I love the group, and would love to see a TOPS thread get going and stay going. We've had a few crop up over the years (and I think once upon a time there was even a TOPS forum).
I don't know if people lost interest, switched over to the tops.org website or other websites, or just post in other forums.
I must have recommended this site in my chapter meetings a dozen times (in the not-quite two years I've been a member of this particular chapter).
I know a few have joined, but I haven't seen them on here yet (or didn't recognize them when I did).
I love TOPS. I do sometimes wish I could have an additional weigh-in and meeting per week though. I know that most people would think it obsessive, but I really feel that I could use the additional support. I wouldn't even have to "see" my weight, I'ld just have to know that someone else was going to see it (and hubster doesn't count).
I've actually thought of joining Weight Watchers, just so I could have two weigh-in meetings per week (and can go to as many WW meetings as I needed).
In my opinion, the only advantage WW has over TOPS is the opportunity to attend multiple meetings.
I just have to ask myself, whether that benefit is worth $15 per week to me.
I have been a member of TOPS in the past. I enjoyed the meetings, but as my children got older and into more and more activities I found I was unable to attend the weekly meetings.
If we actually want this thread to keep going, maybe we should try to post regularly, say at least once a week - say to share something that happened, or somethine we learned in our chapter meeting.
Had my chapter meeting tonight. It was a fun meeting. Only three members had gains (and they were all small ones) and our net loss for the week was 28 lbs (there are 28 members) so that came to an average of one pound per member (which is super awesome).
I agreed to be the presenter next week (we take turns, and the presentation can be a topic to discuss, a demonstration, or a health article to read...) Last summer I did a presentation on how to grow sprouts (I brought in a handout with instructions on a couple different methods and a couple jars of my homegrown sprouts for folks to try. I brought broccoli sprouts, radish sprouts, and a sprouting mix.
My presentation next week is (probably) going to be on making homemade yogurt. I'm trying it tomorrow and if it works, I'll make another batch next Monday and take some in for everyone to try, and I'll hand out the recipe.
If the yogurt making is a disaster, I'll come up with something else (maybe I'll still talk about yogurt and what I think went wrong).
I won "best loser" tonight ($2.25), although I only lost the weight I gained last week (as a result of my trip to Illinois to visit family the week before. I was pretty sure it was mostly water retention, because i was careful with my calories).
We're running a contest for June and July that gives points each week for losing, staying for the meeting, calling a fellow tops member, and exercising - the person with the most points at the end of the contest wins (the prizes or the monthly contests are usually $5 for first place, $3 for second, and $2 for third - since it's a two-month contest I don't know if the prizes will be doubled or not).
Another fun contest we do at least once a year (like the presentations, we take turns deciding on and managing the contests) is the "paper contest." Everyone brings in a paper product to start (it can be anything from toilet paper to stationery - it just has to be made of paper). Then every week thereafter, if you gain you have to bring in another paper product. At the end of the contest, the person who loses the most weight takes home all the paper products (or the top three winners split the winnings).
Hi everyone -- thanks for all the responses. I'm going to print out the info on this thread and hand it out at my TOPS meeting this week.
If you can keep the thread going the next couple days -- I overdid it on practicing the piano for hours today (I'm going to fill in for parish pianist for a few weeks) and my hands are hurting so I'll need to stay off internet AND crocheting AND other "hand" stuff until they get better (won't take long -- naprosy, ice, rest will work fast -- I've been through this before).
I'll make up some quarter page "flyers" for my TOPS chapter though....and maybe we can get some more people interested.
Thanks again for responding -- and I'll be back probably Friday.....
Half a gallon of yogurt from half a gallon of milk (I may strain it).
A quart of yogurt (store to name brand sale and regular price) ranges from $1.50 to $3.00 per quart.
So I saved $1.50 to $3.00 (50% to 75% savings)
And best of all, the yogurt really tastes yummy (not as tart as regular yogurt, which I usually have to sweeten. This seems pretty darned tasty as it is, so far).
If I want to make it into greek yogurt, I can strain it (some say this will decrease the volume by 25% to 50%). Even if it's reduced by half that would come to $1.50 for a quart of greek yogurt. The cheapest I can get a quart of greek yogurt, is Chobani on sale at IGA for $5.06 per quart).
And this tastes better than any of the greek-style yogurts I've tried, even the really expensive health-food store brands.
Hi everyone -- update -- well after practicing, went to pick up my elderly mother to take her to lunch and out to store to look for yarn, and took her back to her house. At her house I fell (sandal caught in on something) and I fell -- ON MY WRISTS!!! yikes. it was so painful, and I fell on wrists first then onto side, so banged up right knee, and right ribs -- and for SOME reason my boob hurts -- oh it was awful.
I fell also 7 years and one day ago and had broken my right arm up by the shoulder, so this time since I fell forward and to the side, I rolled on over onto my back and was laying there sort of paws up and tits up and was trying to figure out if anything was broken. I remember this car driving by slowly -- and it would have been NICE if they had stopped, but I'm thinking maybe they thought, "oh look at that drunk fat lady!!!" lol I know maybe I shouldn't think that's funny, but truly I do.
Needless to say, I'm banged up, but I'll be fine. I'm using LOTS of ice everywhere, especially WRISTS, and I'm taking naprosyn. Today (24 hours) after the fall was the hardest, and I think I'm starting to feel better. I did practice today -- SOMEONE PLEASE TELL me why I can be so dedicated to the piano but fall short with eating right and exercise. Hmmmmmm something for me to think about while I pack myself in ice for the night.
Ya'all hang in there and if any of you can send a prayer my way on Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m., I'd sure appreciate it. I'm afraid to play in public -- didn't used to be -- and I think it's connected to the weight. I KNOW the first thing I'll do will be to have the janitor turn that piano around so I can hide behind it instead of being seen, so that tells me something right there.
Oh, also, couldn't figure out why my biceps hurt so much since the fall, and son told me (he's an athlete) that when I fell by trying to break the fall with my hands/wrists, I ended up doing the ultimate pushup.
The good news is the soreness is subsiding....I'm just so glad I did not break anything.....sigh
Did anyone see the abc show about ultimate weight loss transformation about Jacqui -- WOW it was truly inspiring.
And, I did not make it to TOPS meeting today -- had taken pain med and just slept through it.
Everyone keep on top of your game -- and look where you're walking! There are CRACKS out there!!!
Elizabeth - you make falling sound hilarious! I am glad you did not get too injured. I will be sure to watch out for those sneaky cracks while I am out and about.
Busy day planned again for today. I am aiming to get 10,000 or more steps in.
Whoops, I PLANNED on posting every week, and just sort of dropped the ball.
Last night's meeting was kind of boring, but next week we're doing our monthly auction. Anyone who wants to brings a wrapped gift (doesn't have to have any value at all. It can be something you're wanting to get rid of, or even a gag gift) and gives a hint or clue as to what's inside. Then those that want to, bid on the items and before moving on to the next item, the person opens the gift and everyone gets to see what it is before voting on the next item.
The money raised is used for operational costs such prizes for weight loss contests and such.
Oh and a yogurt update, I've now made my fourth batch of yogurt - and this time I was brave enough to use yogurt from the previous batch as starter (though I bought a single-serve of plain FAGE as a back-up in case I needed it).
I always had a very hard time getting in my two dairy exchanges on my exchange plan. Now I have the opposite problem - limiting myself to only two or three servings (I will sometimes use one of my protein exchanges to have a third serving of yogurt).
Homemade yogurt almost isn't even the same "stuff" as store-bought.
Oh and I also made a loaf of gluten-free yeast bread with a gluten-free flour blend I bought. The bread turned out great, but molded in only three days (a weird neon-highlighter bright yellow mold).
Any T.O.P.S. members around?
