Carts and horses

In the old days before we had cars, farmers were warned to not put the cart before the horse. Slick salesmen were selling gullible farmers fancy carts that the horses could not pull.

History repeats itself. Today, slick diet salesmen are making a fortune on gullible hefty folks who want to lose weight. Television stations are loaded with the ads. The talk shows have famous folks talking about the power of the magnificent weight loss power of the products they are promoting.

Analogies play a big role in making decisions, solving problems and frankly have saved me from making wrong decisions about my health too many times.

I had lost 40 pounds, wrote the diet book ‘Give Up the Fat,’ sold it for $9.95 and made some money. In about eight months, I had gained back the 40 pounds. Sales did not slow down, they stopped.

I called my mentor. He used analogies to make a point because truth hurts. He said, “You would not go to a dentist who had rotten teeth would you?” That hurt a bit. Fat people do not do well selling diets. And then my mentor used another analogy; “Physician heal thyself.” I did not get what he meant, and he said, “You are putting the cart before the horse.” My mentor used analogies to force me to do my own thinking.

Here are some thoughts designed to get us to take care of ourselves and not rely on fast, instant cures. The diets that are being marketed are the cart and the horse is us.

Here is one that is getting in the middle of my TV watching. A famous person is having a hissy fit of joy selling us on a diet that has over 200 foods that are great for us to eat as we are losing those pounds. How about those ads with skinny gorgeous people that we can be like in just 90 days? How about those diets that send us 10 meals or more every week in the US Mail?

Let’s not forget the diets that are sold by that friend who will also make you rich when you start selling the diet to your friends.

We are losing the battle of obesity, so I am serious about these instant cures. One day, I met a friend who was on a protein diet. He is back to overeating again. That same day another friend wants me to get on a no carb diet and come to the get rich meeting. Both are at it again with new diet products.

I just got back form a workshop conducted by a top heart doctor. Here is the summary of how to lose weight, lower risk of heart disease and be healthy; Drink lots of water and reduce consumption of all sugar drinks, eat fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts, walk every day, get more sleep, forget about the cart and pay attention to the horse.

Have a happy and healthy life. You deserve it.