I’ve been mulling over the “willpower as a muscle that can be exhausted” theory since I wrote about a 2007 New York Times blog post that was written about similar research. I think there’s probably something to the conclusion people are reaching from the research, but at best it’s an oversimplification, and at worst it’s an erroneous conclusion. After all, the effects of the study could also be explained other ways, for instance: let’s posit that a person doing something they don’t like tends to inspire resentment (a negative emotion based on a thought along the lines of “I shouldn’t have to do that”). This doesn’t seem like a stretch. Then let’s posit that when people are feeling resentful, they are less compliant. This would seem to explain the results just as well as the “willpower as muscle” idea, with the important difference that if it’s about resentment and compliance, then a little idea repair (also known as “cognitive restructuring”) could remedy the situation and leave willpower unaffected.

I don’t mean to suggest that we should assume that this alternate explanation, or some other explanation, is the real one necessarily–just that there are a lot of skills (like idea repair) we can apply to willpower that will boost it, and that rather than expecting it to run out, we may want to learn as many of those skills as possible and get all the juice we can out of it.

Cheers,
Luc Reid
The Willpower Engine

I also try planning ahead to combat the cravings – berries with full fat Greek yogurt, 75% dark chocolate covered almonds, cheese crisps (if I feel like chips), etc. But, it seems like no matter how much I plan I still cave with processed foods (refined sugar in particular) that I do manage to stay away from for the remainder of the month…These wild cravings do subside a day after my period starts, but the week and a half before is a nightmare. I even asked my endocrinologist for advice on how to deal with this. He provided the unsatisfactory response of “it’s OK to have a candy bar that time of the month so long as you’re not having one every day of the month”.

For what it’s worth: My best defense thus far has been anticipating the PMS and ramping up my portion sizes and fat percentages BEFORE the cravings hit, and then to stay well-fed all week. It takes some self-experimentation to figure out the timing and portions, and it helps if I keep my stress levels down, too.

You might also try taking some chromium, which is supposed to reduce carb cravings.

Also I think willpower is mostly just talking myself out of my own bs.

I should also note that I’m a 31 year old non insulin dependent type II diabetic (and my diabetes is not associated with obesity, it runs in the family). So while I maintain excellent blood sugar control through diet and exercise for most of the month (fasting blood sugar averaging 85-90), the week before my period my fastings range between 110-120!

Please tell me what to do to make this stop!