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That's foolish. You pick the one right tool.
— Anton Chigurh, No Country for Old Men
A pissed off Javier Bardem shuts down a conversation with an accountant with the line above. I think it is underrated.
Channelling my inner Chigurh, here is me using the line to help highlight the right tool for certain scenarios :
Scenario 1 Damn I had a large piece of cake, I want to hit the gym or go for a run to burn it off.
That’s foolish. The right tool for an indulgent meal is mindful eating for 3-4 days after the indulgence. Calorie deficits are like home loans. Use the least needed to get the job done in the shortest time possible. Exercise is the least efficient tool you have at your disposal for losing fat.
Scenario 2 My doctor told me to strengthen my legs. I am going to run everyday.
That’s foolish. The right tool to strengthen your legs are exercises that make you use your quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes and muscles inside and outside the thigh. Movements that bend the knees, hips and ankles to the greatest degree with resistance. And make you rotate your hips and ankles are what you need. Running is one of the best tools you have to make your heart more efficient. But when it comes to stronger legs, you have much more time and impact friendly ways to get the job done.
Scenario 3 My back is weak. I need to strengthen it. I am going to plank everyday.
That’s foolish. Planking that emphasises spinal extension is one of the few functions of the musculature around the spine. Your spine needs to rotate, bend, straighten, over extend and crunch. This is in addition to stabilising you as you jump, squat, hop, crawl, duck and just move. A weak back is often a sign of weak legs, weak upper body and lack of a diverse diet of varied movement. Your movement diet needs more than just planks.