Chapter 2

In the afternoon I went to the hospital for a physical.

The doctor studied the report, then explained, "Your weight is far above the healthy range, but the main problem is insulin resistance.

"Years of taking weight-loss drugs without medical supervision have thrown your metabolism off.

"Follow the diet and exercise plan, complete the treatment, and you have every chance of recovering."

I had barely nodded before he added, "At your current weight, don't do anything reckless.

"Get healthy first. Then take the weight off slowly."

There were two months left before school resumed at Westbrook High.

I had never planned on any extreme method. All I wanted was a healthy body.

I left the hospital and found a registered dietitian, just as the doctor recommended.

She wrote me a detailed meal plan.

Looking at portions half again as big as anything I used to eat, I couldn't help smiling.

Vivian used to plan diet meals for me too.

Half an egg for breakfast, four lettuce leaves at noon, a glass of milk cut with water at night.

If the number on the scale didn't drop, I was locked in the home gym until it did.

The dietitian said matter-of-factly, "Don't starve yourself, and don't try to drop dozens of pounds in a month.

"You're trying to get healthier, not kill yourself."

My eyes went hot. I nodded and said, "Okay."

When I got home, Marianne looked at the meal plan and protested, "Chicken breast isn't half as good as thighs. Don't starve yourself into the ground." Even so, she went out the next morning and bought me fresh ingredients.

Eleanor's father, Ray Brooks, went even further.

The day he heard I wanted to exercise, he bought a treadmill and hauled it home for me.

"Take it slow, baby. Even if you never lose a pound, we love you."

I looked at the two of them and almost cried.

Eleanor, you idiot.

You had parents this good, and you were ashamed of them.