Self-discipline induces misery in hypofrontal primates

METHODS
Up at 8. Low GI cereal, muesli or sandwich, cup of coffee and a glass of water. Stroll down to the lab. Work for 2-3 hours. Light lunch, preferably low GI sandwich with plenty of green in it, made the night before to save money. More coffee. Finish early, 4-5pm. Stroll back home and go for a run or to the gym. Leave plenty of time for cooking. Dinner before 8, not too much, not always meat, finish with fruit. In bed before 11.

DISCUSSION
If repeated over several days this protocol will convince a low-DA/hypofrontal brain (an ADD brain, an 'impulsive' brain) that its reproductive fitness is rapidly decreasing and that it must re-enter a high-DA state by any means necessary (e.g. bingeing, risk-taking, self-destruction, unrealistic thinking). To maintain the protocol, the low-DA/hypofrontal brain must introduce additional DA supplies (reinforcers) at strategic, well-defined points. The exercise component of the protocol will initially reduce DA, but may eventually become a DA supply in and of itself as stamina builds and endorphin signaling becomes more efficient. Other DA supplies may include novelty, exploration, sociability, intimacy, meditation, relaxation, construction and rewarding brain stimulation.

Diet

Except for a chocolate egg when I was starving and a few smokes at a party towards the end, my March-April 'diet' (nothing but fruit&veg outside of meals, no tobacco) actually worked. Bravo me. But since May it's all gone pear-shaped. So. May diet: nothing but fruit&veg (peanuts not included this time) outside of meals, no meal bigger than 1000cals, no tobacco, AND go for a run twice a week.

"Do you swear to stick to the diet, the whole diet and nothing but the diet?"
"I do"
"Then I hereby declare you man and diet. You may have breakfast."

For more upbeat reading: today's xkcd is great.