Diet and Fitness-Here We Go Again

When Goals and Methods Collide

Almost every day people drop by the gym that I run with a physical goal they wish to achieve. Occasionally, some of these folks actually tell me how they are going to achieve success. I always scratch my head and wonder why they are asking me questions about how to get into better shape.

The First Step: Diet

The first part of the journey to permanent success will always be diet, but with these folks I often get the same answer: “Nope, stop right there…no need…I have that covered.” I get the usual answers that they are on some type of low-carb diet, or other plan. If vegan or vegetarian I always ask if it is for religious or spiritual reasons. If it isn’t, I politely soldier on and try to let them know how they are going wrong. Folks who are intransigent and argue back always say the same things. “No..No….No thank you, this works for me, I was 280 pounds and I lost 20 pounds so now I am 260 and all I did was follow my diet plan and do consistent cardio machine exercise.” “This works for me, thanks but no thanks!” The next question from me is always, “Did you reach 260 before, but then went back up to 280 again, or higher?” Inevitably, “Yes” is the reply.

The Toothbrush Analogy

I am constantly amazed at how some of the smartest people can take this bizarre position where their own health and fitness goals are concerned. I always shake my head and respectfully use one of many direct analogies for their predicament. “If I give you a really dirty floor to clean and I hand you a toothbrush, eventually, with much hard work and effort you would get the floor clean.” “Unfortunately, the first part you started on will have become dirty again because it took you so long, so you’ll need to go back and clean it again. That pattern of work will continue indefinitely.” “So the floor will never really get clean, but you’ll be scrubbing forever.” “If on the other hand, I gave you the best floor soap on the market along with the best floor cleaning machine made, you would do a much better job in much less time… but ONLY if you will accept the new soap and floor cleaner and throw away the toothbrush.”

Pride and Resistance to Change

At this point in the conversation, the smartest folks at least listen. I honestly believe that with other people, it’s just pride. I try and soften the delivery of the information by admitting that “I’m just the messenger.” “I’m just a formerly really fat and unhealthy guy who took the time to learn the true science behind how to become permanently lean and healthy.” “It ain’t my information; it’s from a bunch of scientists who are much smarter than I am. I’m just trying to convey it in what is hopefully a useful form.” “This has nothing to do with me being smarter than you. Likely, you are much smarter than I.” Regardless, some of these folks just refuse to change and do not want to hear anything that is different from what they already know.

The Treadmill Fallacy

I recall (painfully) one gentleman who was really bright and ran his own internet start-up company. This guy was just over 6 feet and weighed about 250 pounds. He had very little muscle though and didn’t carry the extra weight well. He was jogging on the treadmill when he asked me about whether it would tell him about how many calories he was burning. I told him it would, but I could do the same thing. That is, for losing fat, an hour of running will burn off less than the caloric equivalent of 3 small cookies.

He didn’t like that answer and told me that this was his preferred method to lose some extra pounds. It had worked in the past and so he was going to keep up his treadmill regimen regardless. He also stated defiantly that he could basically eat whatever he wanted – he loved ordering pizzas – as long as he continued this treadmill work. He mentioned that this worked really well with his long hours on the job and late-night eating habits. I was left rather speechless and that’s a good thing because otherwise, I would have pointed out what was most evident:

• He had clearly gained all that fat back, so this was most obviously not a permanent solution
  
• Human physiology, the mathematics of thermodynamics and his current physical state would prove why this had not worked in the past and why it was not going to work now
  
• He was stubbornly defying the simple, proven science that would get him into top shape permanently and with the least amount of work, time or effort
  
• He was sloppily overweight so his words were sadly ironic
  

Why Science, Not Belief, Matters

The discussion on getting into fantastic shape with optimum health on a permanent basis is nothing like religion or politics.

The best answer has nothing to do with opinion, pride, or faith. It has everything to do with basic human physiology and science. There is no real argument against the first law of thermodynamics, evolutionary biology, the human metabolic energy systems, muscle fiber function and metabolism, or behavioral psychology.

The Results Speak for Themselves

I saw him 6 months later and nothing about his physical state had changed. (Although he had no doubt logged hundreds of hours on the treadmill.) As a former mildly obese guy, I am quite familiar with this pattern of continued failure. I want to help. I do not want to offer nonsense, flashy but useless solutions, faith, or pain and suffering. Nor will I endure stubborn pride, ignorance, or hubris, as they only prevent the real answers from shining through with real results. I will only help with what I know is a permanent solution. I will only offer what is in effect, a cure.

A Real, Natural Solution

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