I have been a TOPS member for over three years and I haven't been very successful up until now. I just never seemed to be in control of the food I ate. Somehow, about two weeks ago something changed for me and I don't know why but I suddenly feel like I'm in control of food for the first time in my life!! In the past two weeks I have lost over 7 lbs, I can't believe it. I guess what I need now is a buddy or a few buddies who can keep me on the right track. I have never suceeded at losing weight before and it feels great to finally feel like I can do it. I don't want to lose the momentum. Please help.

I am new to TOPS. Something snapped in ME about 3 weeks ago and all of a sudden, I seem able to stay with the program and am much more committed to reaching my goal than I have been in years and years! I will be happy to be your buddy.

One thing I find that is particularly helpful on this website is Journaling. I have been doing one or two journal entries each day for the past couple of weeks and it has helped me a lot. I get back feedback from fellow members each time I post.

Anyway, my name is Joyce and I am a member of TOPS in NH. I was a member of TOPS years ago and had lost a lot of weight, but then I snapped and lost my will. I left TOPS and gained all my weight back plus extra! Now I am back. I have a long way to go, but I think I am ready to do what it takes this time. I am eating right and walking almost every day. I lost 16.75 lbs in my first two weeks (don't be shocked, I have over 100 lbs to lose and I know that was mostly water weight!).

You can send me a PM. Or write to me here. Or maybe sometime we can meet in a chat room and do live chat (if I ever manage to figure out the chat rooms here)!

Take care

Thank you so much for the reply, it sure is great to have this forum that we can share our struggles in. I found your journal and left you a message. I'm sorry the message seems to be all about me and not about your struggle but you really struck a nerve with that first line about your kids being embarrassed about your weight. You are very lucky that they aren't. That is one of my main motivators. I don't want my kids to be embarrassed by me, also I want to be here to enjoy life with my children. Here I go again, enough about me. You lost 16.75 lbs that's awesome You really seem to be on the right track, I hope you can continue to do so well. Anytime you need some extra encouragement just leave me a message. By the way, I went into the chat room a few minutes ago and there was nobody there. When you figure out how to use it please let me know. Maybe we can set up a time to meet there. Thanks again for the reply to my message.

I actually met someone in the chatroom today! But, I do have to say, it was a pre-arranged meeting and no one else was there. I don't know what is up with that. I think I just assumed that there would be tons of people in there all the time!

I am going through my normal weekend struggle with eating properly and not letting the fact that it is a weekend talk me into taking a "weekend" from my eating plan! We are hosting Sunday dinner tomorrow and I am making somemade spaghetti sauce with meatballs and Italian sausage. It's difficult to refrain from doing too much taste testing!

Hmmm... maybe it's time for me to go get another glass of water. That should fill me up for a bit!

Take care, and have a great Saturday.

Another glass of water is a great idea, works like a charm. Good luck with your dinner try hard to stay on track. I'm having the same problem. Here in Canada it's Thanksgiving weekend. I have 24 people coming for dinner on Monday. I don't really know how to count all that stuffing and gravy(and what's Thanksgiving without the stuffing and gravy.
I am going to save a few points from today and tomorrow so I can enjoy my dinner, I hope I don't blow it. Hopefully we'll find each other in the chat room one day. Thanks for the reply Joyce it was nice hearing from you again. See ya later.

I think it's a great idea to save your points for Thanksgiving when you know that you will not be able to live without eating something on that day. And why should you do without? That's what the whole point deal is about. You can plan your meals and have what you want. I am a big supporter of not depriving yourself. Deprive yourself of the things you truly love and you are setting yourself up for a failure. I am trying to work on my portion and choice control. (I know that I LOVE turkey stuffing and gravy, so I am going to have it. But I will have half of what I normally have, and maybe I will skip the potatoes and some other heavy carb vege... or the bread).

Good luck to you!

I've been talking about how I don't seem to be battling cravings so far. Well I just shot that all to h@#$. My son bought a super size bag of Lay's ketchup chips (my favorite). I couldn't resist, I opened the bag and I had a bunch, about 2 ounces. I am so weak. Anyway I am going to count the points (8) and try to get over it. I have to fight that good old feeling of " I blew it now I might as well pig out". I guess it will be salad for supper tonight.

By the way Joyce, I went to the chat room last night and met a few people there, it was very nice. They said it's usually busier in there at night. Maybe I'll see you there some time. Have a good day.

:cherry:

Cherry,

You are not weak. You are doing great and think about how much you have done so far. It is not the end of the world that you slipped up. Just move on and adjust what you eat the rest of the day. That is what WW is all about. You can eat what you want just stay within your points. So you have fewer points left.
You have not blown it until you have gone over your points.
Good for you for counting them.

Relax you are doing great. Keep going.

Sherri

Thanks Sherri, your support really helps and guess what, you are right. I ate the chips and I figured I blew the whole day. I counted the points and made a dinner that was fairly low in points. Guess what, I only used 24 points for the day (I'm allowed to have 31). So stressing out over the chips was absolutely not necessary. The old me would have just finished the bag and probably would have eaten everything in sight until weigh in day. The new me counted the points and adjusted my meals for the rest of the day. This points thing is a snap. Tomorrow is another day, I am going to take this one day at a time. So far so good. Thanks again for the encouragement.


:cherry: :cherry: :cherry:

Good morning ladies. You both are doing awesome. Taking life one day at a time is the most any of us can really do. I think when we focus on good things, good things will happen. Making small changes daily continuely will add up to pounds gone. Remember also that not eatting enough food can result in motabolism shut down, with the end result a gain. So hang in there and take it one day at a time.

Way to go, Cherry! Good luck with your Thanksgiving Dinner today. I am sure you will do great!

As for me... well, today is another day! I blew it a little yesterday, but an right back on track this morning. It will be fine!

I think that loosing weight is a life time experiance. We can have a bad day, as long as we get back on track the next. Its when we keep on moving in the wrong direction that the weight creeps back on.

I have been so good for 3 months. This weekend we went away for a little get away. It was a small town, home cooking, not much that I wanted to eat. But I didn't want to spoil it for my husband and just complain about the food. So I ate at a fish buffett and had a nice dinner at Chilie's. I probably put on a pound, but it was worth haveing a nice time. We got home on Sunday, And I continued my walking and eating according to my plan.

I hate having the weight controll me. But on the other hand, I know my limits.

Nancy L.

Sounds like you did great, Nancy!

Hey Nancy, you did alright. We all have to face situations that are not optimum for weight control. You didn't let loose and binge. I think you handled it great. We can't avoid nice weekends away because we're afraid of the food. We have to incorporate our new lifestyle into our everyday lives. So you lived a little, you enjoyed your weekend with your husband. That's great, now you are right back on track. Hooray for you!!!

Joyce, what happened yesterday? Too many meatballs? That's OK, just get back on that horse and start again. You had everything planned so well. I'm sure you didn't overdo it as much as you think. And even if you did, that's OK. Tomorrow is another day.

Take care ladies.

By the way, today was Thanksgiving. I ate everything I wanted, in moderation and I think I did OK. It was difficult to count the points but I figure I had about 32 today. I'm allowed 31 and I had saved 3 from yesterday. So there we go, another triumph for me. I made it through one of the biggest food holidays of the year.

Horray for Cherry!!! Good job on a difficult eating day!

The meatballs are now safely a thing of the past. They are tucked away in my freezer and will not make another appearance for a month or so! I went right back to my walking and counting points and things are back on track. I did realize something of some significance today, though... it's been exactly three weeks since I have snacked at work! I have not had any of those little candy bars that they so thoughtfully leave by the sign-in sheet. Not one cookie or piece of cake. Not even one piece of candy corn! Now THAT is an achievement!