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For The Union-Tribune

Why your gym plans don’t work out

University of Michigan researchers have an idea why so many people who make ambitious plans and goals regarding physical fitness ultimately give up on them. And more specifically, why planned daily exercise doesn’t happen.

Blame it on an all-or-nothing mindset, said behavioral scientist Michelle Seger, who, with colleagues, just published data on four different age groups of adults who tried to exercise but couldn’t stick with it.

“Exercise-related all-or-nothing thinking occurs when a specific exercise plan becomes unworkable,” Segar said. “At this moment, when people cannot perfectly adhere to their plan (the ‘all’), they choose not to exercise at all rather than modify the plan.”

The all-or-nothing approach consists of four components:

• Rigid criteria for what constitutes sufficient exercise

• A tendency to find excuses, such as exercising hurts or is too hard

• A belief that exercise is expendable compared to other daily priorities

• An inability to see immediate, positive effects from exercising

“Most people are tired and overwhelmed,” said Segar, “so in the moment of decision, the immediate costs of exercising feel much bigger than the benefits, making it a low-value choice. This makes doing ‘nothing’ a prudent choice and desirable exit strategy.

“Decisions to not exercise are often made outside of awareness — so people are likely un...