Using the advice you get : the human condition

Tyler Durden Listen up, maggots. You are not special. You are not a beautiful or unique sno.png

Here’s what every sentient human being knows about health and wellness:
1. Eat protein
2. Eat vegetables
3. Train everyday
4. Sleep enough and consistently
5. Drink enough water
6. Calorie surpluses make you fat
7. Calorie deficits can help you lose weight
8. Too large a calorie deficit is bad for you
9. Muscle is good
10. Body fat beyond a point is bad
11. Dense bones are good
12. Activity is good

Why you don’t act on what you know:

1. There are people who have long, healthy lives without doing any of the above
2. You don’t care. Fitness advice is in the same category as motivation and self-help. You can enjoy reading it and not use it
3. You just can’t see how or why it would make your life better
4. You are overwhelmed by what you have learned and not figured out what the first step should be
5. You are trying to implement it but your efforts are not yielding results. There is a gap between knowledge and implementation. The devil is often in the details and numbers
6. You do not enjoy the process of eating better or being active
7. You are not able to carve out the time it takes to get the job done
8. You don’t have enough incentive or see enough value to prioritise it

The value of strength, anti fragility and the physical capacity to get things done with independence are self evident. If you have not seen the value in pursuing those goals, chances are a LinkedIn post won’t change your mind.

* In case you decide to try, here are some takeaways

* Find a mechanism to hold you accountable: effective coaches, goals, family, technology, medical check ups, a good doctor

* Remind yourself why it matters: performance goals, aesthetic goals, habit goals, body composition goals or just tracking fatigue, sleep, exertion levels in everyday life. When the value of an intervention is self evident, you are motivated to do what it takes.

* Learn to enjoy the process. Play with ingredients, recipes, training protocols, explore outdoor activities, try different coaches, explore the ‘sport’ aspect of training. The options are many.