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We live surrounded by information.  Some of it is better than the rest.  This is particularly true for fitness information, so I am going to suggest a few ways to evaluate the avalanche of messages.

Who is the source and on what are they basing their claims?  Your doctor is a more reliable source than a celebrity spokesperson.  Science is a good thing.  Good science is an even better thing:  how well-constructed was the study leading to the conclusion you’re reading in the article?  Orthopedists, physical therapists, and trainers tend to have better information than some guy at the gym or your mom’s friend, even if she lost 75 pounds by bench-pressing her dog.  Nutritionists’ recommendations are better than the diet-of-the-moment.  (I am a licensed personal trainer and Pilates instructor.  I have done continuing education on weight loss, corrective exercise, and behavior modification.  I am not a doctor, physical therapist, psychotherapist, or nutritionist.  I give instructions and advice within my scope of practice; anything else I say is purely opinion.  Opinion:  anyone who gives instructions and advice outside of scope of practice is someone to treat with caution.)

What happens when you try it?  We are individuals.  Some of us do wonderfully well with lots of cardio.  Some of use thrive on weight training.  Some of us eat nothing but plant-based food and others embrace all the animal protein there is.  If you have pain, if you feel sick, if you have no energy, whatever you are doing is probably not right for you.  Talk with your team (that would be your doctor, your trainer, your nutritionist, your therapist, your physical therapist, your support network) and tweak the system.

The short version of all of this is:  use your big brain and don’t believe everything you read!