This is my first post here and I've enjoyed reading the posts here, they've been very helpful and informative. The issue I want to address however is the tendency for some information to be treated as dogma.

When someone asserts something, especially with no evidence other than reading a post on a website or they 'feel' it's right, my gut reaction is to ignore it out of hand. This is also related to confliting information. A great example of this is the debate about working out in the morning vs. night as well as gaining muscle while cutting.

The problem with these assertions is some people get confused about it, seek answers, get none that are satisfactory, then feel more confused. This can cause people to throw their hands up and feel like it's too comlicated. To someone that is new, all the 'rules' for losing weight make it seem like an exercise in frustration - pun intended.

The only guidelines that are important about fitness/losing weight are...

1. Dedication - #1 important rule, stay focused and keep your goals in mind, if you fall off the wagon don't let it be an excuse to stay off.
2. Exercise - You need to do both cardio and weight training regardless of your goals. Know/learn your limits!
3. Diet - Stop eating junk foods and regulate your diet, knowledge about caloric intake and nutrition is very important and will change they way you look at food

I say when in doubt, do what is most comfortable for YOU, not others. If you have to work out at night, do so. Don't fret about it. It's a hell of a lot better than not doing it at all. Try different things and most of all enjoy it. It's true, there is a lot of hard work involved but feeling good about your health and image is more than worth it.

I understand what you say about people asserting information without any evidence or references. It does kind of cheapen some of the info here. On the other hand this is a forum where people can express opinions and give advice resulting from their experience. If people wanted rock solid referenced information theyd go out and buy some book thats sold 3 million copies or read some medical journal. Its best just to take everything with a grain of salt, take advice supported by the majority of people and then get in the gym and take action and see what works best for you.

Marcus :tu:

Amen

Welcome to the forums, StrongBad.

Very well put. :tucool:

Problem is, there is _no_ rock solid for 99% of the information here. Just because someone quotes and article, or a lab study, doesn't mean its true.

For every study that proves one thing, there are at least 2 others out there that find conflicting results. The problem is, people tend to only process information that is agreeable with their own beliefs, and simply disregard the rest.

I understand what you say about people asserting information without any evidence or references. It does kind of cheapen some of the info here. On the other hand this is a forum where people can express opinions and give advice resulting from their experience.

Exactly. And it seems to me that the issue becomes even cloudier in that there's next to no indisputed "facts" out there.

Thanks for saying this, StrongBad. I've been thinking similar thoughts, and it's a hard thing to articulate non-combatively. Nice job.