Hello everyone. I have been "exploring" the 3fc site for a few weeks now and believe I might be interested in joining TOPS. I have tried everything else! Last year I lost 50 pounds on the Atkins diet but I want a plan I can live with for the rest of my life, and that is NOT it! (some folks can do it, but I cannot eat eggs and bacon every morning until I die!!)
I have never been to TOPS. I am a little scared to go. I am very shy around new people and am not sure what to expect. Can you all help me out? I am kinda scared to go alone. I am hoping to find someone who will go with me to the first meeting, but so far I am not having any luck. Please fill me in on what to expect! Thank you all in advance! Mel

Go to a meeting and check it out. Every one at my chapter is very encouraging and supportive. I joined July 1, and have lost 57 of my 110 lbs. The day I weighed in under 200 lbs I cried. (come to think of it the day I weighed over 200 lbs I cried.) I have met many new and wonderful women, and something is always planned. Try it, you have nothing to lose but a few pounds.

P.S. I am following the diabetic diet, doing 20 to 45 minutes on the treadmill combined with Joyce Vedrals Bottoms up work out.

Good Luck!

Welcome Melk and Flatlander.

Melk.....Read the thread titled "TOPS", Eleni is good with words and explains in detail about TOPS. Do go to a meeting. You can visit the first time if you want. If there is more than one chapter in your area, you can visit and decide which you like best. And don't worry about being shy. I was a shy person for the most of my life and I ended up being leader of the chapter for two years. It was really good for me. I never could stand up and talk in front of a group and now I look forward to it. I really enjoy working with the programs and contests. I wish that I had joined years before I did.

Flatlander.....Congratulations on the weight loss. YOU are doing Great!!! Your weight loss should be a great inspiration to the rest of your group and to us here on 3fat chicks.

Nita

Welcome to the new people. Good to have you join us. You can't go wrong joining TOPS. It is a great group. And join us here at our Internet chapter. This board has become an extention of our home clubs. You are going to meet some really special ladies.

Just had to welcome you aboard, I hope to see you both here often....Eleni is right this is definatly our biggest help between meetings...and a great group of ladies

Did you ever find a chapter near you??
Been thinking about ya and just wondered how you are doing... Let us know if we can help you in any way and know we are all waiting to hear from you

Welcome Melk,

Flatlander is right. I was never very outgoing. But then I lost weight a year and half ago and it made me feel so much better about myself that I am now more outgoing. I never would go to anything alone either. I went to my first meeting alone and I was the youngest one there. I did feel uncomfortable but I decided to join that night becuase I was doing it for me and it didn't matter that I felt out of place. It didn't take long to get to know everyone and they were all very nice to me and encouraging at the meetings. I come here between the meetings. This is where I get most of my support from. I have met some great people here that I consider my friends. It is easy to make friends with people that are going through the same thing as you are I found. You have something in common right away then you get to know them. They are all great people here and they truly care about others. They have helped pull me out of the slumps more then once and I thank them for that.
Give it a try and if you need help finding a chapter close to you then on the original tops site there is a meeting locater. Put in your zip code and it tells you the places where the meetings are near there.

Good luck and hope to see you around more often.


Flatlander you are an inspiration to me. I hope that soon I will start losing weight every week again like I was to meet my goal.

Sherri

I think this board is home to some really beautiful spirits. I hope I can contribute in some small way to the good stuff that goes on here.

I know that every life has a few detours, Lord knows mine has had it's fair share. You can and will do this, one step at a time. I ignored my weight issues and was truly shocked when I stepped on the scale. 253 lbs. I was killing myself one calorie at a time. I have far to much living still to do, and I am hellbent on getting back on track. I WILL be there for all the wonderful people in my life. ANYTHING I can do to help, let me know!

Big warm TOPS hug to you!

CC

WELCOME MELK! Like you, I'm a little on the shy side. What got me into action about joining TOPS was seeing an ad for A TOPS Open House in a local mini-market. I said to myself that I'd think about it for a week. The more I thought about it the more I thought that the only thing that I had to lose was the weight. The chapter that was advertising house had only been in existance since January of that year, 1995. The other thing that I was thinking was that I most likely would know most of the people there. I joined that TOPS Chapter that night and am currently the chapter secretary.

I just re-joined TOPS last night and then found this board today. Coincidence, eh?

I am from BC Canada and have been spending a lot of time reading all of the messages.

Today was the first day of healthy eating in a long time and I am proud to say that I did pretty good! Did go over by 1 one the fat though. I can tell that is going to be my problem area, but I will persevere. LOL

I will be dropping in most days and hope to have lots to read.

myne