Goodbye Muffin Top Hello bikini Psychology 671 Amanda

Goodbye Muffin Top, Hello bikini! Psychology 671 Amanda Kowalski August 7, 2008

Problem • I find myself trying to diet and go to the gym everyday. But for some reason I always find myself making excuses for why I will go to the gym tomorrow instead of today. • How am I going to get rid of my muffin top? !

Competing Contingencies • There are several things I would rather be doing than hitting up the gym. When I have a spare hour I love to watch Dr. Carter put in a chest tube on an episode of E. R. or stalk people on facebook. • If I go to the gym I will miss all the excitement going on at County General!

Natural Competing Contingency BEFORE I have free Time to watch E. R. BEHAVIOR AFTER Workout for 40 minutes I do not have Free time to Watch E. R.

The SM Intervention • Target behavior: working out for 40 min. • Intervention: If I do not workout for at least 40 min. five days a week I pay Michelle $3 for each missed day. – Contingencies: avoidance of the loss of a reinforcer • Deadline (SD): midnight Monday-Sunday • PM manager: Michelle Gagliano • Start Date: June 11, 2008 • End Date: still in progress!

Ineffective Natural Contingency BEFORE Given level Of health BEHAVIOR AFTER Workout for 40 min. Infinitesimally Greater level Of health LAZY

Performance-Management Contingency Deadline: Mon-Sun. by midnight BEFORE Will lose $3 On Monday BEHAVIOR AFTER Workout for 40 min. Will not lose $3 on Monday Michelle

Inferred Theoretical Contingency BEFORE BEHAVIOR Fear loss of $3 Workout for 40 min. AFTER Do not fear Loss of $3

Target Behavior Graph

Benefit Measure Graph

Problems During Intervention • During week 1 of the intervention I started the intervention on a Wed. and also got a migraine on Thursday (so I did not workout). My biggest problem was getting my eating in check with my working out.

Recycle • I really increased the amount of exercise I do per week, so I would not recycle any parts of this particular intervention, however I definitely need to also put a contingency on healthy eating. Now I am working out 5 days a week, but I am eating Taco Bell 4 times a week. Looks like another self-management project for the future!

My Results • I am really happy with the results so far. I have decreased my body fat by 3. 7% and have lost 6 lbs. • I am excited to put a contingency on healthy eating to see if I can get even better results!

Questions?

THANK YOU!!