On my Psychology Today blog someone left a surprising comment about why the Shangri-La Diet isn’t more popular:
Seth, I’ll tell you why. Because we are majorly competitive bitches, we women who care about our appearance. I’m 41, I have three children and I am a size 6. I fit into my wedding dress and the jeans I wore in college. How? Shangri-La. And there is no way in hell I am going to share my secret with anyone.
Went to the movies this weekend with a group of friends. They had the usual movie fare, I ordered a cup of tea (bag on the side), added two tablespoons of sugar (put the teabag in my purse for later), sipped it slowly throughout the movie, had not ONE craving for the popcorn or nachos or M&M’s everyone else was scarfing. I went home and had a light dinner and felt terrific!
Sounds more like an ad than an actual comment, but it could hardly be more vivid and I believe it.
That’s pretty funny. Whenever I come up with a nice idea (not necessarily nutrition), I always go back and forth about whether to share it or not. In the end I usually do share because it’s exciting and fun to talk about, but it’s easy to understand why some may not.
I think the reasons why the diet is not more popular is because it flies in the face of conventional thinking, and it isn’t continuously promoted.
The unconventional nature would appeal to a certain small subset of the population that likes to try offbeat things or believes that solutions are to be found in unusual places. This will gain traction with certain people but in order for the idea to attain a broader appeal, it has to be packaged in a way that it can be easily consumed (the idea, not the diet).
The Atkins diet was unconventional, but was also heavily promoted, not just with a single book but an orchestrated marketing campaign. For example Wikipedia says that the Atkins Center had 87 employees in the mid-90′s.
People with a scientific / engineering bent often think that a great idea will market itself. This is the downfall of many a nascent software company for example. Unfortunately, this isn’t true. An idea needs to be effectively and continuously promoted in order to take hold.
In my experience, women generally do not discuss diets unless they’re selling something, e.g. if they work for Weight Watchers. Men discuss successful diets with anyone who will listen.
Brian, last night I told a female friend of mine about the competitive-women comment. She thought it was very funny and said she wouldn’t be like that — she would tell her friends. So I guess in a year — if it works for her — I can ask her how many friends she has told.
U can use the comment as an ad on your cover ~~~~
” A method that girls never share” or something~~~~
When will this good method have Chinese translation~~~~
Makes me chuckle. I think the comment says more about the commenter than about the commenter’s diet. When I find something that works in some way, I want to scream it from the rooftops so that all my friends and family could reap the benefits, (but I put a lid on it for the most part not to be a nag, unless they ask). Why wouldn’t I want people I love to lose weight and feel better?
Too much nobility is required to bear the frustrations of trying to overcome people’s resistance-to-the-weird.
Brian is right on the money.
In addition trying to share something even with relatives is tough. Everyone has their own way of thinking, mine just happens to have become so calculative that I take in ALL DATA and FACTORS and form a very comprehensive world view that incorporates all perspectives and facts.
Other people only siphon what is of interest to them and refuse to step outside of their comfort zone, and effectively restrict themselves to strict parameters that do not vary.
Sharing may be caring but not many people are receptive to care these days
Jenny, I’m with you. I loved the SL book, and have been using the oil (not consistently – need to get back on track), and I love how it helps suppress appetite, and I did a post about the SL diet to spread the word, and told some family members who confided that they want to lose weight, and gave the book away to one of them…
And there have been no takers, just polite, “Oh! Interesting. Well, I just need to make better food choices and get moving…” Which is great, but not at all incompatible with SL.
I don’t know why anyone would NOT try something that is 1. safe, 2. painless, 3. healthy, and 4. potentially very effective for weight loss. I’m stumped.
Steph, I think it might be a psychological effect whereby you’re more likely to explore some interesting, off-the-wall idea if you’ve discovered it through your own research vs. having someone (particularly are relative) recommend it to you.
“Particularly a relative”…I’m sure you’re right, Alex. And it’s true, I also like to be the “first” (in my circle) to figure something out. Then I’m happy to have everyone on board. (Again, so long as I got there first…gah, such an ego.)