title: The invisible benefits of exercise.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether--and why--people underestimate how much they enjoy exercise.
  
  
  METHODS
  Across four studies, 279 adults predicted how much they would enjoy exercising, or reported their actual feelings after exercising.
  
  
  METHODS
  Main outcome measures were predicted and actual enjoyment ratings of exercise routines, as well as intention to exercise.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants significantly underestimated how much they would enjoy exercising; this affective forecasting bias emerged consistently for group and individual exercise, and moderate and challenging workouts spanning a wide range of forms, from yoga and Pilates to aerobic exercise and weight training (Studies 1 and 2). We argue that this bias stems largely from forecasting myopia, whereby people place disproportionate weight on the beginning of a workout, which is typically unpleasant. We demonstrate that forecasting myopia can be harnessed (Study 3) or overcome (Study 4), thereby increasing expected enjoyment of exercise. Finally, Study 4 provides evidence for a mediational model, in which improving people's expected enjoyment of exercise leads to increased intention to exercise.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  People underestimate how much they enjoy exercise because of a myopic focus on the unpleasant beginning of exercise, but this tendency can be harnessed or overcome, potentially increasing intention to exercise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, BC. matt@psych.ubc.ca
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ruby
authors.forename: Elizabeth W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perrino
authors.forename: Randall
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gillis
authors.forename: Sasha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Viel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001955:British Columbia; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult