Good morning everyone,

Well, this took forever to get into a new thread....15 minutes. Never had this problem before, hope it doesn't continue.

Hope everyone is doing well. I have been doing well since I last wrote before this new format. Only have missed my date with Richard once, but on that day I walked 2 miles round trip, so I still got some activity in. My eating isn't bad, but it could be better.

Sherri, I think you might be right about your feeling comfortable with how you're looking with your weight loss and that's why you slowed down. You will over come this...but maybe you're body is telling you that it needs a bit of an adjustment time before it can proceed. Just watch what you eat and when it's ready to continue it's downward trend it will. Keep up the exercise since your asthma is better, but don't go overboard. You have done so well!!! Remember all those wonderful words of wisdom you offer to everyone else. I saw the word 'bored'!!!! Now with all the snow you have, grab that shovel and go to work...your puppy will thank you for it!!! lol. Come to think about it, be careful since the cold can trigger your asthma...but I do like the thought of someone else shoveling besides me!! LOL!

Alannah, be careful doing Richard's video if your back is spasming...take it slow. I had lower back surgury 12 years ago and really have to watch my body alignment all the time. I know how you feel and I sympathize with anyone that has back pain. No matter what capacity you help your chapter out, I believe it helps in the weight loss process....I think we get the feeling of having to set an example....and there is nothing wrong with that!

Hope everyone else is doing fine and continuing on your way to your goal. Have a big glass of water handy if the cravings start hitting. Have a great Tuesday and will chat later...

TOPS hugs,
Summer

Hi everyone I too will have to get use to this new forum.I am doing good.I should have a loss on Thursday.
It looks like I got a job.Have to take a psych test today.Once they find out I am a little nuts they may take job back.I did not get exact hours I wanted but this is as close as it gets for what I want.I have to work Sundays but it is all days.Have to be at work by 6 and it is not real close to home.I have been spoiled working so close to home.But I get off work at 2 so that is good.Because of my work history they are offering me an upscale security job.Means I make more money.The average job only pays $7 and I start at $9.Gotta run I have to be in Tampa by 8 Will check back in later.Hope everyone has a good day

Good morning. Getting ready for the snow to start here. We are only supposed to get about 10-15 cm so that isn't bad. I'd rather get none.....but I guess I can't always get my own way!!!

I think I will try and run for leader. I may wait and see who or if anyone else tries as I don't want to take the position away from someone who has been there a lot longer than me. I am perfectlt content going for another position if necessary. I know I can do a good job as leader - but we'll have to see how the rest of the members feel. I'll let everyone know the outcome on Thursday morning.

My back is much better as long as I don't reach too far. I didn't do my tape afterall yesterday b/c I ended up having a wicked headache when I left work so I took two advil and let them work. I am going to try and do one of them today even if it is just 20 minutes.

Have a good morning everybody!! Will check in later today.

Alannah

Hi All,

Well we are definetely snowed in.LOL Got up this morning and the snow is literally over the top of my car. You can't even see my car and it is also drifted to the top of our above ground pool. We live on the flats and it is fields all around us so we get a lot of drifting. So my husband had to shovel off the porch just so we could let the dog out to do her business. She is back in now because the snow is way over her and she would get lost. Good thing she is black and you can see her through it.LOL We can't get to her doghouse until he plows. I hate snow. And boy do we have a lot of it. This is the most snow we have gotten at one time in years. So we have been spoiled with the winters. It isn't supposed to end until this afternoon. Then they are talking about another storm coming in for the weekend. We all know what all this snow means. Yes I think we are going to flood again. I hope now but it looks like it is very possible.
Well I did better with eating yesterday but still ended up over points. It is very frustrating. But I did get in 2 hours of exercise. I did aerobics for 1 hour and yes summer I shoveled for an hour also. So that was good. But my scale isn't down yet. Too much food.
Summer,
That is great that you are getting so much exercise. That is a good thing. See we both have to work on our eating.LOL But I do think you are right that I am comfortable with me and that is stopping me. I guess I have to start saying that I hate the way I look to get me moving again.LOL
Eleni,

That is great that you got a job. Congratulations. I hope you are going to like it. That is great that they are giving you more pay then normal. See experience pays off right? I don't blame you I wouldn't want to work on sunday's either. But at least you have days and that is great because that is what you wanted.
How is the walking going? Are you still walking every day?

Alannah,

Take it easy with your back with those exercises. It won't take much to pull it out when you are exercising. It is more important to get that healed and not hurting before you exercise. A few days off from exercising could do it good.
Glad to hear you are still on track.

I can't say the same. I don't think I am going to have a loss this week like I wanted to. But I haven't done the work that needs to be done either.

One way or the other I am going to reach my goal weight. But I have to get back on track with my eating to do that.

I am going to try extra hard today and really yell at myself and see if that helps. I do know I will be glad when this predisone is gone and I don't have to take anymore. I think that will help a lot.

Have a great day everyone.

Sherri

new member
 

Hello everyone ~ I am a new member to the boards. I belong to TOPS. I joined in May 1999 and reached my goal with a 25 pound weight loss in Sept. 1999. I am a couple of pounds above my goal at this point and working hard to get back. It is a constant struggle as we all know. I would enjoy hearing of others for the support that we all need.

Hope to hear from some of you soon!

Mary Jo

WELCOME TO OUR GREAT GROUP!!!!!

Mary Jo, I think you will find a lot of support here. We have some wonderful, caring members on board.

I, too, am a KOPS and am very aware of the constant battle it is to hold on. The first time I was a KOPS, I held on for 1.5 years then lost it for 2.5yrs after gaining back 25#'s of the 61#'s that I lost. A year ago this month I regained status and I was so happy I did. I don't ever want to lose that again!!!! Would like to reset my goal 10#'s lower since my doctor put me on the high side, but I will really have to get my mind in gear to make that.

Keep in touch with us and I know we can all help each other.

TOPS hugs,
Summer
231/170.5/170

Who knows how the buddy list works???

Hi, I haven't been to the 3 fatchicks site in months! I joined TOPS 3 weeks ago. I've lost 6.25 already. I hope I can continue. Wow this site has changed. I'm usually over on the Support group area. I thought since I'm a TOPS member I would join you if you don't mind.

help with boards
 

Hi all ~

I am a new member and have all ready received a response from someone.

Could someone explain to me what a "new thread" is and how do you respond to a certain individual. When I scroll down it just says "new thread" or "new reply." I'm not sure what each means. Can you reply to individual messages and how do you do that?

Thank you very much for the help. I will get the hang of this soon I'm sure.

Blessings - Mary Jo

Mary Jo:

New thread means that you want to start a new topic under the TOPS board. New reply means you want to reply to the message you are reading. You can also private message a person who wrote on the board if you wish to speak to them directly. Hope this helps and welcome!!!!! :0)

Alannah

Thank you
 

Dear Equinet ~

Thank you for your help. Yes that helps.

Hope your day is going well. I have weigh in tonight!

Wish me luck! Mary Jo

I haven't been on in a long time, but would like to get back in. I am a struggling TOPS (lost KOPS and am trying to get it back). I weigh in on Thursdays, and am afraid I will have a gain this week. This is my birthday week and have been out to eat and will go to lunch with friends and dinner with others tomorrow. It is so hard to eat out and stay on track. I hope everyone is having a good week. I will do better next week!
Mickey

TOPS
 

Hi Mickey ~

I've been with TOPS for 2 years as of May 11, 2001. I joined in May of 1999 and reached my goal on Sept. 20, 1999. I continued to lose a few more pounds and kept that off until August 2000 when I decided to quit TOPS. In January 2001 I decided to go back and I was then 4 pounds above my goal weight. I have worked in getting that off.

I am struggling with a decision to quit TOPS again. I am sick of living with the stress of weekly weigh ins and know what I need to do. I THINK I can do it if I put my mind to it. Especially if I don't use "not going to weigh ins" as my ticket to eat my heart out. I KNOW I can not do that.

I've been a faithful exerciser for the past 4 years and I also drink 8-10 glasses of water a day. With a little encouragement from these boards maybe I can just do it on my own.

Have a good day!

Mary Jo

Mary Jo, Thanks for the reply. I too know what I am supposed to do. Just putting it into practice is another matter. I receive a lot of support from my TOPS chapter. We have a very caring group of 45 with about 30 weighing in each week.

If you don't mind my asking, why are you considering dropping out of TOPS. Does it put a lot of stress to have to weigh in? I find weighing in and keep a food diary helps me. But I understand what works for one doesn't always work for another. I think it a every good program, it worked for me. And I know it will work again if I just apply what I know!

We have a group of 16 going to SRD in Lubbock,TX in April. We always have a good time and enjoy the workshops and the General Sessions. The Circle of Lights at the end of the last session is always so pretty, and inspitational. We have several this year who will participate: KOL parade, Queen, baggy garment parade, our leader and Queen will be presented, we have a group who will enter the costume compitation, (the theme is Roaring into the New Twenties).

Have you ever attended a SRD? Do you attend the rallies? (They were called Fun Day for a while, then Area Recognition Days, I have heard them called Rallies.)

If I can be of help any way, to be a sounding board, encourage you, listen, just let me know!

Are you getting any of the cold weather? It is about 54 right now here. It has been a beautiful day.

Take care,

Wanda

Hi Wanda ~

Thanks for the reply. Yes, it is a constant struggle I know. I've been trying to maintain now maybe even lose 10 more. The 4 pounds I gained above my goal weight is now coming off. I think I have 1 to go.

I, too, enjoy(ed) TOPS. It helped me lose my 25 pounds to goal. BUT I am becoming way to stressed out over the weigh ins each week. I literally let it consume me the whole week. No matter where I go or what I do I think (Oh I shouldn't do this or that because I have weigh in on Tuesday). Now.......don't get me wrong I know that I need to do that to keep my weight off BUT life is too short for me to stress out so much over this. I still am not sure if I am quitting or not. I didn't go this week again but we'll see. I've been working real hard and KNOW what I need to do.

No I have never attended SRD or the rallies but I heard from women in our group who have that they are very fun and inspirational.

Well thanks for the listening ear. My ear is clear as well.

Tops pals, Mary Jo

Hi!
Well, I weighed in tonight with a 1/2 gain. I did not get stressed because I knew why! But I will start tomorrow anew! (Thank goodness, birthdays come only once a year!)

Do you have the Chioce is Yours book? We have started
reading and discussing it at meetings and it seems to help us. We are covering Chapter 4 which deals with motivation and changing lifestyles. It seems to be helping. We had some big weight losses tonight. Also we had a challenge to go on the 28 day diet or use it as a guide.

I understand you like pets? I have a 5# poodle who doesn't realize she is a dog. She is getting old, 14 in Oct. And we also have an Africian Grey parrot who is messy and a pest but we love him. He talks, not on command, but when it is his choice.

We have some other things in common. I love to read. and I also worked in the school district for 18 years, retired last Dec. I substituted for 7 years and then I worked as an Educational Aide in Special Education for 11 years. I worked at a Jr. High (Middle School). I enjoy working with that age group. I am planning to do some volunteer work in a program called Listening Post as soon as we can get it set up.

I need to get off line so I'll say 'goodnight' for now.
Take care and enjoy the week end. Our schools around here will start spring break and the teachers and students ae looking forward to that. My grandkids may come for a few days.

Wanda

hello
 

Hi Wanda ~

Thanks for the mail. A 1/2 pound gain isn't bad. Not at all. You can get back to "basics" and next week you will see a loss. We, too, did that in our TOPS group ~ discussing the choice is yours exchange program but I don't like to do that. I prefer counting calories and fat grams. That's what works for me and I guess you do what works ~ right?

Yes, my hubby and I are dog lovers. We have 2 shelties. Our oldest, Freeway, will be 7 years in old in April. The "baby" Murray was 5 months old on March 3. They get along well and we are having a lot of fun with them. When the house became "the empty nest" we decided on getting another dog. We have had such good luck with the collie breed (having a full size collie before we ever got a sheltie) that we thought we'd get another sheltie. Not a mistake! Thank God!

We also have 2 sons. They are ~ Christopher ~ age 22. He lives on his own in our town of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He works quite close to our home so we see him very often. Our youngest son ~ Ryan ~ age 19 is a Freshman at Concordia College in Mequon Wisconsin. He is only 40 minutes from home which is nice. He comes home every weekend. He would like to become a highschool teacher.

I am married to my highschool sweetheart for 23 years on Sept. 2, 2001. We've lived in our home (last one) for 9 years after selling a 2 family house that we lived in for 9 years.

Well.................that's alittle bit about me and my family as you've shared some of your personal history.

Oh yeah, I also love to read. I always have a book going. I am reading A Dream Of Wolves by Michael C. White right now which I would recommend. Did you read We Were The Mulvaney's (one of Oprah's picks)? Do you ever read what she picks for her book club? I like some of them but hate most of them. I guess we just have different taste when it comes to books.

Well that's it now. Hope to hear from you soon.

Have a good week ~ I could use a little motivation. It is the weekend ~ YIKES ~ Weekends are hard for me.

God Bless ~ Mary Jo

Mary Jo,
Sorry I've been so long getting back to you. I have been under the weather, stomach virus, and have done nothing I didn't have to do. I should have a loss this week, can't say that I recommend this way of doing it!

Our weather is beautiful today, has been cloudy and dreary for a couple of days. I think that (the sun) makes me feel better.

Do you hold an office in TOPS? Sometimes I think that helps to keep up the motivation. I didn't take an office this year, but I usually do hold one. I am the outgoing co-leader. I was leader before that. And over the years I have held every office. Always enjoy it.

Are you having a good week? A friend of mine suggested some soy products. A substitute for meat. But I haven't tried any of them. It is too hard to cook two different menu's. And I know my husband would not go for that. She also uses tofu a lot. I think I did try it one time. Must not have been impressed because I can't really remember what it tasted like. I have to watch my cholestrol, and they would probably be good for me. I do use eggbeaters. I make french toast with them. I put vanilla and Splenda and a little cinnamon in 1/4 cup and put a piece of bread in for a few minutes, then 'fry' it in a pan sprayed with butter flavored veg. spray. I have 1/4 cup of Vermont sugar free syrup. It is really tasty. My husband even likes that. Of course, he adds margarine to his. But his cholestrol is 157!

I haven't read either book you mentioned. I just finished Angel Falls by Kristin Hannah. It was a good book. I may look for the book by Michael C. White.

My husband of 46 years and I have one daughter , a (terrific) son-in-law and two grandsons (14 in July and 11). Of course we think they are great. Our daughter is in the medical field and they live about 45 minutes away, so we see them often.

I live in tornado ally, so I'm not looking forward to the storms this spring, but I am looking forward to spring. I have some plants that we picked up last Friday while in Wichita Falls that I need to get in the ground. I live in a small town, Burkburnett, about 11 miles out of Witchita Falls.

I hope you have a good meeting tomorrow night, you did say you're TOPS chapter meets on Tuesday? We meet on Thursday. Do you make a big thing of installation? We always do, we have our annual awards presentation. That is one night we have a dinner. I am making place mats and I need to get them done. I use dental tray liners and put a strip of fabric down one side. Then I use the same fabric and make a napkin ring. It sorta spruces up the looks of things. Our theme is Chatch the TOPS Spirit. We are using primary colors.

Well, I need to get busy. Keep in touch! I have learned if I keep a food diary each day, I do better. I just keep it on the table and as I eat, I write it down. Don't worry about it, but it makes me aware of what I eat. It might help you?

Have a wonderful day!

Wanda

(Didn't mean to get carried away and write so much!)