As usual I did not sleep late and have been up since 6. I look forward to the weekend so I can sleep late but never do. It is still btter than 4:30.
Thanks to Mickey and CC for posting on the bio's. It is always nice to know something about each other.
I noticed I have a lot in common with CC {Hope you donn't mind, I like CC much better than flatlander--- It's easier to spell too}
But CC sounds like she has had some really interesting jobs. That is great.
Mickey Wow Married for 47 years. I think that is wonderfu. I wish I was able to be with my hubby that many years. But we married in our Forties. But I am grateful for all the time we have
The workshop was good.
Sherri--Whoever told you not to attend a workshop do not know what they are talking about. At least that is not the way it is here. This was for the weight recorders or anyone interested in knowing about the weight recorder job. Some groups had as many as 4 people or more. Our treasurer went with me but the group was told anyone could come.
It lasted almost 3 hours and covered all the charts and the resumes. I found out several things I did not know. Which is good and bad. I now have hours of work undoing and correcting what I already spent hours doing. I need extra new weight charts but am too embarrassed to let them know I messed up. Will have to figure out what to do.
But I am glad I went and I encourage everyone that can to go to your rally's workshop etc. It will help you to know more about your chapter and club. I learned that yesterday. We are a chapter that belongs to a club.
I have eaten out a lot the last few days and will today. But I have made much better choices than I was before. Maybe not always good choices but better ones.
I am still doing good. I am hoping for a constant loss of 1 to 2 pounds each week.
I know doing exercises 5 minutes at a time may seem strange to some of you. But it beats doing none. And I know at end of day I have done 20 to 30 minutes. I was doing none.
Well hope you all have a good Sunday.

Eleni, I only picked flatlander 'cause it is SO dang flat here! It continually amazes me.

I would have been really interested in attending a workshop. I posted before that I would like to make a spreadsheet to cover all the TOPS weight info. Would that be legal? What is a weight resume?

I have lots of TOPS questions, but I don't know who to ask.

As to five minutes at a time for exercise, WAY TO GO! When I started 25 crunches was my max, and the stairs left me out of breath. so way to go! It builds on itself and soon you will be feeling stronger, then leaner, then Booty-licious.

Have a great day!!

CC

Eleni,

The old leader and the executives of my group told me I couldn't go and I told them that summer told me I could go. They said no it is only for executives in that position to go and there was no reason for me to go because I wasn't in that position. I knew they were wrong but I didn't argue with them it wasn't worth it. I think I would have liked the workshop that they had. Glad you had a good time and learned a lot I see. Sorry you have to undo all your hard work. Hopefully it won't take long.

I am not doing too bad today but not great. We went out for breakfast this morning and had pancakes and an egg w/ homefries and bacon and mini muffins. Because I ate like that I didn't eat lunch but I had some ff crackers with peanut butter and some chips and dip. So that isn't good.

I think that exercising 5 min at a time is great. You can always fit it in and no matter what you are getting the same out of it as if you would have done it all at the same time. The lady that owned the fitness firm I went to told us that at our open house when she came. So way to go eleni an glad that you are getting in the exercise. I didn't walk this morning but I am going to do some exercises here in the house in a min when I get done here to make up for it. My body is really tired from all the walking up those hills everyday. But for 3 weeks and only missing 2 days isn't bad at all. It is a lot more exercise then I was doing for sure.

CC,

Your leader should be able to answer any questions you have or if they can't then ask summer here on line or eleni they really know their stuff when it comes to tops and if they don't know then they will find out the answer for you. Where are you from where it is so flat?

You both have a great day and keep up the great work.

Sherri

Hey ladies, can you smell my turkey cooking???? Sure smells great and I'm looking forward to cutting into it. YUM!!!

Sounds like everyone is doing well. YEAH!!!

Eleni, don't worry about needing more weight sheets. Just ask your area captain. Yesterday would have been a great time to have done it. We always take extras with us and have them sitting out for officers to take. I would rather have a weight recorder ask me for more than receive charts that are difficult to read. It's always fun to learn new things too. Great going on your exercising.

Sherri, just curious, but have you talked with your area captain or coordinator about what your chapter 'execs' have told you?? If you want to find out who they are, go to tops.org. Go to chapter finder, enter your zip code and those names should pop up. Like Eleni said, what your chapter is telling you is not true. Sounds like they may be doing something that they shouldn't be and don't want it found out. I see this many times. OK, Sherri, you will do better with your eating for the rest of the day!!!

CC, Hey, another relative maybe????? Just joking, but I'm the only American in the family. All my family is from Ontario. I love the area and miss it dearly, but I gotta say the mountains of Colorado are the real tug of my heart. Would love to see the Canadian Rockies though. My hubby says they are beautiful and he was born here in Colorado. Just wish our weather was warmer. Pleas ask any questions you have about TOPS and like Sherri said, the answer will be found for you or you will be directed somewhere [usually your coordinator]. In regards to the chapter buying a computer and putting the info on that, I would definitely tell you to talk to your coordinator, but I don't think that would be OK. [see Sherri's note about how to find your coordinator if you don't know who it is]. I don't know of any chapter doing it and I can't imagine one putting out that kind of money for the PC. Too risky to 'lose'....and you definitely do not want to lose the members weight records. Plus, you still would have to do the 'official' paperwork for TOPS, Inc. Sounds like you like doing exercises with weights. I should be doing that. I have crummy upper body strength and any kind of arm work out really hurts the upper back over to shoulders. I know I need to to strength building in that area. Thanks for posting your bio!!

Mickey, you too!! So nice to know about you....and you are on the right track to becoming a reinstated KOPS. Never let go of that vision.

OK, ladies, here are your daily {{{VIBES}}}. Keep that ball rolling. Have a great evening....and here is to better health.

TOPS Hugs,
Summer

The rules seem to change at our chapter. I do not want to sound complainy so I mostly ignore it. All in all we have a VERY good thing going, lively meetings and contests, excellent people, lots of support. This is a very minor thing, but like you and the workshop, it is nice to know where you stand and how the club (not the chapter) rules apply. (Plus my tech background makes me stickler for rules, minimum/maximum torque, output voltage, etc. no rules, no airworthiness cert.) I have not yet received a TOPS newsletter or rule book. I was told I have a strong possibility of being chapter Queen, but don't have a clue what this means. Do you have to wear a crown? When I asked it sounded like I had to be a KOPS. I am nowhere near being a KOPS, I didn't join until Jul. How does KOPS work? Do you have to be 7 lbs under your goal? What the heck is PRD? Enquiring minds want to know!! The bead thing boggles my mind. Are these Chapter rules or Club rules? What is retreat? Is Recognition night part of PRD?AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
Everybody has a different idea, I would just like us to all be on the same page.

Sorry about the rant, .
as to flat, I live in Southern Sask and it is FLAT. I spent most of my adult life in Northern Alberta and the Territories, so it takes some getting used to. (My youth was in BC) I posted in Eleni's bio thread, finally felt comfortable doing it.

Take care and don't sweat the small stuff.

CC

CC, I'm glad that your chapter is lively with good people.

About 2 months after you join, having filled in a membership application and paying your national dues, you'll receive a membership card and TOPS, Inc rules. Most chapters also have their own set of 'by-laws' outlining their own rules for chapter contests, expenses covered, etc. These By-laws can prevent conflict and make things run so smooth when everything is spelled out..therefore putting everyone on the same page. You will also start receiving the magazine, TOPS News, in this 2 month time frame. If not, notify the coordinator for your province ASAP! Since you joined in July, you should have received these by now.

Chapter Queen means that you lost the most weight to goal in your chapter for 2001. Some chapters have a 'ceremony' to congratulate the winner. Yes, you would have to be a KOPS since you would have had to reach goal. For others that do not reach goal, but lose a significant amount of weight, TOPS has certificates for those Division Winners.

A KOPS goal weight is determined by their doctor or other health care provider. You need to get this written on a script or letterhead paper. Make sure that it is for a specific number...not a range. Once this weight is achieved, KOPS have a 10 pound range to stay in, 3 over and 7 under. If goal is 150, the range is 143 to 153. But you must reach 150 before you get the 'priviledge' of going the 3 #'s over. When you reach KOPS you have the choice of graduating in your chapter or at PRD.

PRD is Provincial Recognition Days [same as the US's SRD, State Recognition Days]. It is the TOPS 'convention' that is held yearly in your province. Tops members get together for 2 days of inspiration, fun and recognition. A KOPS can graduate at PRD if they wish, but they would have to have done it by Dec 31 of the previous year. You wear a long white outfit and get a cap, sash, graduation pin etc. It's a lot of fun. All KOPS participate in the 'circle of lights' after the graduation ceremony. They usually encircle the room, which is darkened, holding penlights. The KOPS that loses the most weight in the Province is crowned the Provincial Queen. They also have a King, if a man has reached goal. The last couple of TOPS News has showed the International Recognition Days [IRD] winners that was held in Seattle in July. The December 2001 issue of TOPS News has all the State and Provincial winners on the cover. Next year, the IRD will be held in my state in Colorado Springs. I am really excited about that. If you ever wanted to take a vacation in Colorado, that would be the perfect time....and attend IRD too!!

A retreat is a 5 day getaway that TOPS holds in various areas. They are listed in the TOPS News. Costs vary, depending on the lodging that is at that location, but it includes the lodging, meals [which are 1200 cal/day], activities ..... and lots of fun!

I have no idea what the 'bead' thing is. Sounds like it might be a chapter thing.

All chapters have 2 manuals that members can look at, not just the leaders or weight recorders. They are 'TOPS Guide for Weight Recording' and TOPS Chapter guide [not exact title, but I don't have mine right now to refer to]. TOPS encourages all its members to be aware of the rules, because ultimately, the member is responsible to make sure that their weight charts and info is correct when it is submitted to TOPS at the end of the year. Plus, as a member, you don't to miss out on any of the recognition that you rightly deserve. Losing weight is not easy and we need all the 'Atta-girls' we can get!!!!

If anyone else can think of more info on these, let CC know too. Since I live in the States, I am letting you know how we do things over here, but I haven't heard of anything different in Canada. If there are other Canadians out there and something is different, please let us all know. Would be interesting to find out different ways.

TOPS Hugs,
Summer

Lots of good advise about going to workshops. Our Area Captain encourages everyone to attend. They may hold an office in the future and it would be helpful to them! I think I would ask more Questions!!!! You should have been given a copy of the chapter by-laws when you joined. I would ask about that. Also you could talk to your Area Captian. She should be able to answer questions for you. If not, go to the coordinator. After all it is your chapter, too!

I am looking forward to going to IRD in CO next year. Just made up my mind. My husband likes to fish and my brother lives about 50 miles from there, so they can get together and do their thing while I do mine.

I have not done well eating this week-end.! And Thanksgiving is coming up! I'm a wreck! I haven't even exercised! I've got to do something!

Eleni, just remember, exercise is exercise! No matter how much or how little, it does count. Keep up the good work.

To all of you, thanks for the good thoughts. I really appreciate them.
Right now I need to get to bed!
Goodnight to you all and have a great Monday!
Mickey

Summer answered all your questions except the beads. The beads are something that some chapters do to recognize loses. For each pound lost you get a bead. Usually there are put on large safety pins and worn on whatever you have your charms. Vest,ribbon etc. They are given out like at the end of each quarter. Bad part is when you have to give some back. But most people enjoy them as it is a visible reminder of their hard work