If I read 1 good valid murder mystery book, would I really want that to be the ONLY book on the subject? If my 8th grade history book was considered to be accurate by the majority would I really want to be limited to only knowing one author's thoughts on the subject? Or how about browsers and music players? Do I just want to use IE? It gets the job done well enough.
So what's the difference between those analogies and fitness ebook, supplements and programs? Really there's no difference to me.
Let me explain as I know there are a million web sites, book, supplements, and training programs. And for a beginner it's like:
Where do I start?!
When I first started off, there were a few major books on the subject (Arnold Encyclopedia) and of course the main muscle magazines. That is where I learned my information from. And locker room chat and so called friends. I was on the quest in the 10th grade to put on weight. A guy who was bigger than me gave me some golden advice. He said "Just eat everything man. Candy bars whatever." With that, I agreed that in order to get bigger and more muscular, I needed to eat. So at break, I ate an Snickers bar every day. Needless to say, I didn't get any bigger, I probably put on a tiny bit of fat and the dentist was happier. But when you don't have a lot of resources, it's pretty hard to judge.
I look back on that memory fondly. With the power of the Internet and the people coming out of the woodwork as experts, now there's so much information, sometimes it's the same situation, only there's many voices.
But I still like the fact that I have many choices.
If a person was ONLY to read the Max-OT guide, would they be alright? I'd say they would be better off then nothing but, they wouldn't be a good, well-rounded fitness type. And I'm not making any negative judgments about Max-OT. I love that program!
But think of the person who:
* Reads this message board for as much information as they can (conflicting or not) * Buys eBooks and reads thru them to understand many perspectives * Understand nutrition on a basic level as well as more advanced * Knows of many training programs (can work out in a full gym or at home with nothing) * Visits other sites to see videos of proper techniques * Listens to advice in the gym but has a foundation to tell if the advice is accurate or base-less and * Knows of research outlets if it warrants further debate
The person in the first example only reads 1 eBook. It's a great eBook and it's free. But it cannot possibly cover everything. While this person will do well, they won't be as versatile as the person who's read thru many books, posts and forums to really understand how the body works, nutrition and more importantly, how it will affect them and their goals.
I remember asking people what they thought of this whole sport.
The majority were disenchanted by the slew of supplements, the million training programs, the 500 ebooks on bodybuilding and the paper classics. It's like they wanted to know out of the 1 million resources, which ones were the ones they should read. And it better not be too many.
But the problem with having somebody else choose for you obvious. And the problem with too few choices is obvious as well.
Having so many choices is actually quite good. Many DB members who have read over the posts, visited the sites linked to and talked about and purchased the eBooks that get talked about often have a very well rounded knowledge base. They also start to see a lot of repetition. 6 meals a day is the way to go if you are on a weight gain or weight loss program. It just depends on what you eat for those 6 meals that determines the outcome.
I look at my bookshelf and I see many fiction works and I see many books on supplements and vitamins. I look in my computer folders and I see well over 30 ebooks on fitness subjects. And I look in my supplement closet and see various programs and such. And I'm not confused. I like choices. I like different protein powders. Some shakes I love. Others give me an upset stomach. So having choices is good. And thru experience and time, I can pick and choose the best ones to suit my needs because after all the reading, the posting the debating with members, and just reading what people post, I get better and better at being able to pick out what will best work for me.
Do not get discouraged when you walk into a supplement store and see 30 different types of bars. Nor should you get angry or upset when you go to various places and see yet another book on fitness. Having choices benefits you. And thru reading and learning and talking, you will figure out what is hype and what is real. One man's bullshit is another man's placebo to a 400 lb bench press.
Keep learning and don't look for the ONE program or the ONE supplement or the ONE book that will tell you the golden truth. Fact is, if you only had 1 of everything, you'd be very limited in knowledge.
They feel isolated and alone. Many of them are afflicted with guilt, continually encounter frustration, and seem unable to escape their feelings of hopelessness.
I have discovered that if women include two very important ingredients in their health transformations they are much more likely to succeed in taking control of their lives and health.
The Importance of Having a System
With health information coming at us from all directions, we can quickly become overwhelmed and not know which way to turn. When we lack a SYSTEM to put all of this information in order and to apply it, the information tends to slip through our fingers and is lost to us.
Most of us already find it a challenge to juggle work, families and the demands of modern day living. Trying to filter through the constant barrage of information we are subjected to on a daily basis, however valuable, can be one of the biggest barriers to taking positive steps forward when we're already so consumed with or other day-to-day responsibilities.
So, we've got to have a system.
But what does that mean?
Well, I'm talking about more than some menu planners and shopping lists, here. Too many people approach diet changes without considering the degree to which such changes affect all the other elements of their lives.
We cannot expect to make lasting diet changes without it impacting every element of our lives. That's why a truly effective system needs to take the many different factors that play into your total health equation into consideration. It's not just about the food! It's about fitness, relationships, creativity, and confidence too.
For example, how much does something like our sexuality and sensuality play into our relationship with food?
It doesn't make sense to even consider making major diet changes without examining the fact that these changes are going to impinge themselves upon all the other aspects of our lives as well.
So, the ideal system would be a system that looks at diet and nutrition for what it is: just one factor that plays into your overall health equation.
Even More Important Than A System, You Need Support
The missing piece that far, far too many people overlook when they ask themselves why their efforts to succeed with diet and health changes seem sabotaged is a chronic lack of real, loving SUPPORT.
Modern day society has caused us to become somewhat individuated. We see our problems as being unique to ourselves and we can easily become introverted and isolated when we struggle with health and diet. When we're in that place, we can forget that this is a shared universe, and we're all in the process together.
Each of us has an ability to impact the lives of others. I like to call that ripple-potential. That impact on others quickly touches the lives of more people than you can imagine, because each of the people you touch has their own sphere of influence, too. That's the ripple.
That means, one person can make a difference.
I'm not saying you won't run into any difficulties when you have a system and support. You will meet with challenges. We all do, but how you approach them makes all the difference in the world.
You see, within a supportive community, when we are confronted with challenges in our health and our lives, we understand that we're also simultaneously presented with an opportunity to learn, to grow and to take this growth and learning and use it to positively affect the lives of others.
When we've eliminated isolation from the equation, bumps in the road present opportunities for support, for sharing and for growth instead of reasons to fall off the proverbial ?wagon.?
Wherever you are in your health progress, know this:
You have something to learn and to share, and whatever that is, it may very well be the missing piece in someone else's health puzzle.
Be bold. Be courageous. Your health journey is not just about you, it's about all the lives that you can touch when you're really feeling and looking your best ever.
Both Shekhar Bragta & Tera Warner are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Shekhar Bragta has sinced written about articles on various topics from Writing, How to Sell on Ebay and SPAM. . Shekhar Bragta's top article generates over 135000 views. to your Favourites.
Tera Warner has sinced written about articles on various topics from Detoxification, Vitamin and Mineral Supplement and Acne Treatment. Want to use this article in your e-zine or website? You can, as long as you include the following juicy bits: Writer and online entrepreneur Tera Warner, is co-creator of ?The Raw Divas.? She and her co-diva, Amy De Wolfe, have created the sassiest (and t. Tera Warner's top article generates over 4400 views. to your Favourites.