Knowledge is POWER!

In the early stages of my journey to better health and overall wellness, I was TOTALLY lost.  I knew the basics: diet, exercise, calories in, calories out, blah, blah, blah…  But, I did not truly understand all of the complexities behind each that would allow me to design a protocol that works for me and my specific body type and chemistry.  I was truly a “babe in the woods”.

Knowing that anything can be learned by searching the “interwebs” (yeah…right), I chose to employ the “herd mentality” and joined the masses that had seen success with P90X.  Let me be the first to tell you, I saw AMAZING changes by following Tony for 90 (and then 180) days!  It was well-designed program for the uninitiated who was looking for a “paint-by-numbers” approach to a diet and workout regimen.  This approach certainly fills a need held by MANY.

But, as you can see from the pics in my bio, I really ended up TOO lean, and actually lost some valuable muscle mass during those 6 months.  Keep in mind, this was not the fault of P90X, rather it was due in large party to my remedial knowledge about diet.  I was not sure how to adjust and revise as I went along.  At some point, my initial “goal” of weight loss” had shifted to “muscle maintenance”, but I failed to make the proper adjustments. 

As a result, I started researching and incorporating different elements into my regimen.  Many sites have good, seemingly science-backed, bases for their diet and fitness recommendations.  So I started adding things to my routine that sounded well-reasoned (or in some cases, just yummy…yes, I’m talking to YOU Bulletproof Coffee!).  Some things worked, some didn’t, but my failure to really understand the science behind each recommendation (which, in some instances, actually contradict one another), led to sloppy results. 

It therefore became incumbent upon me to learn the science behind why I was incorporating certain diet approaches.  I also researched different fitness routines that were geared more toward gaining muscle mass or body composition focused regimens and changed accordingly. 

That lesson has led me to recommend that everyone should add “Knowing the Why” to their own personal Best Life Toolbox.  

Every popular workout routine (P90X/Insanity), newest diet modification (no carbs of any kind/intermittent fasting/Bulletproof coffee), or amazing supplement (natural testosterone boosters/various herbs and powders), should be researched and understood before incorporating into your Best Life.  While each one of these may be fine choices to implement into your own personal program, one needs to first research and truly understand why and when to implement each.

So, how about all of you Builders out there?  Any routines or diet tweaks that you’re currently considering adding to your Tool Box?  Chances are, I may have tried it in the past, and would love to start a dialog about what you hope to acheive and why your choice may or may not sound like a good idea!