I have been a member of TOPS at different times in my life. I just joined the local chapter here three weeks ago. I have a meeting tonight and am fairly sure that because of TOM I will either see a gain or a turtle.
Turtle is what they call it when your weight stays the same as the week before.
TOPS can be a great support system or it can be a nice little social group that uses the meetings as an excuse to eat afterwards. The one I went to in Florida was the latter kind. I somehow became the weight recorder when ours had an unfortunate heart attack. Once she came back I stayed as her helper. The leaders would all go out to eat afterwards and nothing on their plates was ever healthy.
This new TOPS doesn't appear to be much better. There are several severely overweight women with some serious health issues that have been there a very long time with no results to show. Some of the ladies are well into their senior years, who this is a total social outing and nothing more. I have yet to meet the leader or co-leader because of illness and vacations. Summer can be a stuff time for many so I'm holding off my judgments for now and just going with it.
At my first meeting I realized I had more nutritional knowledge then any of them and I had to hold my tongue big time. Let them get to know me first before I tell them what they are doing wrong.
Why do I go to TOPS then? Well, it all has to do with that weekly weigh-in for me. It keeps me honest and I need the accountability. My first week I dropped 3 1/2 pounds!! I bring home my little weigh-in book and show my Sweetie how I did that week. Before when I was weighing only at Curves and I had a bad week there was no one to stop me from fudging a little here or there about how I did.
TOPS does have some excellent chapters where members do lose weight and they do motivate each other. TOPS holds state and national recognition days that from what I've heard are tremendous fun. They have rewards for when you lose, such as, a charm bracelet with a new charm for every 10 lbs. Each club will have contest that can be fun and motivating.
TOPS is cheaper than anything else. There is no diet program to follow. Saying rather you gain or lose is no big deal. They won't make you feel bad if you gain and you never have to say how much. At this TOPS we just smile and say, "I'm so happy to be here." and everyone knows that means a gain. If you lose you
want to announce that and get the praise.
Give it a try! We should start a TOPS support group here. I read a thread on the support forum for it but haven't seen anything done about it yet. Maybe I should do it!!