I see so many threads where people argue over the finest points (sometimes, I'm one of them). Should I eat before I work out? Should I eat 6 times a day or 2 time a day? Should I workout at night or in the morning? Is fruit sugar different than refinded sugar? Should I have cheat days? Should I workout in a certain HR zone? Should I run before I lift or lift before I run? So I thought I'd take a minute to remind people:

Don't lose sight of the big picture.

There are 1000s of tiny details you can be consumed by and spend hours upon hours trying to figure out. But why? 90% of your progress is going to come from the very few major aspects of being healthy. You want to be successful and NOT drive yourself crazy? Pay attention to the big things and let the little things fall where they may.

DO FOCUS ON:
- a reasonable and healthy daily calorie goal
- a reasonable macro breakdown
- a reasonable amount of exercise
- a reasonable amount of sleep each night
- the long term sustainability of your plan/routine
- being patient


DON'T OBSESS ABOUT:
- what time you do or don't eat
- what time you do or don't workout
- if this type of calorie is different than that type
- if paleo is better than vegetarian
- if high carb is better than high protein
- if you're getting too much protein
- if your HRM is more accurate than the machine
- if the scale fluctuates daily
- if yoga is considered strength training
- if kickboxing is better than 30ds
- if low reps is better than high reps
- what elite athletes are doing
- what Dr. Oz says
- etc etc etc


.

Very good points. I was doing great my first few months. Everything I did was simple. Then I loaded my kindle with diet tip books and I really thought I was going insane! Eat this not that! No fat! No cereal! ONLY eat this but then you have to take three of these! I have hit a frustrating point and have done m y best to go back to when it was simple

Less logic, more discussion of how much weight you'll lose with tae bo

Amen!

All VERY valid points! I tend to get wrapped up in so many of the miniscule details, because I'm perfectionist and very detail-oriented, so this is a great reminder for me. I need to get back to the basics and stop reading much of the junk on here and in magazines, websites, etc. I'm smart enough to know what I need to do and that's where I need to focus.

Where's the LIKE button!

What does macro mean? Great advice.. i agree where is the like button?

LOVE this post!

I am new to the whole healthy eating and trying to lose weight thing and have been obsessing a bit but then I thought to myself why worry about all the different conflicting pieces of information we get given or read ... we are all individuals and different things work for us all ... the most important thing is simply finding the things that work for you and then sticking to them :)

Thanks for this! Excellent post. :)

Macro is short for macro nutrients - the nutrients we need in higher quantities... fat, carbs, protein.

(as opposed to micro nutrients)

pure awesomeness.

I needed this today. Thanks

I like the one about Dr. Oz..... haha nice post!

Love this! Thank you!

Great post.

I agree.

The forums are no place for talking sense, goddamit!

awesome post! I need to focus more on the big picture! thanks for sharing.

agreed. too many people want to know which ar the best shoes, the best HRM, etc etc.

a friend of mine was asking about how to manage the transitions to improve on her time for a sprint triathlon. i reminded her that she couldn't run 3 miles yet, couldn't swim without her head sticking out of the water, and hadn't been riding a bike, and that she should concentrate on all of that., because her triathlon would not be broken in the transition.

i'm surprised she didn't unfriend me.

I vaguely remember not agreeing with you at least a few times in the MFP forums...

...but this is not one of those times.

But, but.... I don't *like* it when reason prevails!

Great post!

Totally bumping this...very well said.

Great post. We all need to realize what works for one of us does not mean it works for everyone. I used to get frustrated because I would follow what one of my friends did, they'd lose fast & a lot & I wouldn't. Now I just look at "this is me, this is how MY body works" and I am much happier. Everybody-Keep up the good work!!! We are in this together.

Great post!!

Reading through the forums, I often find myself obsessing about all the little things I *might* be doing wrong, it is very easy to beat myself up and forget about everything I am doing right, and all the positive changes I have already made.

THANK YOU