So here is something interesting. Toronto's mayor Rob Ford has a weight challenge - ok to put it bluntly he is overweight, way overweight, some may call him fat. And he decided to lose a few pounds. Which is a great thing. After all, it is great for health and in the "thin and health conscious culture that we are in, it is fantastic. Loosing weight will also make him look sharper - an added bonus. So why did he become a laughing stock of Torontonians planning on losing weight? Well .... It is somewhat of an interesting story.
His worship, decided to make it a very public commitment and spectacle of him losing weight. Perhaps the idea was to inspire others to do so. Or perhaps it was a strategy to distract his opponents who were saying he is not putting in 8 hours a day. Or perhaps, he felt that it is a great idea at the time. Well, whatever the reason is. He did decide to make his weight loss a big deal (pardon the pun). He called the men and women of the press. Told them that he is going to stop the gravy train. And will do so publicly. He also told them that for those who deride him for not having a plan. He told the press folks that he has one. It is simple and yes, it is fool proof. He will weigh in every week. And these weigh ins will be very very public. All will be welcome. Including the Toronto Star and Canada's irrepressible Warrior Princess, Marg Delahunty of CBC.
Well he started of with the initial weigh in. I cant recall what it was - likely around 500 lbs (rounding off). He cancelled in the weigh in for the next week as it interfered with his scheduled stop to McDonald's for a quarter pounder for his morning snack. He did struggled through the weigh ins for 3-4 weeks - on and off. And finally decided to give up. For all his struggles, he was not any thinner, sharper or smarter than what he was when he started the public weigh ins.
Perhaps, and this is something that I dont think is his fault but his advisers', he should have not decided to go so damn public with his weigh ins. Perhaps he should have "kicked the tires" so to speak in privacy to see if he can actually go through it. May be for a month, or at least a week, or at least by skipping a meal to see what it feels like. And more importantly if he actually can go through with it
But alas our mayor is a risk taker. Or is he ...?
Hold off to your judgement as there is more to come
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