O.O.D.A. means Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act. The OODA loop was developed by U.S.A.F. Colonel John Boyd, a fighter pilot, military strategist, and Pentagon consultant. The OODA loop was initially used for air-to-air combat as part of the Energy-Maneuverability theory. It has been used in the military, sports, business, and litigation.
We live in a world rife with changes. Our body changes as we get older. We can get fat, the blood pressure may rise, and you get calls from your doctor because your blood work is abnormal. Symptoms and maladies may seem inevitable.
Health guidelines can be confusing because what food is acceptable now may be a no-no later. Hypertension standards, acceptable levels for LDL cholesterol, and dietary advice are not immune to revisions and reversals. This is why the OODA loop is useful for health. It gives us a tool to deal with the inconstant health guidelines and our evolving personal health situation.
Observe is using your senses and the available information around you that is relevant to your condition. Are you getting overweight? Is it harder to move without getting short of breath? Do you have difficulty zipping up your pants? Is your blood pressure creeping up?
Orient is to relate yourself to current metrics for health. How do you compare to those standards? Is your waist circumference over 101 cm, 40 inches (Western men) or 90 cm / 35 in (Asian men), 89 cm, 35 inches (Western women), 80 cm/ 31 in (Asian women)?
Is your blood pressure higher than 130/85? Is your blood sugar higher than 100 mg/dl? Are your triglycerides higher than 150mg/dl? Is your HDL cholesterol low? (< 50 mg/dl for females and < 40 mg/dl for males? Do you have metabolic syndrome?
Decide means determining a course of action after talking to your doctor and doing your research, and having the resolve to take care of your health. Do you need to start medications or make dietary changes like frequent small feedings or starting a low carbohydrate diet? How about starting intermittent fasting and a mild to moderate exercise program?
The act is to carry out what you decided on doing physically. You have to carry out the plan to the letter. That way, if it does not work, then you know it is the process, not you.
The OODA Loop Always Cycles
After the Act part, observe again. Did you achieve the goal? If not, reorient back. Did you do the right method? Do you need a new plan? Do you need expert help with intermittent fasting? Do you need a more extended period of fasting or change the timing? Will a slower method help? Would you consider doing High-Intensity Interval Training? Once you have new choices, decide on the new direction. Start a journal to record what you are doing so that you keep track of what works for you.
The OODA loop should always be turned on. Once you are getting the right results, then you have found the circuit that works for you.
Until a new observation comes along.
Heraclitus is quoted as saying, “The Only Thing That Is Constant Is Change.” The OODA loop will help handle that change.
Image attributions:
Jet Fighter photo by Jeff Cooper on Unsplash
Blue Eye photo by Amanda Dalbjörn on Unsplash
Weight scale photo by I yunmai on Unsplash
Thinking Man photo by Ben White on Unsplash
Weightlifting Photo by Victor Freitas on Unsplash
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