A neuroscientist who studies decision-making shares his best advice for living healthier by Chris Weller on Jan 3, 2018, 1:29 PM Advertisement
 Making healthy choices sounds like a good way to get in better shape. But according to Moran Cerf, the strategy is misguided. Cerf, a professor of business and neuroscience at Northwestern University, has been studying decision-making for over a decade. One of his biggest takeaways is that making choices on a daily basis is psychologically exhausting. In other words, it's tough to constantly exert the willpower required to avoid snacking or get up off the couch to exercise. Eventually, old habits get the best of people and they cave to unproductive tendencies. Based on his research, Cerf claims other strategies are far more effective at getting people to build sustainable habits that promote healthy living — and they aren't the typical stuff of diet books. SEE ALSO: A neuroscientist who studies decision-making reveals the most important choice you can make Choose your company according to your goals.  The most important strategy starts with who people pick as their company, Cerf said, since the people you surround yourself with ultimately influence your behavior more than most other factors. His research has found people's brain activity actually syncs up when they're in each other's presence. People wanting to be healthier will naturally take on the habits of fit people if they spend more time with them, Cerf said. Kids are often warned to avoid peers who are bad influences, but adults can also benefit from seeking good influences.
Step on the scale no more than once a week.  Cerf believes people rely too heavily on data to guide their lifestyle choices. Knowing your starting weight and goal weight are helpful, but an individual's weight can fluctuate by a few pounds each day. Weighing yourself daily invites too much noise into the process. Cerf's recommendation: Weigh yourself just once a week, and focus less on the number than the direction you're headed. As long as you're making progress, Cerf said, that's what counts.
Pick one menu item at restaurants and stick to it.  In his own life, Cerf always selects the second menu option on a restaurant's list of specials. He's not a picky eater, so the strategy helps him avoid making a low-level decision and, in turn, free up more energy for the important stuff. People who want to get in shape can modify the tactic slightly, he said. Instead of choosing the second menu option, people can opt for a similar healthy dish at the various places they go. Rather than face a dilemma of temptation versus prudence, the decision will be pre-made. People can use their leftover willpower in other productive ways.
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