Anabolic Lifestyle: "Many Ways to Skin a Cat"

"Many Ways to Skin a Cat"

Diet:
    I can't tell you how many times I've heard this cliche and very old adage!  It's something that has come up a lot lately in different aspects of my life.  I've had many people approach me about dieting wanting the "secret" or the "one true" diet, but in this regard there are many different diets a person can utilize to achieve their goals.  On a professional level I help people develop dietary habits that fit them on an individual level while taking into consideration metabolism differences, insulin sensitivity, activity levels, muscle mass, health history, etc, but I have found that some people will do their own thing and make excellent progress.  You may be asking why that is and usually it's because the diet the person has chosen has the right amount of calories to gain or lose weight and the person just so happened to choose a type of diet that fits their metabolism and insulin sensitivity.  Obviously it's easier to have a professional do this so you won't be in a "hit or miss" type dilemma and so you can make steady progress throughout the diet.

Exercise:
    Resistance training and Cardiovascular training can also be this way.  A person may choose just the right routine right off and make steady progress but again they may not and could be just spinning their proverbial wheels.  There is one more thing though that I have found in common with people whom choose their own diets and exercise programs and make steady progress.  They wholeheartedly believe in the diet and exercise program and because of this they will put all the effort they possibly can into it to make it work. 

Belief:
    We could argue over the semantics of why some systems work better than others, but it's hard to debate with somebody that truly believes in "their" system.  Belief in a system is extremely important.  It takes out a lot of stress spent on wondering if what you are doing is just right for you.  Also, it will make you work very hard and as people say, you can get great results on an awful program or diet if you put 110% effort into it!
     Belief brings me to another point altogether.  I've had opportunities lately to speak with people about their world views, specifically their belief or non-belief in God.  Many people believe there are many "ways" to God.  For simplicities sake I'll just call this Salvation though many people would call it becoming a god, finding paradise, becoming enlightened, etc.  Many different religions have a focal point or god that they worship and have many different methods of making peace with this focal point or god within their given religion.  My main point normally for these people is that there are not "many ways to skin a cat" when it comes to the God of the universe!  Jesus said that only through him will you have salvation:

John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Many people will normally argue over this and say God doesn't exist, that Jesus was not God in the flesh and God would never doom His people to hell.  

First of all God has revealed Himself to every man:

Romans 1:19-20 ^"since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities- his eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."

Secondly, Jesus is God in the flesh:

John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." 
John 1:14 "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." 

Finally, God doesn't doom anyone to hell.  Matter of fact, He wants all people to come to repentance:

2Peter 3:9  The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Now, you can "believe" as hard as you want in your system which you believe will bring you Salvation outside of Christ Himself, but if you are wrong then you're in a heap of trouble. If you are wrong then going against God is sin and not accepting His sacrifice of His only begotten son leaves you with no choice but hell.  God doesn't doom you to hell you doom yourself with an eternity spent without Him.  In retrospect there aren't always "many ways to skin a cat".  If you need help with your diet or exercise regimen then seek out a professional.  If you want salvation then the speak with the only "pro" that can bring you salvation, Jesus Christ!


To God be all Honor and Glory!