Weighing In

I weighed myself today and sighed.

I've had a life-long struggle with being overweight. When I was a child my mother used to have to shop in the department euphemistically called "husky." 

By the end of seventh grade, I was seriously overweight.

I decided I had to diet. I was helped by the fact that I also hit a growth spurt - six inched over the next two years. 

Suddenly I was skinny. I grew two more inches by the end of high school, hitting six foot. I also played basketball, ran track, and rode a bicycle everywhere. 

Between 14 and 24, I remained slender.

But then the weight came back. I dieted, and went off diets, repeatedly. My weight went up and down, but mostly up.

For years I've lead a relatively sedentary lifestyle as a writer and teacher, and then a retiree. l also have  a poor diet, full of carbohydrates and large portions, and I have a chronic sweet tooth.

Five years ago, to my shame, I found myself 50 pound overweight. I also found myself prediabetic.

Knowing my father was also very overweight and suffered a series of strokes, that many of my other relatives on my father's side suffered strokes and from heart issues, and that diabetes ran in my family, I decided I HAD to lose weight and cut back on unhealthy foods.

I did. I still fluctuated up and down, but never hitting that 50-pound level again. And I'm no longer prediabetic. 

This morning I weighed myself. I weigh about the same I did at this time last year - that's good - but I'm still about 15 pounds overweight.

Diet and exercise time. 

I hope to lose that weight over the next three months. It would be great if I could begin the new year at a healthy weight. 

Maybe I need to ask for help from St. Charles Borromeo, the patron saint of dieters!

O St. Charles, you are invoked as
the patron of all those who suffer
with stomach ailments and obesity.
You are also called upon as a helper
for all those attempting to diet and lose weight.
Please intercede for me today
and help me to control
my desires and compulsions,
so that I may fix my appetite
on the glory of heaven.

Amen.

Pax et bonum