He Said, He Said: Who To Believe?

Richard Sullivan @ age 53

Conflicting advice from so-called “experts” drives people crazy. Whether it’s about food, exercise, supplements, or mothers-in-law, we’re being bombarded from all sides: youtube, internet news sites, celebrity blogs, Instagram stars, loud-mouths at the gym, etc.

After viewing some  blow-hards’ videos on youtube I cringe at commenters who thank or praise the author for their views or advice, my experience telling me the advice is bogus, thoughtless, naive, dangerous, or all four.

Fact is, only you and your brain can decide whose advice to follow and whose to reject. Our personal  worldview has a lot to do with that decision, as we tend to follow or listen to those who we feel share our values or are more like us.

Are there bad foods we should avoid? of course. Are there bad exercises we should never do at the gym, bad machines we should never use at the gym? Well, not so fast there. Some youtube exercise/fitness “gurus” who I agree with most of the time have stated nonsense with regard to “bad exercises” or machines which were only bad in their case because these gurus were demonstrating their own poor form in performing these exercises.

The root of this problem lies with the public's looking for quick fixes or some antidote to the complicated decision-making  process. To these people I say “slow down,” and then do your homework. Watch comparative videos—and lots of them—and proceed cautiously with anyone advising you to go to extremes, such as “work through the pain” (never do that), or lift more weight than you know you can handle. Attention-seekers go to extremes to attract attention, so don’t be so easily led. Be skeptical. Do your homework. Devote yourself to learning your craft. Finally, understand that because someone claims something outlandish or extreme  worked for them does not translate it will work for you.