This is an interesting article I found on Neatorama that tells of a Harvard psychologist who believes that one’s perception of one’s activity is just as important as the physical exercise itself.

Hotel Maids, who on average do enough exercise as part of their work to fulfill the recommended exercise quota each day, were measured and weighed, and then told that they are leading very active lifestyles and fulfilling their daily quotas. A time later, they are weighed and measured again and found to be slimmer, presumably due to the knowledge that they were exceeding their exercise requirements.

The next time I go for frietjes I will tell myself that I’m expending a great deal of energy in doing so.