sales targets.

[@sweetpeace5]

We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think about.

[@s1lvrinferno]

How could this be applied to a goal that is not visual like reaching a number of repetitions in weight training? Because as a trainer I would recommend strength training vs cardio any day for health purposes. But they're usually done in conjunction.

[@BruceDylanTan]

don't look at how others are doing around you? Just keep focused on what you need to achieve.

[@s1lvrinferno]

I'm not too sure it would be that simple as what she is speaking about involves a literal visual and not an idea in someone's head.

[@BruceDylanTan]

That may be true. Maybe you could do some testing yourself. Use different methods on several groups of people and compare how they fare. See if this method only works on a visual scale, and to what extent, or does it work mentally as well.

[@Merth667]

What I do is block everyone in the gym out and just focus on the excercise at hand. Don't play with your phone, don't talk to other people, just focus on the exercise and visualize yourself doing it. While you're doing it just focus on getting the desired number of reps and don't pay as much attention to the individual rep (outside of performing it correctly). Works for me

[@kakashi76767]

Merth667 What amazing advice!

[@cheescake98]

this is why i only sit on the computer

[@1unisol1]

on? :D

[@HShango]

computer is the new tv,work,play, entertainment now, i do not watch tv anymore lol to be fair because of my computer

[@cheescake98]

1unisol1 yes, isnt that normal in your country? although i might hinder the exhaust airflow but its very warm to sit on

[@1unisol1]

I guess that keeps the heating bill low. But no, where I am from we sit on the screen. We have large touch screens.

[@carmenclemons2556]

sur puppa Uh oh. You're a cat, aren't you? Everyone, run for your lives! The cats have figured out how to use computers! ;)

[@Fashionbykileyblog]

I can see how the "eyes on the prize" strategy works for running exercises, but what about push ups or squats--endurance workouts where there's no finish line to focus on? I tend to do those more often because of martial arts, and it would be great to focus on something that can make exercising a whole lot easier.

[@javajojambam]

I actually found the opposite, when I run if i focus on the one spot i want to get to, i always stop sooner than if i dont force myself to focus on that spot..... interesting

[@LittleRadicalThinker]

The most impossible task of her literally strategy is how to motivate people at the very first place. This is, unfortunately, the most difficult part of everything.

[@noahcovell4698]

as a car guy I have to comment on that analogy... which only works because C3 'vettes were laughably slow due to oil crisis era engine tuning!

[@mattdoa2]

How did you measure a 17% perception of all participants thoughts about how much exertion it took them?

[@diggermcleod5630]

People who are 'switched on' and people with PTSD see much larger portions..

[@SS-tu8xu]

waist to hip ratio doesn't define health it is just body shape proportions

[@iknownothing-m8c]

Good study and interesting material. Unfortunately a very uninspiring presentation. Felt really scripted except for a few sentences.

[@yannahl]

Am I the only only one who LOVED it? It literally changed my approach. Thank you

[@neethulekshmi941]

its hard.....cause i have thyroid issues....and i feel always exhausted 😑

[@v0idbit69]

Yikes. Did you see the data set they forced correlations from? It looked more like a nebulous cloud than a set of reliable data. And how reliable could self-reports of "it felt 17% easier, I guess," or "It looks 30% closer," possibly be? This research is a complete disaster.

[@TheNirvan999]

She made some really good points , I am 24 anorexic . Hope this will help me to put on weight .

[@yushinkang1870]

How would people use this strategy for sports with no clear cut 'finish lines?' like muay thai or wrestling...?

[@sweetpeace5]

The actual experiment portion feels very sketchy. For instance, I’m really bad at giving visual distance estimates. How did they even determine people thought the finish line was __%further?? That “fact” alone renders this kinda useless.

[@trygveevensen171]

She both sounds and looks like she could be Kim Wexler's sister

[@blopenshtop]

The only trouble I have with exercise is getting up and going to that place once I'm there I'm fine, for example in most of my school races I won and enjoyed the exercise but in the morning I didn't want to go and I didn't like the idea of exercise

[@aperson22222]

People told them the exercise required 17% less exertion to do the exercise? Who thinks in those terms?

[@Blurns]

Perception is subjective, reality is not.

[@nimblewimble]

Is ame saying that lack of motivation makes people les likely to exercise? Groundbreaking.

[@miguel555678]

so, If I am more motivated to do something that means I will put forth more effort? who knew, thank you science lady

[@EpikCuzzin]

Easy for those who are fit and strong, hard for those who are unfit and weak. Fairly simple I would've thought...

[@romyjugroo4542]

I would say that most people whom exercise regularly need no encouragement to hit the road as the act of exercising is in itself a prize or luxury.