Gov. Rendell trying to lose weight

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports:

Ed Rendell, the unabashed indulger in all things greasy, has not had so much as a bite of a cheesesteak in two months.

He's given up sweets, too, including his favorite dessert, Starbucks coffee ice cream. Not a spoonful, as hard as that might be to believe.

It shows.

The once-rotund governor has shed nearly 40 pounds since reaching an all-time high in the spring of 265 pounds.

His secret?

"I literally eat half of what I used to," Rendell said yesterday at the governor's mansion. "I am now a devout disciple of the fact that if you want to lose weight you have to significantly reduce the amount of food you put in your mouth."

Putting down the fork.