The Internet isn’t getting any smaller, and with thousands (if not millions) of different opinions out there, it’s often hard to decide who’s right and who’s wrong. Especially with diet, fitness, and everything that affects our well-being. . For beginners, it might look like an insane asylum. You’ve got so many philosophies and approaches to working out and eating out there to choose from, so how do you know which one is right for you? To make matters worst, a lot of diets and workout programs choose to criticize each other. There’s paleo versus vegan, cardio versus strength training- the debate can get pretty ugly, with some proponents treating their idea of optimal eating and training as a sort of religion.

So how do you know what’s best for you?

One approach is getting to know your options. It takes a little bit of research on your end, but it shouldn’t become obsessive to the point you spend all your time studying instead of getting the ball rolling and pursuing your goals.

Streamline this process by writing down your options. For example, if you’re not sure how long your workouts should be- 60 minutes, 20 minutes, or 15 minutes- then write them down as A, B, and C, and start looking up the pros and cons of each of them. Find brief, to-the point information as best as you can for each of them, and take a step back and look at which one feels right for you. That may be all you need to do as a start.

If you’re still undecided on any of these options, the next step would be to try them all. Not all at once, but separately for an equal amount of time. In this case, try performing 60-minute workouts for a couple of weeks, and keep a record of how it made you feel both physically and mentally. Afterwards, switch over to doing 20-minute workouts for another couple of weeks, still recording your results, and doing the same one more time for another couple of weeks with 15-minute workouts. Once this is all said and done, go back to your options and records. By now, you should have a good idea about which option is best for you. However, don’t be surprised to find that you’re open to a variety of choices instead of only one. In the ZGYM, I don’t just stick to any single type of workout and instead choose to incorporate many different training styles into my routine. Jump rope, bodyweight, kettle bells- the point being that I’ve tested for myself what works for me, and believe everyone should do the same. (I’ve also found that keeping my workouts short and intense has been the most successful for me. Which is why it’s a core element of my training philosophy and what I offer at the ZGYM.)

With diet, apply the same method. Research your choices, and compare the pros and cons. If that’s not enough, try each of them out, and keep track of your experiences. Go back again, and then determine what supports your health and well-being the most. (And be prepared to find yourself choosing to deviate entirely from them all by eating according to your uniqueness!) I think food in particular can be a really hot button for some of us to the point we have to justify our choices. That’s why it actually helps to have an understanding of both sides. You’ll know where the other person is coming from, and if you’ve tried following a certain diet yourself you can also share your take with them.

As a final note, I was inspired by this article about what Made Charles Darwin an effective thinker, and wanted to share a small part of it with you:

This passage reminds one of, and probably influenced, Charlie Munger’s prescription on the work required to hold an opinion: You must understand the opposite side of the argument better than the person holding that side does. It’s a very difficult way to think, tremendously unnatural in the face of our genetic makeup (the more typical response is to look for as much confirming evidence as possible). Harnessed properly, though, it is a powerful way to beat your own shortcomings and become a seeing man amongst the blind.