Summary: <a href="http://www.gayleallen.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Blog-Post-Segar-and-No-Sweat.png"></a>If you struggle with exercise, Michelle Segar has a secret for you: Stop blaming yourself! Blame the system!<br> After years of studying the science of motivation, <a href="http://michellesegar.com/">Michelle Segar, Ph.D.</a>, Director of <a href="http://sharp.research.umich.edu/">SHARP</a> — the Sport, Health, and Activity research and policy center at the <a href="https://umich.edu/">University of Michigan</a> — has created a framework for rethinking exercise that swaps out prescription for meaning. Filled with practical tips and strategies, Michelle’s bestselling book, <a href="http://michellesegar.com/books/no-sweat/">No Sweat: How the Simple Science of Motivation Can Bring You a Lifetime of Fitness</a>, is informed by years of putting these findings into practice with people just like you. <br> Some of the things we discuss in this interview:<br> <br> How systems determine our success in sustaining physical activity<br> Why exercise is about so much more than weight loss<br> Why finding the right whys make all the difference in our health and wellness<br> How reflecting on how we feel when we move can help us sustain activity<br> Why relying on willpower is such a short-sighted strategy<br> The important role of emotions and decision making in activity for life<br> Why meaning trumps should every time when it comes to changing our behaviors<br> How we approach eating following a workout we enjoy versus a workout like work<br> How exercise recommendations became so prescriptive<br> Fewer than 1 percent of American adults know how much exercise is recommended<br> How small of a role logical and rational behavior play in our choosing to exercise<br> Why we need a new kind of fitness prescription based on how we live and feel<br> How we help others when we prioritize our self care<br> How a go-to activity resource prevents us from wasting time and energy<br> Why reflecting on the immediate benefits of physical exercise fuels us long term<br> The importance of finding exercise we love<br> Getting past the idea that movement only counts when we sustain it for periods of time<br> How awareness of our current situation empowers us to take ownership for what we want it to be<br> Why negotiation skills can reap big benefits in helping us create time for physical activity<br> <br> Links to Topics Mentioned in this Podcast<br> <a href="https://twitter.com/MichelleSegar?lang=en">@MichelleSegar</a><br> <a href="http://michellesegar.com/">http://michellesegar.com/</a><br> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulo_Freire">Paulo Freire</a><br> <a href="http://danariely.com/">Dan Ariely</a><br> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioral_economics">Behavioral economics</a><br> <a href="http://students.coba.unr.edu/econwiki/index.php?title=Reward_Substitution">Reward Substitution</a><br> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-determination_theory">Self-determination theory</a><br> <a href="http://michellesegar.com/no-sweat-resolutions-quiz/">No Sweat Resolutions Quiz</a><br> <a href="http://www.usabooknews.com/2015awardannouncement.html">2015 USA Best Book Awards</a><br> <a href="http://sharp.research.umich.edu/about/">SHARP at the University of Michigan</a><br> If you enjoy the podcast, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Steindl-Rast">please rate and review it on iTunes</a> – your ratings make all the difference. For automatic delivery of new episodes, be sure to <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/curious-minds-innovation-inspiration/id1049183266?mt=2">subscribe</a>. As always, thanks for listening!<br> Thank you to Emmy-award-winning Creative Director <a href="https://vimeo.com/vanidavae">Vanida Vae</a> for designing the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/curious-minds-innovation-inspiration/id1049183266?"></a>
