People who think of an exercise workout as a "fun-run" or well-deserved break will eat less afterward, according to a recent study.

Two new studies from Cornell University found that people who think of physical activity as exercise or as a workout consumer 35 percent more dessert than those who believed they had been on a scenic or "fun" walk.

"Viewing their walk as exercise led them to be less happy and more fatigued," Carolina Werle, lead author of the study and professor at Grenoble Ecole de Management in France, said in a statement.

In the first study, 6 adults completed their walk and were then given lunch. Those who believed they had been on an exercise walk served and ate a more than one-third more chocolate pudding for dessert than those who believed they had been on a scenic walk.

In the second study, 46 adults were given mid-afternoon snacks after their walk. Those thinking they taken an exercise walk ate 206 more calories of M&Ms, which was more than twice as much than those who had been told they were on a scenic walk.

Researchers said both studies point to one reason why people in exercise programs often find themselves gaining weight. Werke said the notion is that some exercised have a tendency to reward themselves by overeating after their workout.

Researchers said beginning or veteran exercisers should do whatever they can to make their workout fun to avoid overeating afterward.

"Play music, watch a video, or simply be grateful that you're working out instead of working in the office," Brian Wansink, author and Director of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab, said in a statement. "Anything that brings a smile, is likely to get you to eat less."

The findings were recently published in the journal Marketing Letters.