Samuel A. Kojoglanian, MD, FACC

I had just come from church, commemorating the 10th anniversary of September 11, a day filled with emotions and pride; I felt a sense of hollowness and pain for the victims and whispered a prayer for their precious loved ones, asking God’s healing touch on their hearts.

I wasn’t watching TV, but it was on. There was a commercial that was off the wall and had nothing to do with 9/11, but it got my attention enough to get me to sit on the couch and gaze in disbelief. It’s a product you sprinkle on food, a plan that allows you to eat anything. Buy it monthly, sprinkle the granules on your food, don’t exercise, pig out, and lose weight! If fact, 150 people sprinkled themselves into a 30 pound weight loss by simply dashing granules on their food.

“It was effortlessly effortless” one lady said, “and look at me now!” “Effortless…you’ve got to be kidding me!” I said, as if she could hear me through the tube. This special invention is suppose to trick taste buds, which in turn tricks the brain into thinking you’re full; but then again most of my overweight and obese patients eat whether they are hungry or not.

Effortless? You mean like the redwoods in Northern California that endure the storms, winds and fires and stand in majesty in the forest? Like the most beautiful china that is subjected to the flames at least three times till their rich crimson colors emerge? Like the pianist who sits eight hours a day through intense practice sessions so she can play Sergei Rachmaninov’s Piano Conerto No. 2 effortlessly?

Effortless will not get us healthy. Effortless will not get us fit. Effortless will not get us strong. It is through effort and discipline that we stand tall, and shine with our crimson colors, and play our song with beauty. My new book on losing weight, keeping healthy and finding abundant life will rock your planet, shake you out of your effortless world, and gear you up to win your life back. It will be at the Mender of Hearts at the end of this year. Hold tight, this is gonna change your life!