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To Thyself Be True – i.e. YMMV

Text Only Logo“Your mileage may vary.” I’ve heard that phrase used a lot over the past few years as a writer. There are a lot of writing rules, strategies, and techniques talked about at conferences and conventions. A lot of “thou shalts” and “thou shalt nots” on everything from writing prologues to POV-hopping to plotting or pantsing a novel. The reality, though? Whatever tools and tips you use as a writer, your mileage may vary. What you find works for you in building a writing career might not work for me. You could use the same exact approach to writing that I do and find it gives you migraines and nosebleeds.

Same thing applies to fitness. Everyone is different. We have different bodies. We have different physical limits. We have different food preferences (or allergies). We have different fitness and health goals. Even if we follow similar protocols, it might be for different motivations (weight loss, muscle gain, higher endurance, etc.).

That’s why it’s so important to be honest with who you are, where you’re currently at in activity and health levels, and where you want to be. What do you truly care about in your health? What are you truly willing to invest in or sacrifice to reach your fitness goals?

Your answers may be quite different than mine. The methods that wind up being effective for you might be quite different than mine. So recognize that this series as it has been so far and as it continues is not intended as a one-size-fits-all answer to fitness and health. I’ve made a lot of general statements and laid out broad approaches to exercise and eating. These things may work for a lot of people—but it doesn’t guarantee they’ll work for you. The topics covered in Write Strong are meant to be a starting point for you, a way to start thinking about different approaches and strategies and seeing if they might be a good fit for you.

And if you try something and it doesn’t work? Throw it to the side and try something else! Find the workout style you really enjoy. Find the eating system that fits your budget and taste buds. Find the accountability program that actually gets you moving and keeps you on track.

Don’t make any health or fitness choices because a diet is endorsed by your favorite celebrity. Don’t jump on the latest exercise craze because it’s what everyone around you is doing. Don’t buy an over-priced workout gadget or machine or supplement because the fitness model in the commercial claims it’s the only way they got six-pack abs (psst…they’re lying).

Make the choices that work for you. Make yourself the priority and things will begin to fall in line after that—and you may even find yourself enjoying the process a great deal more!

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