How to Trick Yourself Into Working Harder - Mind Over Matter
A new book explores the far-reaching influence of expectations—and reveals how you can use them to your advantage.
By Emma Haak
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the November 2012 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine 
Photo: Thinkstock
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Though it may seem like your body gives out when it runs out of gas, research suggests that your brain anticipates when you'll become overly fatigued and tells your body to slow down before you're spent. But it turns out that you can keep going if your brain expects to get more fuel. In a 2009 British study, cyclists rode a stationary bike as fast as possible while rinsing their mouths with one of two liquids and spitting it out. The liquids tasted the same, but one contained carbohydrates. The carb-swishers generated more power than the non-carb group; their mouths sensed the carbs and sent signals to the brain that counteracted the effects of fatigue. |
