B = Benefiber

Benefiber - it isn’t just for old, constipated folks. Unfortunately that stigma will prevent a lot of people from buying the product. Fiber is a friend to anyone who is trying to get healthy. The benefits of it will be discussed at a later letter, “F” to be exact.

This post is about getting passed the judgment that comes along with buying it. At the store you are bound to run into a least one person who sees you with it and has a laugh at your expense. Whether they have an audible giggle or hide it behind a smile, it happens. Even those that manage to do neither, you’ll catch the look -- the one that says a snide remark is going through their head.

Who cares? Well, actually, most of us do. But we shouldn’t let it stand in our way of buying it. So here are a few tips:

1) Who hasn’t heard the one about... if someone is laughing at you, be happy you made their day - or something along those lame lines? True story: A cashier at the store, who was previously grumpy with everyone in front of me, gets a huge grin when I hand him my box of Benefiber. Now this poor guy has a boring job, which I can say with the confidence gained from doing it and knowing it’s boring first hand. The job gives him little reason to smile. Hell, you don’t know him, his life might give him little reason to smile. But, guess what, your purchase did. So take your purchase along with a big load of good karma!

2) If you are stock full of good karma and want to avoid the cashier... many places have self-check out. Just be careful that you use the self-check out probably so as not to set off the dreaded red light. Once that thing goes off you not only have a cashier come over, everyone around is looking to see what product the idiot at the self-check is buying that set the thing off.

3) Another option, now that many stores are open 24 hours, is to go in the wee hours of the morning. You probably won’t run into too many people and those you do will either be dead tired or drunk. Avoid the drunk ones, they will show you no mercy.

4) If none of the above work and you must brave through the purchase. Relax, take a deep breath. A stressed look will only make you appear constipated.