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noblesinger -> RE: Songs of the Noblesinger (4/26/2005 3:18:01 PM)
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09:53am Jan 31, 2005
It seems as though a number of us here at Crosswalk (Laura, Trish, and Di to mention a few) are in “weight-loss mode.” We are keeping each other encouraged in a Thread located in the Health section, and things are really looking good for us all. But some of you don’t get over that way, mainly because you’re not in that particular stage of life. So I decided to give you an update on my journey here in my Blog.
I have struggled with my weight for all of my life. As a child in grade school, I was teased simply because I was the “fat kid.” I did have a lot of friends among the black students at my school, though, because they were teased for their skin color and, as the saying goes, “misery loves company.” I had to get the dreaded “husky” clothes, which were never as nice looking as the clothes of the skinnier kids. I was never able to do a lot of the things that they could, like climb trees, run fast, jump far and high, etc. It made for some lonely times, so I developed a love for books which has stayed with me to this day. They never criticized me because I was “fat.” They were always there for me to enjoy, and never, ever, judged me. At various times during my growing-up years, I would lose a few pounds here and there, but nothing major. That is, until the summer before I started Junior High.
When we moved to Charleston from Clarksburg, we needed to find a local allergy specialist to care for my needs. When we lived in Clarksburg, it was only about 60-70 miles from Morgantown, the home of the WVU School of Medicine, which has an excellent allergy department. But after moving south, it became necessary to change doctors. We found one here, Dr. Merle Scheer, who also was an asthma specialist. He told Mom and Dad that part of my breathing trouble was due to asthma, as well as the numerous allergies that we already knew about. He convinced my parents to send me to a camp for asthmatic kids that he ran, called Camp Bronco Junction, for the entire summer. You slept in converted railroad box cars, and there was a smaller gauge train that served as as an ambulance. It was fun being there, but they put me on such a strict diet (no eggs, only goats milk to drink) that I went from 132 pounds to 97 in two months. Mom took a picture of me the day she and Dad came to get me, and I looked like a refugee – my flat-top hair cut had grown out all shaggy and my clothes were hanging off me. I made Dad stop at a drive-in one the way home for hot dogs, I was so hungry!
I thought I might be able to stay near that weight because I had grown 6 inches over the summer, but I began having knee trouble. I would be climbing the stairs at home, and would suddenly find myself, on my face, at the bottom. It turns out that my knee joint was unable to keep up with the rest of my legs, the calcium deposits mixed with dried blood (from falling on them across the tracks at camp) to form knots, a condition known as Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease. It’s common among youngsters who have large growth spurts. So for nearly my entire 7th grade year, I couldn’t take PE. The only physical activity I was allowed was bowling, playing in the marching band, and riding my bike – no running, jumping, or anything else – plus, I had to put hot towels on my knees every night for 30 minutes. While I sat on the couch with my knees wrapped, I could read, watch TV, or eat… and most often, I watched the tube and ate. Too much. My weight went back up beyond what it was before I went to summer camp. NUTS! [sm=crazy.gif]
I’m getting long-winded here, so I’ll continue this later.
Duane
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