That I haven't even introduced myself. I am Owensgram. I have been a member of Tops for almost 3 years this time. Started at 269.75 this go around. Reached my goal a year ago, June 8th, 2004 with a loss of 104.75 pounds. Kept it off for over a year.

I am leader of my Tops chapter, but I have been lost my KOPS status and am working feverishly to get it back. I am up about 15 pounds from my goal. I am pretty sure that it's because of one of the diabetic meds that I am on. I really am not eating very differently but will have a loss of 4 one week and a gain of 5 the next ....very frustrating in all.

I really don't know where I would be without Tops, though. I was really having serious health problems before I lost the weight. That is why I am so determined to get back with the program. I feel that I have been given a second chance to lead a more healthy life. I need your help to stay on track, and I hope that I can be of some help to all of you.

Welcome to the board OwensGram! You will do it! Achieving KOPS status is a big goal to accomplish. I am about 2 yrs from my goal, but if I keep faithful to my weigh ins and mini goals, I know I can do it too.

Thanks for the welcome. I am reasonably sure that I will be able to get back to my goal again. It's just sort of frightening to start gaining without doing lots of overeating, though.

You see, I've done this all many times before. The last time was about 10 years ago when I lost 133 pounds and started gaining it back almost immediately. I haven't done that this time, having kept if off for over a year, but it is starting to creep up, despite my efforts.

I read Dr. Phil's book several times and he says that we often sabotage ourselves because keeping the weight off really is hard...we get tired of working that hard and go back to our old comfortable ways. That is what I don't want to do.

I am walking, writing down what I eat and really watching it. I feel that if I am super-vigilant over the holidays, I will be 5-7 pounds ahead of the game, even if I don't lose a thing. I won't have to lose those holiday pounds in January to get back to where I am now. Wish me luck.

Luck, luck LUCK!

I have a few questions about being a leader...would you like to help me out by answering a few? We could PM each other

Sure, I'd be happy to answer any questions that I can. How do we go about this? Owensgram

Well, I just wanted to know how long you have to be a member before you cna be a leader and is there a "Queen" for each group (not division) at the end of the year (if so, is this determined by who has lost and kept off the most weight?) thant's about it really

Yogini,

No rules that I know of about how long you have to be a member before being a leader. You just need to run for the office when elections come up. As for Chapter Queens - no, all I know about are Division Winners. These are calculated each year for each wt division in each chapter. I have to do this each year as our Chapters' wt recorder.


Welcome, owensgram!!

Lyn

Thanks! So the Queen is named for each calendar year in each weight division? So, for instance, if I joined in November at 289, I need to lose x amount of pounds (the most in my division) to be considered area Queen for next year, based on my original weight?

In order to be your chapter royalty (or queen) you must reach your goal. If you reach your goal in, say, 2005, and are the member of your chapter that lost the most to reach goal in that year, you are your chapter royalty. It doesn't make any difference if it took you 1 year or 10 years to reach that goal, you get it all counted when you reach goal. If it's 50 pounds to goal or 100 pounds or whatever, that is what determines who the member is who becomes the chapter royalty.

At the State Recognition Day, the state member who has lost the most and reached his or her goal in the previous calendar year is the State King or Queen. There are also Runners-Up in these two categories.

The person in each weight loss division who has lost the most weight in chapter is recognized by the chapter. If that person has lost the most in his or her weight division for the year, he or she will be recognized at the convention as well. But the division winners are not considered royalty until they reach goal.

As for becoming a leader, I am afraid that any warm body will do. I first joined Tops many years ago, have rejoined a couple of times. This time, when I rejoined it was on February 4th. Elections were held the following month and I was "elected" co-leader. Really, it's just hard to get people to hold the necessary offices in these busy times.

I have been leader of my group for the past two years. They are terrific ladies and I really want to be a good example to them. But I truly hold office for myself. That way, I have to be there week in and week out and that insures my accountability.

By the way, I was a State Division Winner in Missouri 2 years ago, and was Runner-up to the State Queen for 2004. That's one of the reasons I'm so bummed out about not being able to keep my weight off. My nose is to the grindstone now, though.

WOW! Congratulations on being State Divison leader and Runner up to the State Queen.!! : I'm sure you'll get back your determination. Keep posting - we're routing for you. And we could all use a bit of your wisdom in how you obtained such great results!


Lyn

You become out of breath from reaching up to take something off of a shelf. (no kidding). That sent me to a doctor who told me that I was in heart failure (which was why I had gained 35 pounds in 5 months), and that the bottom half of my heart was hardening (doesn't that sound creepy?). By the time I had actually gone to the doctor I had already rejoined Tops and had taken off 30 pounds, but it took another 30 pounds off before I started feeling good again. I thought my goose was cooked, but I didn't want to get any sicker, so I kept losing and walking for exercise.

All of this helped me to change my attitude about exercise and weight loss. I feel as if I have been given a second chance at life. I don't want to louse that up. That's why I must get these fifteen pounds back off. I've come so far and I want to continue going in a positive direction.

Owensgram You have done a great job. It is sad that your answer about any warm body will do is true. I have been a leader for 4 years straight now and would like to step down but it doesn't look like it will happen. I do have a great board right now.That is rare as usually it ends up with 2 or 3 people trying to do everything.With leader doing most. When my health got worse last year people did step forward and I delegated a lot out.Big difference.

Boy, your story sure sounds familiar. I know that some of the people in my group must think that I micro-manage everything because I don't ask for help much. But really, I just figure that everyone is an adult and I shouldn't have to ask people to volunteer to do programs, do hospitality chairing, be a greeter, be an officer, etc. So I go ahead and do lots of things myself. I have good officers who do their jobs, but they have everyday jobs, too. I am really not being a martyr though. I do this because I need Tops and I don't want to see the group fall apart. The women in my group are terrific ladies and I really enjoy their company.

It's nice to know that people did step up to the plate when you became ill last year. I am sure that they would in our chapter, too. I sure hope that doesn't become necessary for a long time.