[Linlin]

Good Morning Ladies,

The weather is still freezing cold here. It is getting depressing. No weigh in last night. I feel like I gained though. It's that time of the month so that also doesn't help.

I ended up eating a bunch of junk that I really didn't need last night since I didn't get weighed.

I made up my mind to get moving on this weight thing again. Let's see if the motivation stays.

A neighbour of mine is doing the Dr. Bernstein Diet. She lost 7 lbs in a week. She has about 100 lbs to lose. I could never do this diet because you only eat about 600 calories a day, no grains, limited fruit, no coffee, etc. and you have to get shots and weigh in 3 times a week. You lose the weight quickly but then you have to learn to keep it off. I could never be that restrictive. Also you don't really learn to change your eating habits and you have to d maintenance for a year so they can teach you that. Good luck to her.

The rest of you have a great day. Good eating!

[Wild Rose]

Wow, doesn't sound like a sensible diet to me. You are never supposed to go below 1000 calories! How does she get her nutrition, from the shots?

We did have weigh-in last night. Our group is doing well, almost up to 50 pounds lost this year already. We have 4 new members that are leading the way. That is great! One of them did a program last night on fruit. It was very informative and she did a great job. She was also our best loser for the week with 5 pounds lost. We had a bit of a problem last night which I wrote about in the TOPS Question thread (about eligibility for awards). Maybe someone has ideas on what to do. I would love to hear them! I know what the TOPS rules say about ineligibility, and I don't think at a Chapter level we should undermine those rules, so we called her ineligible for Best Loser of the Week because she also attends WW.

Somehow I have got to get motivated to use my treadmill this week! I have lost 2 weeks in a row and would like to keep it going down...

Keep warm and keep shovelling (those of you who are snowed in). Spring is on the way!

[Eleni]

It is a beautiful day here in sunny Florida. The outside temp is 60.
Wild Rose,As for the problem you are talking about I hope you did this privately and not in front of the chapter.
As for undermining TOPS rules. I will be the first to admit that many chapters bend the rules for the betterment of their chapter members. Belonging to another weight loss chapter would not be one.
One suggestion that I would make is to have a program on all the chapter rules. Everyone should have a copy but you would be surprised at how many people have never read them. Sometimes we assume everyone knows the rules and they do not.
Hope everyone is staying warm. Don't forget to put your bio on the new thread. I messed up and it says 02 but it is suppose to say 03.
The bio will remain at top for all new people to learn a little about ourselves.

[coco99]

Hi Ladies
Linlin I know exactly what you mean about the eating without weighing in. We havent had a meeting for 2 weeks now. And boy I miss my meetings. I am trying to get under control today. Havent done to bad. Am writing down what I am eating. That has helped. The only thing is for lunch/supper I had a hambuger and fries. We went and got our hair cut and then went out to eat. There is a little family style resturant close to were we get our hair cut. And they serve the best fries. They are homemade. I did have the burger on wheat toast though and no mayo. And I passed on the dessert.
I did get on the treadmill today. The first since I pulled tendon in heel. I was only able to go 12 minutes. This manual treadmill is really going to give you a work out. So tomorrow I will try for 15. So we will see what happens. It is snowing/rain mix right now. Still now school tomorrow. They havent got all the schools cleaned out. And what they have got done the buses still cant get in and turn around. So hopefully they will be able to go Friday. Son does care. Just told him he will have to go longer in the summer. Just hope it doesnt start flooding now. Where I live I dont have to worry about my house. But our neighbor(which isnt home) is close to the creek. And it floods there pretty easy. And at my Mom and Dads. The only thing I have to worry about is the road. It floods on both ends.

Christie sorry to hear about your Grandma. Hope she is doing ok. I am sure you and she both were scared. Am thinking of both of you.
Well I better get off here. Need to wash towels. I am thinking of everyone. Hope everyone has a good loss this week.
A TOPS PAL

[summer8386]

Hi ladies,

Christie, sorry to hear about your grandma too, but now she has a way to contact people when she is in need.

Coco, good for you passing on the dessert and doing the treadmill. I had to get rid of my manual one. Found a relationship to back pain virtually everytime after I used it. I was leaning forward, but that is the only way I could get it to go. Probably the way the handles were built into it.

Eleni, I like your suggestion on doing a 'program' of the rules. Our chapter also makes sure that every member gets an updated copy of the chapters bylaws every year....and new members get a copy when they join. Hope your're doing well.

Linlin, I feel your pain when you lose motivation. I'm having a hard time myself. We'll both hang in there together and try to get turned around.

Liz, In regards to the member who belongs to WW.....Yes, she is ineligable for TOPS, Inc awards [those coming from the national level and state/province], but if your chapter wishes, she could have still been your chapters best loser. What our chapter does, according to our bylaws, is not absolve any member from paying chapter dues just because they are not there. Of course, if they never come back, then we don't collect, but if they are gone a few months and then come back when their national dues are still current, they must pay the dues that are missing. It works well, therefore they are still eligible to win chapter prizes/awards. By-laws allow freedom for the chapter to do their own thing.....but they must NEVER superceed National TOPS, Inc rules. Those rules are put there for a reason, and believe me, since I am one that has to deal with conflicts, you don't even want the possibility of opening a can of worms. Not fun to deal with....and many chapters have been torn apart. Trust me on this one.

I just got a rough draft of our SRD agenda, and gee, I really should try to get my KOPS back. I'm really stuggling just to not gain. I haven't been to my mtg all month but will finally make it next week. I have 3 months and appox 18 pounds to go. Gee, I don't know........

Hope everyone is doing well. Take care and think of being 'lighter'

TOPS HUGS,
Summer

PS, HEY CC, see ya posted on the bio. COME BACK STRANGER!!!! {{{{{{{VIBES}}}}}}} to ya!!!!!!!