Welcome, Shangrila Diet searchers
Posted by Jeff September 26, 2006
Some key links:
- The Book
- Forums - Ask questions, share progress.
- Annotated Woman’s World Article - A few corrections from Seth Roberts.
- Best Practices
Shangrila Diet video on CBC
Posted by Jeff July 27, 2006
This is an excellent video from the CBC with Seth Roberts, creator of the Shangrila diet. Explains the fundamentals quite well via some goofy visual aids.
I like that it includes the conventional wisdom “Truly is too good to be true” angle. This is transposed with Dr. Robert’s calm confidence in results.
I’d enjoy seeing Roberts on the Colbert Report: Steven is the ultimate manifestation of America’s favorite media archetype: the loud boor.
The problem with the Shangrila diet
Posted by Jeff July 27, 2006
I have no doubt that the Shangrila diet works. I’ve been doing it for a few months and have observed how taking a little olive oil decreases appetite. It’s FM - Freakin’ Magic.
But — it sounds like the worst kind of fad diet. A typical conversation–
me: So, I’ve been trying this diet.
otherperson: <brightening> Really? What is it?
me: Well, it’s called the Shangrila diet.
op: giggling Oh? how’s it work?
me: You take a tablespoon of olive oil, and don’t eat anything for an hour before and after.
op: look of distaste How’s that work?
me: Well, it reduces the body’s set point..its internal target weight. It’s because the food has no flavor.. it’s a Pavlovian thing..you remember the dogs..?
op: thoroughly confused I’ve gotta go.. freshen my drink.
Maybe I’m bad at explaining it, or should contain my enthusiasm. One thing I know for sure: don’t attempt to be helpful by bringing it up to friends/family who could… benefit from it. That’s inevitably unsubtle, and results in hurt feelings.
What’s the answer? I don’t know. There’s no no merch or consumables to push - unlike Atkins which was a billion dollar a year market. Maybe what’s needed is a new “Lose Weight Now, Ask Me How” campaign, and hand them a short HOW-TO.
I love Seth Robert’s “better mousetrap” faith that the diet is so obviously good. But, people’s opinions are strongly ifluenced by marketing and network effects. Al Roker lost weight via gastric bypass (filmed, no less): a procedure which is dangerous, invasive, and very profitable to hospitals. Shangrila is affordable, healthy and effective. Shangrila needs a street team — tools to help folks spread the word — and some celebrity endorsements.
Olive Oil (ELOO) - one of the World’s Healthiest Foods?
Posted by Jeff May 30, 2006
For those of us who are swigging olive oil daily, here’s some background on olive oil.
Olive oil is rich in Vitamin E, a fat-soluble antioxidant:
“It turns out that people who use olive oil regularly, especially in place of other fats, have much lower rates of heart disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, colon cancer, and asthma.”
This is a pretty technical article. The most interesting and relevant bit concerns storage: it should be in a dark place, away from heat. Most olive oil is in glass bottles, so that means I shouldn’t store mine by the stove but in a closed cupboard 
Seth Roberts ShangriLa Diet Mp3 Interview
Posted by Jeff May 19, 2006
Interview with the book author - in MP3. The interview seems a little disjointed, but good content. The name “ShangriLa” and simplicity (tablespoon of oil) seem too simple and alluring, but it’s clear from the interview Roberts is a serious, thoughtful scientist building on previous research.
Kudos to MSNBC for posting MP3, not some annoying streaming DRM’d format.
