It is not necessary to read the blogs about healthy lifestyles

Former blogger, writing about healthy eating, and an ardent advocate paleodiety Matt Medeyro I wrote interesting and provocative post that he no longer reads blogs about healthy lifestyles. Do you agree with him or not? And how to be in this situation?

I graduated from the university in 2010. Half of those four years that I spent in Oklahoma, I was leading a healthy lifestyle, training, eating huge amounts of fish and compete for ever-increasing severity of the bar in the hall. For this I need to thank my roommate, with whom I lived at that time - an amazing (and devilishly attractive) guy who showed me that you can lead an active life. However, in the second part of your stay in college, my life has changed, and with it the habits that I have been in itself drew up. I bartered fish for pizza, tossed a regular workout in the hall, started playing video games and spend precious time searching for the best toys.

For a while life was a great thing, but it has changed in the few months before the prom. I happily browsing your photos on Facebook and discovered the horrifying truth:

I plumped. I dialed kilograms more than I thought; more than I would like; more than I weighed during their emotional well-fed youth.

Alarmed, I immediately did what makes any person who wants to lose weight: bought all the junk. I have collected a good collection of books on diet, fork out for these fashionable shoes from Vibram pyatipalchikovye and not really delving, scored products paleodiety first stage, according to which carbohydrates are equal with crack, and all that is packaged in a box or canned, obviously, was created in order to kill you.

I, of course, being ironic, but it worked. By participating in this war with glucose, I found hundreds of new reasons to hate fruits and even regularly urinated on those little sticks that show the amount of ketones in the urine, and happily triumphed in the toilet, when the wand is painted in triumphant, regal Violet.

Ketogenic diet - a diet in which you consume as little as possible of carbohydrates to increase the amount of ketones in the blood. Coli catalyst ketone is colored in shades of purple, if it urinate, which indicates the presence of ketones in your urine. Within days, with very low consumption of carbohydrates violet wand becomes a daily indicator of your progress.

As a result of their effort, I threw gained weight and became an ardent supporter of the diet of our ancestors. I tried to convince my mother that carbohydrates, gluten, potatoes and vegetable oil were virtually serial killers that attack the esophagus with his little knife, gripped in both fists. Satisfied with his progress, I did what any man does, skinuvshy extra weight, I started a blog.

I called it Three New Leaves. And for nearly two years, I have thoroughly described his obsession with the health of our ancestors, sharing their life experience that different low-carbohydrate, periodic hunger strikes and all those that deviate from the norm, and ridiculed my previous image life. After six months of agonizing, I even dubbed themselves "modern caveman," as if the fact that I loved to run barefoot, somehow brings me closer to the ancestors.

Do not think that I'm an idiot (though it is your right). Even in those difficult years paleodiety I wrote a lot about the modern obsession with diets, of the danger that people are starting to too care about what they eat, and our self-destructive attitude to the "festive meal" advocating for a more peaceful and normal consumption of goodies. I did a good job in paleoprosvescheniya, but it's hard to praise yourself, when I think the reason why I ended up with this fastened.

In fact, I did not know much. I led a blog, and my audience has grown, and with it grew misconception that I in fact I know whereof I speak. But I knew the reasons behind my theory, my point of view on the health and nutrition formed mainly on six paleoblogah that I have read. And I'm not the person who analyzes the scientific rationale that reads. And no one who is conducting research to verify the veracity of the practice of reading material. I still valued surface.

In all aspects, I was just a statistical average guy who wanted to lose weight. I wanted to, I had cubes press. I wanted and still want to be healthy and fit for the rest of life, but there is one thing: it does not give me the authority to write about health and nutrition.

I can throw tomatoes, but only on condition that they are environmentally friendly.

I lost weight, eating on the paleo diet. This is a big plus for my self-esteem, but it does not mean that I know more about the ideal diet than you or any other people who lose weight through diet - any diet - since immemorial times.

In this question is easy to forget that I did working with Three New Leaves. I have several years moved away from it all and now watching the rapid popularity of the Paleo and its consistent commercialization in the modern world. I own example grasped the existence three impressive problems as to what we follow in life: how we eat, our beliefs - we read all about it on the Internet.

That's what I write below, it may seem a generalization of such a vast topic as blogs about health and nutrition. And it's a good point. I can throw tomatoes, but only on condition that they are environmentally friendly. In any case, it seems to me that it is necessary to talk about the grand increase in the popularity of blogs about health. I hope that my own experience - and mistakes - in the process of working with Three New Leaves remind you, that before buying the e-book another blogger about proper nutrition, you should be well think.

Do not think that I want to diminish the life of a healthy way of merit writers all over the world, who do a wonderful job, raking confusion in the human diet. Many people ask tough questions about the misinformation, other plants loud debate on a topic that is worth discussing. I just wanted to let ordinary people like me who often get lost in the abundance of information offered by the Internet, are more cautious about the read.

Problem № 1. We do not know, but it seems the other way around

million books can be found in bookstores about how to lose weight. Most of them claim that their diet - the most effective, offering the only working way of eating for the rest of a long life is serene. Most of these books are - forgive me for my French - a complete shit. If someone knew how best to eat, and if it worked for everyone on this planet is thought to have produced hundreds of new books on nutrition every year?

If it was found the answer to all the tantalizing question "What is?" Satisfying everyone began to scientists and nutritionists still participate in the debate about whether or not to eat meat or not? And what about fat? Of course, everyone knows that you need to eat less sugar, in addition to a growing movement of authors and bloggers who believe that health and pleasure have a very sweet taste.

In other words, if the brightest scientists of our time still shrug and acknowledge that there is no ideal way power, why else read the book, and six blogs, believe that fully understand this question?

We know much less than we think.

That's what I in fact I know.

Throughout the world, billions of people eat very differently. They all eventually die. Some of them will die before. With this all begins: we want to know, why. Therefore, studies are conducted. We are studying the variables to find the one that will be able to explain to us why some people die too early from the ever-growing list of diseases: cancer, diabetes, diseases of the cardiovascular system t. d.

The answer has not yet been found. And when you have decided to find out why, you are faced with a very long list of reasons. Below is a short list of candidates, in order to underpin the above:

• how we eat;
• exercise stress;
• genes;
• stress;
• public life;
• shark attacks.

All this, well, maybe except for the last item - a vast field for research, and each item in its own way connected with our body, we are still trying hard to understand. All this, again minus the last point, forms a picture of modern life. Is a key component of food? Maybe. Although in this respect there is any doubt, looking at how many people who use the dirtiest, lived to old age.

It seems to me that the reality is less glamorous: important each item. Each and every one. Well, apart from a shark attack.

Looks like a universal tool for a balanced life, and maybe it is so. However, for me it was important to remind you that, and bloggers, and those who read them, have a tendency to forget that we still know less than we think.

After reading the blog post, you do not become an expert in the field of nutrition. Reading dozens of other blogs on the same topic does not give any guarantee about reliability what they write. It seems that all elementary and obvious, but it's easy to forget when bloggers do the following: help to explain our success or failure in following the diet X; strengthen our faith when choosing a diet; but simply, God forgive me, their blogs are written intelligibly enough. If your blog combines all of the above, the reader involuntarily leaves distrust stage.

Google will give you a million links that will scream that had long been studied, - it is not.

Relatively paleo I caught just the fact that it was written coherently and logically. In the emotional, philosophical, logical and in all other ways, the idea of ​​eating, as my ancestors seemed faithful. Because of this, and also because of the fact that I saw a thin six months, my brain has a natural, but incorrect conclusion: so should eat each.

Thus I was born my blog. So I spent two years doing writing a post on the subject, which, as it seemed to me I was very good - but wrongly - understood. My regret - it is my regret, but I hope it will be a good example, and to consider the thousands of people who every day are looking for answers on the Internet.

If you want answers, the Internet is full of them. But first, do yourself a favor and analyze them skeptical. The human factor, despite the fact that you have read, has not been studied until now; Even if Google will give you a million links that will scream that had long been studied, - it is not.

Problem № 2. We do not think that anyone read

Let's see how the Internet works.

You find something new - a new diet, hobbies or community. Intrigued, you start to gather as much information about his new passion and, ultimately, find a small group of like-minded people, perhaps, experts, or at least convincing bloggers that you trust. From time to time you are studying their work on the case, if they dug up something new that you can try for yourself. As a result, it becomes a daily ritual.

In addition, it becomes a problem. The people whom we trust, not always right. This is most easily seen by the example of our relations, but the monitor glass wall creates the illusion of security of some bloggers, which we read. Add to this the well-designed website and excellent recommendations, which offers every scribbler, for example some bun (Of course, without sugar), and without noticing it, you suddenly ask an absolute stranger to manage its significant enough sectors life.

I'm not saying that this is necessarily a bad thing, and I do not regret that went through it myself with paleoblogerami when only found out about this diet. ButI want you to not take everything that is written on the internet at face value. I want you to stop and think even for a moment, who all belong to this opinion.

Whether they graduated school? Whether printed in scientific journals? Do they have at least some experience in the field of health and nutrition?

Most often, it turns out that there is. Do I have a higher education in order to think critically? Of course not. But when it comes to such a complex and wonderful organism, like the human body, you should expect more podkovannosti by bloggers and writers who talk about how it works.

In other words, do not take advice about nutrition and health from a young guy who has no idea about your medical condition and who has no experience in the field of nutrition. Yes, I'm talking about myself. But I'm also talking about the boom of the "me too" -blogerov that accompany all the novelties in the field of healthy lifestyles; people who read the book, lose weight and start writing in WordPress on what they have learned. Bloggers veterans are no better. In the camp of self-improvement does not backed up by advice on health pouring, coffee and butter.

Many do not even realize all the things, what they do not know.

Many talk about their experiments with powered, guided by the best intentions. As a result, they do the same as me - write about what worked for them, to help people their experience, and forget for a while about the problem number one: they know a lot less than they think.

In the middle of his paleomanii I thought I knew my body better than anyone else. When you read a book that casts doubt on the usual principles of health, you start to feel like a participant in some of the secret, sexual, a health club, as if you know something that others do not even know what, but you definitely need to talk about this club all possible more.

This is not only ridiculous, but it can be dangerous.

Writing about health, this is your cross. If you want to share some knowledge, you should be for themselves - and their readers - know that what you're saying. You need to question their own thoughts, to read other authors who are outside the circle your dietary preferences, and before writing, even for a second consider what contribution you are actually make his next post. What good is a mechanical repetition of something that you have read somewhere on the internet? And if you think that readers will not take note of your recommendations - daily or not - at face value, then you can harm them.

Readers, your task is the following: do not forget to think about what you read. Especially pay attention to the fact whom you are reading, Whether it is a blog or a book. Despite marketing claims, neither the author does not give you the answers to the questions that you are looking for. Most people think they know them, but more often you will need to remind ourselves that this is not true.

Problem № 3. We never cease to read

Hundreds of thousands of people each day watching the show Dr. Mehmet Oz. If you still do not know who it is, it's cardiothoracic surgeon (as I have heard good) and likable, confidently leading the daily talk show. In his show, he is considering a wide range of topics about the health of interest to modern Americans. Also, he often talks about the new products and ideas that can help in solving the problems of those who are watching it.

The mention of the goods in his gear - a win-win marketing ploy. After the appearance of the product in the show Dr. Oz's sales grow instantly and crowds of people go to the nearest supermarket to hog this product. work Whether these funds for all - remains a question, but the growing popularity of the doctor tells me one thing: we want more.

We need different tricks and tricks. We want to try something new, buy new products, explore new postures in yoga, and all this with noble intentions fix themselves. And and correct themselves as soon as possible, especially when it comes to fat on the sides.

To think that your health - this is an equation that can be easily solved with the help of a new food / books / tablet by mistake.

This desire is most clearly exacerbated at the moment, as I call it, "the 70 per cent slump" when your new diet you have dumped 70% of excess weight and then suddenly - painfully - diet stops working. At this stage, in centimeters from the goal, the desire to achieve quick results has reached its limit, and we feel the burdens of disappointment, when it seems that nothing works.

The next step is easy to predict: we start reading blogs about health. We are beginning to include in your routine absurd tricks and spend the savings on a minute obscure forums about health, is constantly looking for the surest way that we want, which we did needed to continue our progress.

And it never ends. At least, it is very difficult to stop.

Believe me. My way of eating on the example of his ancestors led me to where I wanted, but my journey will never end. I have not stopped reading, stopped not to bother about it. My diet at all points gave me what I expected from it, but somehow it was not enough.

I wanted more. More ideas, more than paleouhischreny and new types of flour without gluten, to push his throat. Most of all I like to feel the same way I felt at the beginning of his paleopriklyucheniya. At that time, when the books of the ancestors became my Bible, when the weight decreased each week, and this contributed to the fact that I felt stronger and sexier correctly.

In this all so much tragedy. And when the Internet offers a dozen new fishechek, tricks and products every week, it is very easy to get hooked on a familiar routine: always look for, want, go crazy one single thing that actually works best when we finally realize that you need to back off and give her a chance to breathe.

Of course, I'm talking about health.

Spending every waking moment on the pursuit of perfect health - is an unhealthy habit. To think that your health - this is an equation that can be easily solved with the help of a new food / books / tablet by mistake. Even reading about health can become a bad habit, and I can safely call it a rash, which can not scratch.

Take a deep breath with me.

Always there will be more superedy. There will be new diets. There will always be a new and better way to burn calories on my ass, and I have no doubt that Dr. Oz will outlive us all, joyfully touting the latest miracle powder from the fruit for a long time after humanity escape from the ruins of a wet, warm out of season Earth.

So we arranged.

We want to know more. We want to live better. We want to be happy, healthy, and of course sex - not necessarily in that order. And as long as we live in these desires, the business sector - books, blogs, and bees collect pollen Manuka - will try to meet them by offering just what you need to dramatically change your life.

I understand all this. I want it all, and the girls were smiling at me. This natural desire, but when the entire Internet is teeming with abundant new ideas, tricks and strategies for weight loss, it is easy assume that they can really help, to suggest that this fishechkami that helped quite another body, work and on you.

When I think of those times when I was completely absorbed in reading, conversation and absorption of new councils, I do not understand what I eventually won. I learned something new, despite the fact that, if the score in a search engine query string, it will give out hundreds of competitors and challenge each other's ideas.

My health has improved, but, to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure what the reason for that was the advice.

The best way I feel when taking into account every part of his life, and not only the content of its container with lunch. I feel really strong, when compressed in the hands of the horizontal bar crossbar and just relaxed me for long evening walks. I feel happy when doing anything, Besides this endless intricate quest to find the optimal solution for a healthy lifestyle, so I decided to completely stop reading blogs about health.

Instead the umpteenth time to browse the same sites, I go for a walk. When I catch myself on the fact that compose the next comment on the dispute about the latest research, I save the laptop and go into the street. Most often, I try to make up for lost time and I promise myself that I will not feel like a complete idiot, knowing that the best thing I did in this life for one's health, it is no longer so hard to think about it.

Sometimes I eat something with gluten, it is for me as a holiday. It seems to me that common sense has a great taste, but oatmeal cookies, which prepares my mom, it is delicious.