Chocolate Now or Jump-suit Later

If you’ve found yourself reaching for a short-term reward over a long term benefit - you’re not alone! It’s one of the most common issues my clients face.

This cognitive bias is called ‘Delay Discounting’ and is a term used in behavioral psychology to describe the way people tend to devalue rewards and benefits that are further off in the future, compared to those that can be obtained immediately. 

In the context of weight loss, this often translates to choosing the immediate pleasure of eating a tempting treat over the more distant reward of achieving a weight loss goal.

Understanding delay discounting is crucial because it helps us recognise why making consistent, healthful choices can be so (so) difficult. 

Every time we opt for a quick, unhealthy snack over a healthier option that benefits us in the long run, we are experiencing delay discounting. This bias can lead to a cycle of poor choices that derail weight loss efforts and prevent us from reaching our health goals.

Check out the video for some quick tips to overcoming delay discounting and if you'd like some more help check out my food psychology coaching.