I have been in the health and wellness field for several years now and one thing I’ve noticed is that people always want me to tell them what to do when it comes to exercise and diet.

First off, I always consider it a privilege that someone even thinks enough about me to ask for advice. Secondly, I have learned that there is never one clear-cut answer to give them. Each person is unique and his or her lifestyle, circumstances, body and mind are different from the next person.

To really help someone, I must first find out about different things in their life such as age, background, day to day activities, injuries, etc. before I can begin to offer any sort of advice. From there I can start offering suggestions and recommendations for that individual to help them move in the direction they have chosen. This process requires some trial and error, but with some dedication, motivation and a can-do attitude, results can be achieved!

If you are the type of person who is looking for some advice in this particular realm, here are a few things that I’ve learned that have helped me decide what advice is good advice.

Talk to someone who walks the walk …. not just talks the talk.

This could be a family member, friend, neighbor, teacher, etc. Make sure it is someone who has experience and has achieved success in a positive, healthy way. Example: If you want to lose weight, talk to someone who has already lost weight (gradually) and has been able to maintain it.

Do your own research if you can. By educating yourself on that particular subject, you will be able to understand things a little more clearly when you do talk with someone.

If it is an event you are trying to train for such as a marathon, triathlon or a sport, try to get in with a group that has both knowledge and experience in that area.

See if the person you are seeking advice from is willing to work with you.

Most importantly, listen to your body!

The human body is very intelligent and will let you know when something is not right. Sometimes, we just have to tune in more and understand its language.

Remember: Opinions are like belly buttons …. everyone has one.

Take that opinion and advice that has been given to you and compare it with other’s to help decide what will work best for you. If you try it and it doesn’t work, that’s OK; just try something else.

What works for one person may not work for another but just keep trying until you find what works for you.