Fitness professional often get frustrated about their client’s inability to adhere to exercise or nutritional guidelines.

However, pharmaceutical companies and doctors are gnashing their teeth as well. Too many medical patients are not taking their pills. When prescribed life-saving medications for cancer, heart disease and diabetes, patients take them a shockingly low 55% of the time, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) estimate (WHO 2003).

If almost half of people can’t spare 10 seconds to pop a pill, how in heaven’s name can we expect them to exercise and to eat a healthy diet? Again, as fitness and nutrition professionals, we wonder, “What is wrong with these clients? Why are people so ... illogical?” The answer is illuminating.

Most of us assume that human beings base decisions on the rational deliberations of the logical left brain—the “inner grownup.” However, behaviour research—including neurological imaging data—suggests otherwise. What really drives most of our decision-making (whether we’re willing to admit it or not) is our emotional, empathetic, image-oriented right brain (Colozino 2010; Greenberg 2010; Johnson 2004).

In addition, clients’ puzzlingly contradictory behaviour reflects competing life priorities and brain circuits. People are usually unaware of these internal conflicts, so it’s hard for clients to explain why they sign up for a gym membership and then never show up, or vow to eat better at 9:00 am but end up indulging ice cream at 9:00 pm on the same day (Colozino 2010; Johnson 2004).

Whether we’re aware of it or not, most of the time the more primal brain circuits are in charge of our decisions (Ogden, Minton & Pain 2006). Indeed, the “smart human” brain contributes much less than we think. Don’t believe it? Check your heart rate and palms next time you feel road rage. That spike in heart rate and the sweaty palms are your sympathetic nervous system–dominant defence mechanism kicking in to keep you safe from the “threat” of that driver who cut you off while talking on his cell phone.

Second, the “reptilian” and “early mammalian” brain parts are dedicated to our survival (Cozolino 2010; Greenberg 2010). They want to feed us, keep us happy, keep us safe and make us feel as good as possible. Yet “dieting” or embarking on a new fitness plan in the 21st century means purposely enduring discomfort and restricting activities and foods that soothe us (or give us a “high”). It also means adding more demands or stimulation to an already busy schedule.

If you think about it, why would any client ever eat less and go to a gym with bright lights, loud music and unfamiliar equipment, in order to expend excess energy? To the primal brain, these things are a threat. Threats require defensive action—such as running away or playing dead. In the context of a wellness programme, that means bailing on a gym membership, “flaking out” on a meal plan, being lazy or “forgetting” to plan a healthy dinner. Purposely enduring restriction, social awkwardness or discomfort goes against everything our brains evolved to do. So trying to persuade a client to do this is like trying to run new software on a very old computer.

Finally, some evidence suggests that “willpower”—or the conscious “control” of unwanted impulses—may actually use up much of the brain’s fuel resources. Functional MRI studies that have looked at glucose utilization in the brain seem to show that self-governance is energetically costly (Cozolino 2010). The ability to discipline ourselves is a bank account that gets depleted quite quickly, especially if we’re making constant withdrawals without also making willpower-boosting deposits (such as enjoyment).

You don’t need to be a neuroscientist to get all of this. Just remember three things:

1. In neurological terms, we’re wired for safety, comfort, energy conservation and survival.

2. For most people, working out and changing eating habits contravene those primal goals.

3. When humans perceive a threat (real or imagined), their defence mechanisms kick in. When that happens, a consultant won’t get anywhere with them, especially if they push harder.

Commit to one change

at a time

As a simple, yet effective tool for change, implement this one-habit method immediately. Ask yourself the following questions:

• What is one simple, clear, practical and very small habit I can start immediately?

• How confident am I that I can do this task every day? (If your confidence is less than 9 or 10 on a scale of 1–10, make the task easier.)

Remember that any tasks you commit to must be clear and specific. “Eat better” is not specific enough. Even “Eat more fruits and veggies” is too nebulous. Put a number on it. For example:

• Instead of saying, “Work out more,” say: “Do 5 minutes of interval exercise today.”

• Instead of saying, “Eat more vegetables,” say: “Eat half a cup of vegetables with each meal today.”

• Instead of saying, “Improve your posture,” say: “Get up from your chair every hour today.”

After you’ve answered the questions, write your task down on a sticky note, refer to it 10 times today and get going!

Richard Geres is an ACE-certified

Personal Trainer

www.richardgeres.com