Diet Weight Control

Is there a difference between willpower and self control?

According to Mayo Clinic researchers, self-control is much more effective and different than willpower... who would have known?

The folks at the Mayo Clinic lay it out like this:

• Willpower is this: “I am going to a friend’s barbecue this weekend and I’m making brownies for everyone else, but I’m just going to eat salad.”
• Self-control is this: “I am not going to make brownies because I will be too tempted by them. Instead I’ll bring a fresh fruit tray and a healthy salad so I know there will be something that I can eat at the barbecue.”

So what they’re saying is that willpower is stating you’ll make a change, but not removing the temptations in your life; whereas self-control is making a change and taking action to make it happen (no brownies for fear of temptation).

So in the continued battle to eat healthy and maintain weight, self-control may be the easier way to go. Do what you can to plan ahead and remove temptation. Take action by pre-making healthy meals so that you’re not stuck ordering fast food.