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One Day at a Time
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"Eat before," said her roommate Tracy Ostrofsky of Houston, who wonders how she will handle Passover.
One girl mentions that her father routinely eats two Big Macs at a single sitting, while Beaty observes that cashews are her favorite snack.
"Wait," says teacher Nan Curry, who is petite and thin. "Cashews are my favorite munchie or used to be my favorite munchie?"
"Used to be," Beaty replies, looking chastened.
The best predictor of success, Wellspring officials say, is leaving with a "clinical blessing": reaching the third level and staying there for 60 days without a serious slip. About 50 percent of students at Wellspring's California campus achieve that, which makes them eligible for a six-month online aftercare program that costs $500 and is refundable if completed successfully.
4:30 p.m. IN THERAPY
Kevin Mayburn, 16, his elbows propped on his knees, hunches forward and nervously fiddles with his hands as he faces Katie Busch, his "behavioral coach," or "BC," Wellspring parlance for therapist. BCs meet with students at least once a week and regularly call parents to discuss progress and other issues, such as how to prepare for a visit home. The school also holds occasional weekend workshops on campus for parents, more than half of whom have significant weight problems, school officials said.
Individual and group behavior therapy, Bishop said, is designed to shore up shaky self-esteem and "change the self-talk, like 'Diets don't work for me.' "
Kevin arrived Jan. 14 weighing 360 pounds. A high school football player from Livonia, Mich., this is his first time away from home, and, like others, he is struggling with separation and homesickness. The previous night, one of his roommates had to be taken to the emergency room for a medication problem, and Kevin remains shaken by the experience. "I thought he had had a stroke," said Kevin, whose mother has suffered life-threatening medical problems. He is still grieving for his stepfather, who died a year ago.
He tells Busch he's often tired and has been clashing with a counselor who accuses him of slacking off.
"I do everything except wake up in the morning," complained Kevin, one of the no-shows at dawn cardio, his eyes downcast.
Busch listens sympathetically and urges him to focus on the good things about losing weight. "Here you have support from a lot of people who really want the best for you," she says. Kevin looks dubious.
