How to Lose Ten Pounds in Thirty Days

How to Lose Ten Pounds in Thirty Days

The Journal of Consumer Research ran a number of studies on this difference in terminology. One of the studies split participants into three groups:

• Group 1 was told that anytime they felt tempted to lapse on their goals, they should "just say no." This group was the control group, because they were given no specific strategy.
• Group 2 was told that anytime they felt tempted to lapse on their goals, they should implement the "can't" strategy. For example, "I can't miss my workout today."
• Group 3 was told that anytime they felt tempted to lapse on their goals, they should implement the "don't" strategy. For example, "I don't miss workouts."

The results?

• Group 1 (the "just say no" group) had 3 out of 10 members stick with their goals for the entire 10 days.
• Group 2 (the "can't" group) had 1 out of 10 members stick with her goal for the entire 10 days.
• Group 3 (the "don't" group) had an incredible 8 out of 10 members stick with their goals for the entire 10 days.