Those struggling with weight loss find support, inspiration, and motivation
By Eileen Jevis
Staff writer
Like so many others, Ellen McCauley experienced the frustration and struggles of losing weight. In 2007, McCauley, a parishioner at Holy Family Church in Fairmount, was so depressed by her weight, she stopped attending Mass. Father Richard Prior, then pastor of Holy Family, noticed Ellen missing from her usual seat. He visited her at home, and she shared her shame of being overweight. “Soon, I was crying and sharing my embarrassment and sense of hopelessness.” Fr. Prior encouraged McCauley to pray about it. Putting her trust and faith in the Lord, and with a renewed sense of purpose, she lost 33 pounds within a few months.
Anthony Madonia shares before and after photos of his weight loss Photos | Anthony Madonia
In January 2008, McCauley launched “Pray it Off,” a weight loss support group that, through prayer, hard work, and camaraderie, helps members gain mental, physical, and spiritual strength. In the first session, 25 people lost a total of 644 pounds within the first six months. “Pray it Off doesn’t recommend one specific eating plan but instead encourages each person to discover what can work for them, for life,” explained McCauley. “We focus on beginning new lifelong habits of eating healthy, moving more, and prayer. That’s why so many people stay with the group even after achieving their weight loss goals.”
The sessions begin with song and Bible reflections that focus on the themes of hope, gratitude, and encouragement. A prayer of intercession to St. Padre Pio, a patron saint for those seeking healing and comfort, is also said.
Anthony Madonia began to realize that the eating habits he acquired during his youth were not working as an adult. He tried different diets, with minimal results, and eventually regained the weight. “I began to accumulate more pounds and became frustrated with the results,” he said. “My wife told me about the Pray it Off group at Holy Family and urged me to join. Through Ellen’s guidance, I began to get control of my weight and am thriving with a new lifestyle.”
Mary Ellen Byrne shares before and after photos of her weight loss. Photos | Mary Ellen Byrne
Madonia said that McCauley is a master entertainer and makes everyone in the group feel welcome, comfortable, and worthy. “Her presentations are exquisitely delivered, and her self-deprecating humor endears her to everyone in attendance,” said Madonia. “As a lifelong teacher, I now realize how essential humor is when delivering a class lecture. Ellen has perfected this art, and members always leave the session in a better frame of mind.”
For Mary Ellen Byrne, it was the diagnosis of serious medical issues that prompted her to start a weight loss program. She said her struggles with weight began when she learned to cook and bake. She found pleasure and power in baking whenever she had a craving for cake, brownies, or cookies. While she realized her joy of cooking came at a price, she was happy to ignore it for 25-30 years. Her weight continued to rise during high school and college, and by age 40, she weighed over 200 pounds. “I still didn’t care that my weight was affecting me socially, but now had to admit it was beginning to affect my health,” she said. “I was diagnosed with diabetes. I had sleep apnea and asthma. My doctor urged me to lose weight, explaining that some of my medical issues would diminish. But I didn’t want to change. I was happy with my life even though it was undermining my health.”
Ellen McCauley shares before and after photos of her weight loss journey.
Photos | Ellen McCauley
It was Byrne’s father, who died in 2005 from congestive heart disease brought on by diabetes, that finally spurred her to begin a weight loss program. “I knew I was on the same path. I might not like trading cake for salad, but I had to try.” Byrne, who worked for an accounting firm, signed up for the January session but was concerned because the program was running during tax season. “There would be no sense in starting a program if the rigors of tax season would soon eclipse it and I wouldn’t be able to finish,” she explained.
During a particularly tough morning at work, Byrne went to Wegmans for lunch. Her difficult day was justification for her desire for tiramisu. On her way to the checkout, she realized that tiramisu was not going to change the fact that she had a bad morning and was destined for a difficult afternoon as well. “Eating that dessert was only going to help forget my problems for two minutes. I still had to face the rest of the day. It was the Holy Spirit’s way of showing me that I needed this program.” Byrne put the tiramisu back in the case and went to her first Pray it Off meeting that night. She said her boss was so supportive that the tax season never conflicted with her meetings. “My boss never let tax season get in the way of my goal to become healthy.”
When Byrne began the program in 2008, she weighed 237 pounds. By 2022, she lost 50 pounds and continues to work on her weight goals. She looks forward to camaraderie, support, and the encouragement she receives from others in the group.
The one-hour meetings are free and open to all members of the diocese. They are held at Holy Family Church in Fairmount every Thursday, beginning promptly at 6 p.m. Attendees are asked to arrive by 5 p.m. to be weighed. The fall session begins September 4 and runs through June. The second session begins on January 8.
Contact Ellen McCauley at 315-447-4676 or email her at elmccauley625@gmail.com for more information. Visit Ellen’s blog for inspiration and information at prayitoff.blogspot.com.
