Interesting New Yorker article on Delayed Gratification

clio · Post by **clio** » Fri May 29, 2009 1:11 pm

Don't! The secret of self-control byJonah Lehrer

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009 ... hrer?yrail

Blithe Morning · Post by **Blithe Morning** » Fri May 29, 2009 1:46 pm

Very interesting. I've been reading a lot about early childhood education lately and self regulation is an extremely important skill.

Marianna · Post by **Marianna** » Fri May 29, 2009 1:47 pm

I read the initial study in graduate school... great article--thanks for posting it. The good news: We can all distract ourselves from the marshmallow!

kccc · Post by **kccc** » Fri May 29, 2009 2:27 pm

There seems a direct application to No-S... by limiting food to mealtimes, we are able to "distract" ourselves from food the rest of the time, just as those kids did with the marshmallows. No-S structure provides the frame that distances us from the temptation.

I know I used to have this CONSTANT mental chatter about food. "I shouldn't... maybe just one...later, I'll skip x to make up... " - that kind of thing. Always questioning "can I have this" or feeling guilty if I did. Dieting where I "counted" only made it worse.

What I LOVE about No-S is that eating at just mealtimes ends that mental chatter. Then when I DO eat, I can actually enjoy what I have, with no guilt. Imagine!

A well-developed "no snacking" habit is just a great strategy, and I really think it's the single most useful aspect of No-S for me. I can delay my gratification until mealtime (or the weekend, if it really is a marshmallow).

StrawberryRoan · Post by **StrawberryRoan** » Fri May 29, 2009 2:53 pm

I agree that removing the constant food chatter has been the biggest blessing. I am free from worrying about it.

I eat my meal and forget about it until the next meal. Honestly.

BTW, I used to grab a nice soft marshmallow several times a day (I mean, really, it is JUST a little marshmallow) However, the bag has not been touched in over a month.

Since I started here.