Canadian scientists have found that the more emotional or mental challenges a person faces in a day, the less determined they become to work out physically. However, the findings should not stop us from keeping fit. Experts believe that willpower  is like a muscle, and needs to be exercised to help one avoid the temptation  spending a night on the couch instead. Kathleen Martin-Ginis, a professor of kinesiology-the science of movement--who led the study, says everyone has a limited amount of willpower, and that it will be reduced by stress. Miss Martin-Ginis, of Canada's McMaster University, explains," Cognitive  tasks, as well as tasks such as regulating one's emotions, can reduce one's capacity to force oneself to exercise. " Her team of scientists performed a so-called "Stroop" test on volunteers to reach their conclusions. The experiment involved showing participants words associated with color1s but printed in different color1s-for example, the word "blue" written in red ink Participants were divided into two groups. One group was asked to name the color1 of the ink, instead to say the printed word, while the other wasn't Martin-Girus says, "After we used this cognitive task to use up their self-regulatory capacity, the participants didn't exercise as hard as those who had not performed the task " The more people concentrated on the cognitive task, the more likely they were to skip exercise sessions  over the next eight week You only have so much willpower. However, there are ways to strengthen willpower. The study found the listening to music before going to the gym can help, as well as making a commitment to work out with friends. It also concluded that willpower can be stretched by constant cake, or forcing oneself to study an extra hour each night Martin- Ginis adds," There are strategies people can use to help revitalize  themselves after they've used up their self-regulation Willpower is like a muscle: it needs to be used to stay strong. " According to the experts, human willpower  _  .
can be exercised through muscle movement can regulate itself to resist temptations is weakened by stressful cognitive or emotional tasks is reduced by lack of physical exercise