Working out requires you to contact some type of reinforcement from the environment. Reinforcers are essential because they increase the odds that you will start and continue these important health behaviors. These will all vary by individual and context.
But sometimes, our fitness behaviors disappear — go away — without explanation….until now.
2 Reasons Why You Stop Working Out
Reason #1 Extinction
Extinction is a behavioral process in which your fitness behaviors no longer produce meaningful outcomes (or reinforcers). That means no more:
- Strength gains
- Weight loss
- Aesthetic improvements
- Social approval
- Competition wins, or
- Prize money
Your fitness behaviors used to contact those reinforcers, but do not anymore.
Reason #2: Punishment
Punishment is a behavioral process in which your fitness behaviors produce some type of aversive consequence (or punisher). Punishers like:
- Pain or discomfort
- Weight gain
- Aesthetic changes
- Social DISapproval
- Competition loss
When punished, it may be be even more difficult to get those fitness behavior going again.
No matter the reason the behavioral processes have a similar effect. Both extinction and punishment will decrease the odds that you continue your fitness behaviors.
