The Blind leading the Blind.

   Today on my way to Adjust Dallas, I don't like to call it work, the term work just gives the notion that what you do is no fun and even grueling. Which in my case, is not true. So, on my way to Adjust Dallas... I was sitting at a light, in the left turn lane, with two cars in front of me, you with me so far? The light was green, green to yield, not a green arrow. And all of a sudden the first car just decides to go and cut off all the oncoming traffic. Now sometimes I know from experience, not personal experience but from sitting in the passenger seat while my wife is driving, that sometimes when waiting at a red light to turn left you are expecting when the light changes to get the green arrow. And instinctively you start to go not noticing that you got the green yield. So I will give the first car somewhat of a pass, they had a brain fart, it was after all early in the morning. But what surprised me even more was the second car followed right behind them. They didn't even hesitate, just went right behind the other car cutting off the oncoming traffic. So did I follow too? They cant hit us all right? Of course not. Oddly enough I witnessed this same type of "herd mentality" last night at the Dallas Mavericks game when groups of people were crossing streets without getting the walk signal.
   So what's my point? My point is this type of mentality is everywhere is our society. "Everyone's doing it." I always start my corporate wellness talks with one of my favorite quotes which is from Mark Twain, "When you find yourself on the side of majority, it is time to pause and reflect." And as I go through current disease rates, I remind the audience that if you are doing everything everyone else is doing and these are our statistics what should we expect? The same thing! What is the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. So if you are eating the same foods, have the same habits, as your sister, your coworker, whomever. You should expect the same crappy results! That is unless you are my coworker or my family member. :)
   I even see this often with patients who will come to our practice Adjust Dallas with a goal to get off certain medications. For example, statins for high cholesterol. And I will ask did your other doctor tell you to change anything or do anything different? Half of the time the answer is no, crazy right? Here's your pill, keep on eating like crap and don't bother attempting to exercise! The other half of the time, it is the same exact answer. Yea, to eat better and exercise. My follow up question is always, did they tell you how? When I get a no, which is always, I respond with did your doctor look like they were healthy? I usually get a laugh and I know it's funny, but it's only funny because it's true. We have the majority of doctors, who are suppose to be the beacons of health, who have no clue how to be healthy. They have no idea what to eat or not to eat, which type of exercise routine may be better depending on your hormones or stress levels. Absolutely no clue. So why would you try to obtain health from someone who knows nothing about it? The blind leading the blind.