An insight on the challenge of changing behavior ( h/t @gretchinrubin )

Veteran readers know that I had a major behavior change in 2013 – becoming an exercise addict and improving my eating habits.  I lost approximately 35-40 pounds, and have kept that weight off for almost 3 years now.  The big question that my friends and acquaintances ask me is how did I do it.  My stock answer really is too simple – exercise more and eat less.  I had some idea of why I had success, but did not really understand why what worked so well for me might now work for others. Last week I heard a wonderful interview with Gretchin Rubin (the podcast was Run to the Top).  She talked about the four tendencies, and her explanation struck home. Your response to expectations may sound slightly obscure, but it turns out to be very, very important: Upholders respond readily to outer and inner expectations (I’m an Upholder, 100%) Questioners question all expectations; they’ll meet an expectation if they think it makes sense–essentially, they make all expectations into inner expectations Obligers meet outer expectations, but struggle to meet expectations they impose on themselves Rebels resist all expectations, outer and inner alike In taking her quiz, I confirmed that I am a questioner.  For a long time I had thought about weight loss, yet had not mentally committed to that expectation.  Something clicked internally (suggestions from others had no great impact), and then I developed an internal strategy.  It would not have worked if I had not made thi...
Source: DB's Medical Rants - Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Tags: Medical Rants Source Type: blogs