The Chimp Paradox - Part I

The Chimp Paradox by Professor Steve Peters is available on Amazon.co.uk for £9.99

One of the things I struggle with is making rash, impulsive decisions.  That's in general, but it becomes particularly obvious when it comes to questions of diet, doing exercise, or anything else related to losing weight.

Reading "The Chimp Paradox" has started to show me why.  Inside all our brains is an evolutionary part of the mind which is entirely emotional and often irrational - which Professor Peters calls "the Chimp" - which is programmed to ensure our survival and is constant conflict with our rational side, "the Human".  This includes

a) making sure we always eat (as in evolutionary terms, we're never sure where the next meal is coming from); and
b) keeps us safe (like not putting us in social situations where we might make fools out of ourselves - which if you're me happens often at the gym - or worse where we could die...)

One of the exercises recommended in the book, is to try and nurture and tame your Chimp.  I've chosen to give my Chimp a name - Alasdair - which is Gaelic for "defender of man".  The name I've chosen is no mistake: I want to turn my weakness into my strength.

I've chosen to give my Chimp a name - Alasdair - which is Gaelic for "defender of man"

So every week, I'll be posting a brief log of where I believe Alasdair has tried to tempt me, and where the Human side of me has resisted - or lost.

Monday 16th
Worked hard at rugby training, ignoring everything Alasdair was telling me about stopping because I looked silly - red in the face, dripping with sweat - and carried on regardless.  I was hurting by the end of it, but it felt good!

Tuesday 17th
Left work much later than intended - intending to go to the gym - but I'd used all my reserves of willpower for the day.  Alasdair convinced me it was too late, and I'd do better saving my energy for another day.  I listened, and went home.

Wednesday 18th
Went to the gym to try out my new workout routine for the first time - it was busy - Alasdair convinced me that I had better wait until it was quieter before trying it out.  I realise now that was to save face and avoid any embarrassment.

Did my treadmill and stair mill workout instead though, and when Alasdair tried to convince me to quit halfway through, I ignored him and pushed through to do the full set of reps at full speed.

Thursday 19th
Went shopping late at night after training, and was tempted to pick up a couple of sandwiches, and even more tempted to pick up a couple of desserts, for dinner.  Alasdair was making me fearful that one sandwich wouldn't be enough.

By buying two Meal Deals instead of one, the Human showed him that there was enough food for me if I needed it, but also that there was too much food to eat all at once, and it would be better to save it.  It worked!  I only ate one.

Friday 20th
The only real challenge I had - but I don't think it was to do with Alasdair - was only doing 50% of the exercises at the gym today.  I completed all the reps at the right intensity, but only half the actual exercises.  But I think that's because I honestly couldn't go on any longer.

Saturday 21st
Such a busy day at work, I didn't have a chance for Alasdair to try and lead me astray!

Sunday 22nd

We had a work get together to launch a new business plan - it included a few(?!) beers - and in spite of what I normally get like, I managed to resist going out for a few more.  I did stay up late having a couple at home with some pizza, but after a long hard day it was deserved!

More from Alasdair next week...!