[lady06498]

Hi all,

There wasn't a thread started for today so I started one.

Just wanted to let you all know that me and the leader just went down and rearranged the tables to make a horseshoe effect. We will sit at the head table and the others will sit around us.

It looks like this:

I I The officers are at this end on the open
I I side is windows
I I
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Then I made signs to hang on the 2 doors as they enter that say

NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS OR BEHAVIOR BEYOND THIS POINT!

I will also announce that we will not allow people to be negative about themselves. They are self destructing themselves. Also I will tell them that the weight problem we all have is not the biggest problem in our lives. That this week I want them to figure out what the biggest problem really is and start to deal with it. I will tell them to take a break from the weightloss and start concentrating on the bigger problem. That the weight problem is the reaction to the bigger problem and is caused by the bigger problem. We have a guest speaker tonight that will talk about self esteem and how it effects the weight problems we all have.

Me and the leader are also going to try and sit down with the ones that only weigh in and see why they don't stay. Can't say we will get anywhere with them but we can try. If they just want a weigh in only then we will not bother with them anymore. They are getting what they need so we shouldn't worry about them. We have to worry about the members that attend the meetings.

I have to go to take megan to gymnastics class so I will let you all know how it goes tonight. Wish us luck. It is a drastic change but it is needed.

Sherri

[Eleni]

We had a good meeting tonight. I did the TOPS chapter Program #47. It is a really good one. I had everyone make 3 lists. One of bad habits/one on how to correct bad habit and one for good habits they have. Then we all went over a few we put down. Everyone is to pick one and work on it for 1 month. I will be working on eating slower. I made copies of several of the pages plus the recipes at the end. All chapters should have the programs. Some of ours are missing but there are a lot of good programs to use. This program was just what I needed. Hope you are all ok.

[lady06498]

Eleni,

Sounds like you did have a great meeting. We will be working on that also in our chapter. We took the program book out and put it on the table tonight and we will do that every week so that it is there if people want to look through it for ideas for programs. We found a real great on in there but I don't remember what number it was. It was about finding you and seeing the reality in things.

Our meeting was a hit tonight. I had a great week and I have a lot to report. I stayed the same tonight and I was very happy with that. I gained control of my life this week and because of it I got back to what I was 2 weeks ago. I know I had gained in that time so it was great to know I took control and didn't have a gain this week.
Things are much better with me and my daughter. I am not so quick to act with her. I have a lot more energy and I am so much happier this week then I was last week. I am making changes in my life a little at a time. I think now before I act now. I take the time now and think about the things that are important to me that really matter. It really makes a difference.

The message that I delivered at the meeting tonight went over great and one of the members spoke out and added her two cents also. I told them there is no more negative talk here. That we are going to start acting like a support group like we should. I told everyone to stop thinking about the weight this week and start to figure out why they are not happy or what the problem is in their life. When they find that out then that is why they are overeating. So we are going to discuss the different problems next week. We are going to start getting to know each other and really start getting serious about this and taking action to change our way of thinking and our lives so that we are in control again or for some of us for the first time.

There was only one person that mentioned and was not happy that we changed the tables and it was the lady that started the group. She is very negative and doesn't want any change. We had a new member join tonight also. So I think we have a chance with our group. I got an old member to come back tonight and after my speech and the speaker she decided to come back next week and start over again and as she put it get it together.

I hope next week is just as successful. They all loved the tables moved the way we did it. So it was a very positive meeting and a very positive week for me. I am looking forward to tomorrow and the challanges that lay ahead.

Sherri