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Having just finished reading "Willpower", I wanted to comment here. The primary hypothesis of the book is that humans have a store of "willpower", which is dep

by Travis 15y ago

Having just finished reading "Willpower", I wanted to comment here. The primary hypothesis of the book is that humans have a store of "willpower", which is depleted every time we exercise it (including making tough decisions) [see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ego_depletion http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ego_depletion]. When we avoid our favorite foods, we deplete our willpower. When that reserve is gone, it is much more difficult for us to make the "right" choice. The really interesting twist was when they presented the brain glucose study results. The authors suggest that it's glucose levels in the brain that partially determine the size of the willpower reserve. Thus, when you diet, you not only deplete your reserve by making a decision to avoid fatty foots, but you also starve your brain of the glucose it needs to replenish the ability to make tough decisions. They support it with some interesting and fairly compelling evidence. I highly recommend reading it.

tptacek 15y ago
This is also something dealt with pretty early in Daniel Kahneman's excellent _Thinking Fast And Slow_.
- radu_floricica 15y ago
  "Thinking Fast and Slow" was the wider, more interesting book, but I found "Willpower" to be the practical one. Got at least a couple of potentially life changing things from it - its views on dieting, and the concept that creating a habit gives basically free willpower. But they are both excellent books, and I would be extremely happy to see them reaching as wide an audience as possible.
Splines 15y ago
Hence the saying, "Never shop hungry". It's a hard learned lesson, but treating future-you as someone who is lazy and weak-willed pays off.
daenz 15y ago
> The primary hypothesis of the book is that humans have a store of "willpower", which is depleted every time we exercise it (including making tough decisions) That's pretty interesting. I wonder if this says something about the inevitability of a level of corruption in government (government, by definition, makes tough decisions, depleting willpower, but willpower is necessary for resisting corruption).
- Travis 15y ago
  The book does address the incongruity between the level of self-control required to rise to a high level of power and the shocking lack of self-control and forethought of a Spitzer type person. It doesn't tackle corruption per se, but does address politicians and power. (although IMO, it wasn't the strongest section in the book)
gordonc 15y ago
Seconded. This book has made me rethink all of my behaviors and professional practices – from the gym, to food, drinking, and my UX design recommendations and reasoning. It provides a framework for how we make decisions, a truly phenomenal and amazing accomplishment, when you consider it.
- Travis 15y ago
  If you haven't yet read it, I also highly recommend, "Nudge". It's similarly eye opening WRT how incentives shape outcomes.
radu_floricica 15y ago
I loved the way the brains of dieting people reacted and "consumed" willpower when sitting near a bowl of sweets, but the brains of non-dieting people didn't. I think I quit all thought of ever dieting again that moment. I'm working now on slooowly losing weight by behavioral means (stopped eating near a computer, for example), and so far it's a stallmate. But I'm hopeful.
dredmorbius 15y ago
There's a lot of crossover in my understanding of fitness (diet/nutrition, strength, cardio), and of willpower and volition in its various states. Many food/fitness issues are born of concepts very similar to addiction (and heavily pursued by food marketers and advertisers under similar grounds). I've tried going very low carb, and found the experience quite dissatisfying. Cognitive, strength, and cardio abilities all suffered. My best bet is to stick to a small quantity of whole grains (rolled or steel-cut oats generally) in the morning, some fruit and vegetables through the day, most carbs post-workout. As to cutting the volitional element of diet control, a number of experiences, ranging from "Supersize Me" to other readings and experiences, made me stop considering a wide range of alleged "food products" as food, and instead, seeing them as toxins. The choice is then not one of "do you want to eat this food" but "do you want to eat this poison". It makes saying "no" much easier. Practicing a "thanks, but no" doesn't hurt either. It also helps (and HN often assists in this) to realize that a great deal of modern "culture" and media are dedicated to polluting your choice-discrimination mechanisms. Avoiding commercial media (TV, radio, malls, etc.) drastically reduces your exposure to mental toxins as well. Yes, "gamification", "viral spread", "addictive experience", and all that. Shopping also becomes the one time you're really having to make choices. I avoid stores that carry mostly junk, have my "regular items" I stock up on, and stick to them. Treats become nuts, dried fruits, dates, and figs. Scheduling a regular time to be at the gym (or wherever else you exercise) is another key. Stick to all of this: avoid the bad foods, feed your brain/body enough slow-burning glucose to keep it happy, avoid distractive influences, keep your home and personal environments free of temptations, and you'll spare yourself a lot of the need of having to exhaust willpower. Though as with any muscle, I suspect that occasional exercise with periods of recovery strengthens it in the long run.

by Travis 15y ago

tptacek 15y ago

This is also something dealt with pretty early in Daniel Kahneman's excellent _Thinking Fast And Slow_.

radu_floricica 15y ago
"Thinking Fast and Slow" was the wider, more interesting book, but I found "Willpower" to be the practical one. Got at least a couple of potentially life changing things from it - its views on dieting, and the concept that creating a habit gives basically free willpower. But they are both excellent books, and I would be extremely happy to see them reaching as wide an audience as possible.

Splines 15y ago

Hence the saying, "Never shop hungry". It's a hard learned lesson, but treating future-you as someone who is lazy and weak-willed pays off.

daenz 15y ago

> The primary hypothesis of the book is that humans have a store of "willpower", which is depleted every time we exercise it (including making tough decisions) That's pretty interesting. I wonder if this says something about the inevitability of a level of corruption in government (government, by definition, makes tough decisions, depleting willpower, but willpower is necessary for resisting corruption).

Travis 15y ago
The book does address the incongruity between the level of self-control required to rise to a high level of power and the shocking lack of self-control and forethought of a Spitzer type person. It doesn't tackle corruption per se, but does address politicians and power. (although IMO, it wasn't the strongest section in the book)

gordonc 15y ago

Seconded. This book has made me rethink all of my behaviors and professional practices – from the gym, to food, drinking, and my UX design recommendations and reasoning. It provides a framework for how we make decisions, a truly phenomenal and amazing accomplishment, when you consider it.

Travis 15y ago
If you haven't yet read it, I also highly recommend, "Nudge". It's similarly eye opening WRT how incentives shape outcomes.

radu_floricica 15y ago

I loved the way the brains of dieting people reacted and "consumed" willpower when sitting near a bowl of sweets, but the brains of non-dieting people didn't. I think I quit all thought of ever dieting again that moment. I'm working now on slooowly losing weight by behavioral means (stopped eating near a computer, for example), and so far it's a stallmate. But I'm hopeful.

dredmorbius 15y ago

There's a lot of crossover in my understanding of fitness (diet/nutrition, strength, cardio), and of willpower and volition in its various states. Many food/fitness issues are born of concepts very similar to addiction (and heavily pursued by food marketers and advertisers under similar grounds). I've tried going very low carb, and found the experience quite dissatisfying. Cognitive, strength, and cardio abilities all suffered. My best bet is to stick to a small quantity of whole grains (rolled or steel-cut oats generally) in the morning, some fruit and vegetables through the day, most carbs post-workout. As to cutting the volitional element of diet control, a number of experiences, ranging from "Supersize Me" to other readings and experiences, made me stop considering a wide range of alleged "food products" as food, and instead, seeing them as toxins. The choice is then not one of "do you want to eat this food" but "do you want to eat this poison". It makes saying "no" much easier. Practicing a "thanks, but no" doesn't hurt either. It also helps (and HN often assists in this) to realize that a great deal of modern "culture" and media are dedicated to polluting your choice-discrimination mechanisms. Avoiding commercial media (TV, radio, malls, etc.) drastically reduces your exposure to mental toxins as well. Yes, "gamification", "viral spread", "addictive experience", and all that. Shopping also becomes the one time you're really having to make choices. I avoid stores that carry mostly junk, have my "regular items" I stock up on, and stick to them. Treats become nuts, dried fruits, dates, and figs. Scheduling a regular time to be at the gym (or wherever else you exercise) is another key. Stick to all of this: avoid the bad foods, feed your brain/body enough slow-burning glucose to keep it happy, avoid distractive influences, keep your home and personal environments free of temptations, and you'll spare yourself a lot of the need of having to exhaust willpower. Though as with any muscle, I suspect that occasional exercise with periods of recovery strengthens it in the long run.