Analysis Paralysis and Trying to Lose Weight

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Analysis paralysis is the the act of over-analyzing and over-thinking a problem or situation. Inevitably, the time and effort dedicated to over-analyzing an issue usually paralyses you and stops you from making a decision or taking action at all.

Do you suffer from analysis paralysis?

How many weight loss blogs or articles do you read a day?  How long have you debated counting calories or counting carbs or following the Paleo diet to lose weight?  When should you eat every day?  What should you eat every day?  What’s going on your iPod?  What’s the best kind of workout music?  What’s the best form of cardio to lose weight?  What time of day should you workout?  And, how long should you workout and what should you do while you’re at the gym?

It makes you feel good to ask these kinds of questions.   You feel constructive and productive.  Sure, you haven’t actually done anything, but you feel like you have.

Sound familiar?

You plan, plot, and prepare your next move — only to never make it.

Researching and learning more about your task at hand is a great thing.  Nobody would ever suggest that it’s a bad thing to seek out knowledge while trying to further educate yourself.  However, the point of diminished returns comes very quickly.  Progress is made by drafting up a game plan and adjusting as you go.

My grandfather taught me how to swim by throwing me into the deep end of the pool.  I got a few minute lecture beforehand on how to paddle and swim back to the surface.  That’s it.  Trust me — there’s no better way to learn how to swim.

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