[QUOTE=Ishbel;4726033]
Joy TOPS - Take Off Pounds Sensibly...it's a weight support group. I pay 30 dollars a year for membership and 5 dollars a month for rent of the room we use weekly. It always was a part of my weight maintenance plan. The group I'm in, I've been in for 5 years and it's all about support. We have weekly meetings where we talk about our week, what was good what was bad. We have programs and we weigh in. Its a support group. They all knew I was on IP and supported me, no one else is on IP. Some people are following Tosca Rena's program, three other people are following three other different programs. We all support everyone. Once you hit your goal you become a KOP Keep Off Pounds Sensibly and you have a 10 lbs leeway, 3 lbs over your goal and 7 lbs under your goal that you are allowed (it must be approved by your doctor). I am consitently under that goal, I added a few lbs to it (it's 167 there) because it's after supper and in the evening and I usually wear jeans lol. At the end of the year if you've met your goal they tally up everyone's results and if you lost the most weight then you are Queen of the province. I was Queen Runner Up and I had everyone saying "princess" by the end of the day LMAO.
It's like WW only just support and encouragement. Some in my group have become very good friends that I'll keep for a long long time.
They give you ideas (weekly programs) and have their own weight loss program but you don't have to follow it. It really helps me with my mid-week weigh in. Each year that you keep your weight off you get a year pin, so next year I will get #1 as a pin. Many ladies are 25 and over and there are some that are 9-10 years and some that are 1. It was very cool.
THEN during the Provincial Recognition Days (it's probably State Recognition Days down there)...they also have people in the PROCESS of losing their weight. They all speak. So it's very inspirational.
www.tops.org (not sure if I'm allowed to put that in here, if it gets removed and you don't know whats ahead of this sentence then it's not allowed)
Ishbel, thank you for the information about TOPS. My mother was a TOPS member and I can remember going to meetings with her when I was 3 or 4 years old. I had completely forgotten about it.
I'm not in maintenance yet, 68 lbs down, 15 to go. My biggest fear is unwinding all of this goodness and happy progress, post IP. The last 20 lbs are proving to be the most challenging for me. I need more than a rushed 10 - 15 minutes of weighing & measuring with my distracted IP coach. I get 99% of my support from you and the other smart, generous and knowledgeable people who post here every day.
I just looked at the TOPS website and watched the videos. So inspirational. One woman talked about it being a supportive and *safe* place, instead of punitive like so many programs. I've found a local chapter in my town. They offer a free first meeting. In addition to reading everyone's posts here, TOPS sounds like it will help me stay the course for the rest of the weight loss and after.
We've finally got some gorgeous summer-like weather in Central Ontario! We somehow skipped spring and hopped directly to summer weather. Love it! Iff this continues, I'll soon need to put my window fans in! 
