Good morning ladies. All is well in Michigan. Still a little nippy, and still working on the snow thing here and there. We've been having a fire in the fireplace for the last 2 days, just to make it a little warmer. I'm glad to report, I'm a loser. I lost 2 pounds this week. Just image what it would have been if I had exercised. I sold my treadmill, last night, and i'm going to check out where I can purchase a gazel, hoping at the local K-mart.
I read the rest of the post yesterday, and I can't remember who typed what. So I'm just going to say, I hope everyone is doing ok, and I hope that you all can report on being losers. I was voted in for co-leader. I know that it was a tough decision for some of the ladies, cuz they wanted to know if, any one would go home and cry if they didn't get. I even voted for the leader to remain leader. I figure, I can learn a lot this year, and hopefully we can work together to make this year awesome. Part of me wishes, I didn't have a job(knock on wood), so I could spend more time on it. Any way, I'm the new co-leader of the Tops Chapter in Leslie, Michigan. And I know this is going to be awesome.
All you ladies, have a good day. Work on staying on program, and lets get to moving.
tops and hugs and best wishes for a great week.
me.
Congratulations all over the board for you girl. A 2 lb loss is great. I lost more when I didn't exercise either. But I guess if we are to lose inches we have to exercise that is what gets us into those smaller sizes but the scale doesn't come down as fast though.
That is great that you got co leader this year. I really hope that the leader lets you help out this year. You really have some great ideas in your head and it would be great to get to put them to work.
Summer,
Glad to see you are back safe and sound. But you can keep the snow girl. It has been cold here the last few days and very windy but nothing like the temps you have had for sure. Burr! Glad also to hear that you will be returning to tops. Make sure you don't take on so much this year. I know it is hard when you don't have someone that can handle it themselves but they have to learn eventually. I hope you have enjoyed your time off to recoop.
How is melissa doing with her new feeding tube? I hope it works out okay. For her tube to last so long that is proof that she really is an angel girl. See I told you. She is great.
Keep up the great work and try to reel in your eating. You can do it.
Ceici,
Just think how big of a loss you will have next week with 2 weeks in a row for losing. Keep up the great work.
Eleni,
How are you doing? Are you having a better week?
As for me I am so excited. Wendy we must have been right must be we have to eat more. I ate last night out of boredom and would you know that the scale is actually down a lot today. But I didn't exercise yesterday either. I will today though. So this will be a great week after all.
I talked to the girl that is going to be running our group with me last night and now I am very excited about doing it with her. We have already agreed that no matter what position we both get then we are doing it together this year no matter what. But she hopes that I get leader because she is quiet and she is afraid that the older members will try and push her around like they did the last leader. I told her that when and if I get in there as leader first of all we will do it together and no one will have more say then the other. Second I will not let this one person that tries to run everything and take over like she did this past year to the leader run me. I told her that eleni said all we have to do it stick to the tops rules and the bylaws and we can do what we want to and no one can tell us otherwise. That all important decisions that effect the group will be voted on like you should do.
The first thing we are going to do is change the time of the weigh in and meeting. We have so many people complain that the meetings are too long and they want to be out by 7pm and they don't want to stay until 7:30pm. Most people do stay but some do leave by 7 and a few that do stay have mentioned that it is late for them and they can't wait to leave. So what we are going to propose to everyone is that we have weigh in from 5:15 -5:45 (in which case most of the people are there that early anyway because they come from work) and start the meeting at 6 instead of 6:30 then they will be out of there at 7pm. That should make a lot of people happy. Then they won't be in a hurry to leave and they can enjoy the meeting and participate more. So we thought if we can accomodate more of the people then we will have a happier group. I am very sure that they will pick the new time. It doesn't matter to me but we will put to vote the old timeframe and the new one and see which one wins then we will go with that time. But I don't know what we have to do to change it with the tops org..
Also she thought about having a Tops member of the month. Which I thought was a great idea. We would choose someone that is worthy of it that has been struggling and really trying the previous month. It won't go by who lost the most. It will be to encourage those that are struggling to let them know that their efforts are recognized and that we really care about them. We will take their picture and present them with a carnation and put their picture on a bulletin board that we will make up. I thought that was a great idea.
And the best thing of all is that we won't have just roll call on the 1st week of the month anymore because of the executive meetings. At her old group they never did that and we are going to stop it here. We are going to have a meeting with a program of some kind every week. Then when the meeting is over then we will hold the executive meeting once a month. It doesn't take that long to do it. And with the new hours you can probably be out of there by 7:30pm. So we are both excited about this and I am so glad that we are going to be working together.
Also there is a member that has suggested for the past 2 years that they have an exercise night 1 week a month or so. She said she would bring in a tape for us to do. She has a ton of exercise tapes. Well the last 2 leaders didn't listen to her suggestion. She is one of the ones that leaves early and won't take part in anything because they never listen anyway. Well kim my partner suggested it and I told her that this other person has brought up the idea in the past and no one would do it. So it looks like we will be putting her idea into action. She will like that. I think we should use others ideas even if it is something we don't want to do. That way people will contribute more when they see you are willing to work with them and use their ideas. Maybe by doing this we can get more people to start taking part more in the meetings.
So that is where I am at today. I am flying because I know it is a great thing and we will have an awesome chapter this year to.
Sounds like some of the home chapters are going to be shaping up this year because of us ladies.
Eleni,
Thanks for all the ideas about how you do things. By helping the other members that are not doing so great. I think that was a great thing for you to do to recognize them as well. And we like the idea so much we are going to do it in our group as well.
Wendy.....Congratulations on the 2# loss, and on being elected co-leader. Co-leader was the job that I wanted, but I got talked into running for leader during the last few days before election. I had been secretary before and I filled in a lot for the treasurer when she was gone this year. So I already knew those 2 jobs and wanted to learn the weight recorders also. Our co-leader this year had a lot of problems and couldn't do some of her duties.
Summer....I just can't imagine how cold that -4 and -12 must be. Here in FL we think 40 degrees is cold. However, we are not equipped for cold weather. Most of us don't have the clothing we need for cold weather. I know a lot of you other gals are having freezing weather also.
I understand what you mean with the friendly reminder to new leaders. I learned a lot from being leader before. I made some mistakes, but the ladies thought I was a good leader so they asked me to run again. I think that one of the best qualities that a leader can have is to genuinely care about all the members.
Hope Melissa is still doing well with her new feeding tube.
Hope everyone has a good week and a good loss at weigh in this week. I have been having problems staying OP this week. DH had another chemo treatment and was home from work for 3 days plus the weekend and when he is home, he wants to eat good meals and I don't have the willpower I need to stay OP. I keep trying tho.
Election time can be stressful but also time for positive changes. I hope that everyone that takes an office has a fun time and remember that encouragement in weight loss is so important. Also, I highly suggest that officers attend the Spring Workshops that your Area Captains or Coodinators will be setting up soon. This is where the National TOPS, Inc rules are discussed, forms available, and any questions or ideas for your chapters by-laws can be asked. Also to clear up what your duties will be if you aren't sure of them.
Wendy, As co-leader, you will be probably filling in for the secretary and weight recorder if they are absent along with doing the leaders role when she is gone. This is the position where you get to learn just about everything. This was my first one, and I loved it. Have a great time!!!
Sherri, changing the meeting time can be a good thing, but I wouldn't expect the ones that leave now to stick around anyway. We tried that with changing days after some said that it would work better, but those same people take off. If you get elected, you can present that discussion the same night and do a chapter vote. The reason I am suggesting it that day is because a new MASTER CHART [can't remember the number] needs to be filled in by the new leader and the meeting place and TIME is requested. Just put it in there. That form needs to be sent to your coordinator right after elections. IF you don't change your time for a few weeks, there is another form, L-23, which includes a spot for putting in your new times. This is important to keep updated in case someone calls your coordinator or TOPS,Inc asking about chapters in your area. In regards to rules, the TOPS, Inc rules cannot be changed. Be sure that you read the TOPS CHAPTER GUIDE book that your current leader should have in her possession. I always encourage every member to read it also, maybe while waiting for the meetings to start, so they have some idea. You can change anything in your own chapters bylaws if the chapter votes on it. YOu might want to inclued the new meeting time also...so new members know. The other ideas are great and I think an exercise program once a month is wonderful. That would be that ladies contribution to doing programs and there's not much better than getting up and moving the body around. DD feeding tube is working well, but she definitely felt it, luckily not too much bleeding. Now her skin around it can heal up. Tomorrow, I will probably be weight recorder if the same leader gets back in. I don't mind.
Nita, Thanks also about asking how DD is. So nice to have a tube not leaking! I hope your husband is doing well with his chemo and I think I would eat right along side him. It's nice that he has his appetite after them.....go ahead and enjoy the good food with him, just try to watch your portion sizes. Oh, you want to hear an update to how cold it was Sat morning. When we had -29 here in town, one of DD's nurses lives in a valley and they had -38!!!!!! I have NEVER seen it that cold. She said their poor little chickens were laying their eggs slow!!!! LOLOLOL You sound like you were a caring leader in the past, hope you get that position again. Keep up your chin and you'll have a great year!
Ciecie, hope your chapter has a meeting next week. It's hard to not have the meetings. Hope you have a loss at your next one.
Must run, hope everyone else is having a great days.
Good evening ladies, was nominated for every position on the ballot and am now the Club Treasurer. I felt so bad saying no to the positions and everyone who has helped me out but I am just not ready to be leader or co-leader. Hope I do a good job as treaurer, I will be putting our books on Quicken. I know I can find all the answers I need here.
I posted a 2 lb loss tonight and I am now officially 10 lbs away from goal. I just have to say this, I have gone from 253 to 160 and I LOVE the way I feel and look.There is a reason for everything and I appreciate and treasure the control and strength I have regained in a way that was not possible prior to losing it. I sincerely hope I do not end up squandering my health and strength ever again and I believe in my heart that TOPS will be lifelong commitment for me. I do not feel (as unfair as this may be) that I would have got my current job without the weight loss and the weight loss would not have been possible without the help and support of my TOPS chapters (online and in the flesh). Thank you each and every one of you here for your kindness and support, it has made a world of difference to have a daily outlet with others who are going through the same thing. You all are like my "invisible" friends and I thank God I found you.
Well, It is 11;30 here and I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow, take care and have a good week!
CC
PS
To all you beautiful souls.
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Tuesday
