Ten minutes to write. Less time to read.

The very first diet I attempted was as a senior in high school where I used the Catholic concept of Lent to restrict my caloric intake. Given that I attended an all-girls Catholic high school at the time, my motivation was high. In fact, it’s probably fair to say it’s never been higher even though I’ve attempted numerous diets since. But then I’ve fallen off the Catholic bandwagon, so the Lenten crutch isn’t currently available to me.

Instead, over the years, I’ve tried Atkins with moderate but not permanent success. I’ve tried Weight Watchers with slow but steady success. And I’ve tried The Picture Perfect Diet, a lesser know approach to dieting that encourages the reading of food labels so that one understands what one is ingesting. In addition, I’ve tried the depression approach, which has yielded the most favorable weight loss results but at the expense of a healthy mental attitude. I don’t necessarily recommend it.

Today my life is relatively stress-free; at the same time, it wouldn’t hurt to lose the extra avoirdupois. So Earl and I recently joined a weight loss class that’s predicated on eating a lot of protein and counting both protein and calorie consumption. It also requires weighing in each week to see how one is doing.

I’ve never participated in a group weight loss program before, and the dynamics are rather interesting. Each Thursday the participants weigh in and spend a good half hour discussing their weight loss or gain while waiting for the others in the class to also weigh in.

The thing is I’m not sure I want to get into the nitty-gritty about weight loss strategies with strangers. I’m already tired of hearing one participant discuss his secrets for losing weight and another bemoan the fact she didn’t lose any weight this week because she had to go out to dinner. It may sound intolerant, but I think when one is dieting one should be discreet about it. But I’m probably in the minority with this opinion.

Which suggests a group approach to becoming thinner might also go the way of the Lenten approach for me.