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If you’re expecting me to lay out the best diet, exactly what you should eat to lose weight, and the best workout to burn belly fat, let me go ahead and burst your bubble. That’s not what I am about to do. Why? Because it doesn’t exist. The best diet and workout for weight loss don’t exist. But don’t worry. I do have something important to share! In this post, I am going to explain a giant weight loss pitfall that I want you to avoid. I’m going to tell you a delusional statement that I hear people make that drives me absolutely crazy. And I am going to share some life lessons and wisdom we can gain from our grandparents. Let’s dive in! 

The Best Diet and Workout For Weight Loss 

A Massive Marketing Scheme 

The first big lesson I want to teach you is that the idea of the “Best diet and workout” is just a massive marketing strategy from the diet industry. That is exactly why I titled this post, The Best Diet and Workout For Weight Loss because I knew it would catch people’s attention! The only difference is, I’m not going to try to sell you some diet or workout. I’m going to explain to you what’s going on behind the scenes. Diet and exercise look different for everyone. If I tried to sell you some best diet or workout plan, it would only lead you right back to the same old self-defeating cycle that so many people are stuck in when it comes to weight loss. Instead, I am going to show you the truth, so you can better understand how your brain works and you can begin to see your patterns. 

I Wish Someone Would Tell Me What To Do 

Have you ever thought or said this question? I just wish someone would tell me what to do. If you just tell me what to eat and drink and what exercises to do, I’ll do it. I just need to know what I should and shouldn’t do. I think most people who are trying to lose weight have probably said or thought some version of these statements and on the surface, it makes sense. If you want to lose weight, you want to be told how to do it so you can get it done. The problem is, it’s nowhere close to that simple. How do I know? Because when I was younger and less experienced, I used to give people exactly what they wanted. I would give people a detailed meal plan and exercise program and tell them all they had to do was stick to it. Which, they might do for a few days or even a couple of weeks. But eventually, that super detailed, all-questioned-answered program falls by the wayside, leaving that person either overwhelmed and defeated. They decide that program was just too much or they couldn’t do it so they go out looking for the next one to try. 

Maybe it’s not your fault. And maybe it’s not the meal plan’s fault either. Have we ever thought about that? Maybe it’s the way we are trying to solve our problem, or the problem itself. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, the solution is simple. The implementation is complex. You had a meal plan, you read the keto book, you joined Weight Watchers, whatever. You have the solution, but implementing the solution into your day-to-day life, that junk is complicated. 

I Just Have To Do It 

Once someone or some book or program tells you what to do and then you don’t do it, the next thing you say to yourself is, I just have to do it. Listen, both of these are delusional statements. Here’s what I want to tell you: This is not how true results happen. Neither statement, just tell me what to do, or, I just have to do it, work or is helpful. Neither one will lead you to the results you want or the body you want. There is a massive difference between knowledge and know-how. Knowledge is just stored information. Know-how is a skill. It’s taking the knowledge, applying it in real life, then encountering a new set of problems and questions because that’s the way it works. 

Finding answers to those problems, applying that new knowledge, encountering more problems, finding more knowledge, and so on and so on. That’s the process of converting knowledge into results. We think we just need knowledge. Just tell me what to do and I’ll do it. But in reality, we need know-how and the only way you can get know-how is through application. It’s about putting that knowledge into practice repeatedly. So many people are knowledge addicts just looking for the next thing, but never building actual know-how. In other words, our solution finder is broken. 

Knowledge Isn’t Power

Knowledge won’t change your life. People say knowledge is power. That’s not true. Knowledge isn’t power, application and implementation are power because it brings know-how. Knowledge won’t change your life, know-how will change your life.  Problem, solution, application. Over and over and over again. 

In the scenario we are talking about being overweight or out of shape, that’s the problem. The solution is that you need knowledge. You need to make changes to how you eat and exercise. The application is developing know-how and putting those things into play in your real day-to-day life. Then maybe you get some results, but you also get an entirely new set of problems and the process starts all over again. For example, your solution is to work out for 30 minutes 3 times a week. But you schedule your workouts for 5 pm when you get off work, and you realize you’re really tired at 5 pm and the kids have practices at 6 pm and before you know it, you’ve missed your workouts for two weeks in a row. 

Frustration and Fear 

I grew up in the south around an older generation. My grandparents used to say things like, “ You know that person’s really smart, but they don’t have a lick of common sense.” Some of you have probably heard sayings like that. I think that was just a way of saying they had a lot of knowledge but zero know-how. Having knowledge is good, but having know-how will change your life. 

So why do we always ask people to just tell us what to do when it comes to weight loss? I believe it’s primarily two things: frustration and fear. Frustration with ourselves, and fear of uncertainty. We feel frustrated with ourselves because we keep trying and failing and can’t figure out why. This whole just tell me what to do and I’ll do it mindset can be true for anyone, but it’s especially pervasive among people who suffer from anxiety. Uncertainty fuels anxiety and when we are already battling anxiety, the last thing we want is to stare down a process that’s full of uncertainty. We want certainty as much as possible. Tell me exactly what to do and I’ll do it. That feels certain, but it’s not. It’s a lie dressed up as a promise of certainty. 

Changing Your Brain 

It’s like your unsure, anxiety-ridden brain is saying that everything will be okay if you just know what to do. Because if we don’t know what to do, then that means we have to make decisions for ourselves. Which no one likes to do because what if you are wrong? That anxiety not only can be crippling, but it can also be a massive roadblock to result. Figuring out how to work a new routine into your life is full of uncertainty, but it’s also the only way you ever truly change your body and your brain. It’s the only way you ever truly learn and progress and change as a human being. Think about it this way: I don’t have children, but I’ve read a few books on parenting, so obviously, that makes me a great parent, right? If you’re a parent you are probably laughing at me right now. You’ve done it, you’ve lived it, and you have a ton of knowledge, but even more know-how. I have no idea how to be a parent because I’ve never done it. That’s exactly how I feel when someone thinks they just need someone to tell them what to do. 

There’s no substitute for actually doing.

I’ve been doing this for almost 25 years. I’ve worked with probably thousands of people from all walks of life all over the world from 18 to 88 years old. I have degrees in health, in nutrition science and I was a trainer for nearly two decades. I’ve made mistakes, I’ve studied and learned, and I’ve coached hundreds of people to life-changing success. I’ve done it and lived it. I have a ton of knowledge, but I have even more know-how. Just like you, when it comes to being a parent or even your career field, reading books, gathering information, and gaining knowledge are helpful, right? But there’s no substitute for actually doing. Actually being a parent will change your life.  

Nothing will prepare you for guaranteed weight loss success, not even the best diet and workout.

But the process of losing weight will change your life. And here’s what’s so important: the process of losing weight is not just about learning what to eat, what not to eat, and which workouts are best. It’s about so much more. It’s about taking control of your brain, and your thoughts, and seeing your limiting belief. Being able to decipher and recognize the non-stop self-talk that is going on in your head. It’s about seeing patterns you’ve always had and not just doing a diet or a meal plan, but actually changing your habits. Ultimately, it’s about repairing your relationship with yourself, learning how to achieve balance in your life, loving yourself, and showing up in yourself. That is how truly successful weight loss is done.