Consider Mike Freedman, who is considering two alternative weekend plans. The first involves eating ice cream and watching re-runs of 30 Rock. The second involves eating a balanced, healthy diet and exercising vigorously. On Friday (t=0), Mike can buy a large (2 serving) or small (1-serving) ice cream container and plan its' for its consumption over the ensuing days. The consumption plans have three possible forms: Plan X: Buy the small container on Friday, consume it on Saturday, and exercise vigorously on Sunday. Plan Y: Buy the large container on Friday, consume the first serving on Saturday, consume the rest and exercise vigorously on Sunday, then exercise again on Monday. Plan Z: Buy the large container on Friday, consume both servings on Saturday, and exercise vigorously on Sunday. Assume that consumption of ice cream generates positive utility and exercise generates negative utility. The large size is more economical, so consuming it results in higher immediate consumption utility.
a) Plan X: Buy the small container on Friday, consume it on Saturday, and exercise vigorously on Sunday
b) Plan Y: Buy the large container on Friday, consume the first serving on Saturday, consume the rest and exercise vigorously on Sunday, then exercise again on Monday
c) Plan Z: Buy the large container on Friday, consume both servings on Saturday, and exercise vigorously on Sunday
d) Other plan: Consider a different combination of consuming ice cream and exercising on the weekend