Six Foot Three, 125 Pounds?

I have a skinny mother.  She was not a thin child, but she has been in good shape since she was a teenager.  It is not natural, but hard work that has kept her this way.  As a not very tall person she knows that she can’t carry much weight, there is just no place to hide it.  All my life she has had a number on her scale that reminds her of her constant goal.

Years ago when we both lived in Washington my mother was off her weight goal by about six pounds and was not having any luck losing it on her own.  After watching countless ads on TV for various weight-loss centers my mother decided that she was going to enroll in one to lose her six pounds.  She called a Jenny Craig center that was just a few blocks from her house.

Here is how the conversation went:

Mom:  I need to come in because I need to lose some weight.

Jenny Person:  OK, how tall are you?

Mom:  I am six foot three.

Jenny Person:  And how much do you weigh?

Mom:  I weigh exactly 125.

Jenny Person (In an exasperated voice) You are six-three and weigh 125?

Mom:  Yes, and I want to lose six pounds.

Jenny Person:  You are six three and 125?

Mom:  (In an exasperated voice) Yes.

Jenny Person:  I am very sorry you are at least thirty-five pounds underweight.

Mom:  Oh no, I always weigh about 118-119 and now I am 125 and I can’t get back down.

Jenny Person:  Ma’m, we can’t help you, have you considered going to an eating disorders clinic?

Mom:  No, Why?

Jenny Person:  At six foot three you should weigh at least 155.

Mom:  Oh, I’m not six foot three, but five foot three.

Jenny Person:  (Now very exasperated) Oh, we still can’t help you.

I often wonder if my mother had told them her right height at first if they would had let her come in to give them her money or if this counselor was not interested in helping a person who did not know their actual height.

My mother had the right idea.  Get help with a small problem so that it would not become a big problem.  Recently, I have had a number of friends who I consider to be in good shape ask me about how they can improve their eating.  Just because someone is on the small side does it mean they are eating what is healthy.  Eventually it all does catch up with us.

No matter how much or how little you might want to lose to get in your best shape, don’t be discouraged if the first person you ask for help turns you down.  It is harder to do it alone.  Keep looking, and keep trying.