Good Morning everyone,

It's a beautiful day here in FL, much cooler than normal for April. But I love it.

Belle, Welcome to the board. I haven't been on much lately. I have been very busy. I just read your Bio and we are the same age, I am 5 days older than you and I married my high school sweetie also.

Eleni, I'm looking forward to seeing you at SRD. Are you working at any of the tables this year, like you were at the last SRD in Daytona? We're working with the flowers and some of the ladies are hosting.

To those of you that work with contests, we had a great one at the beginning of the year. We called it "Race for the Salad". We divided into two teams. The rules were: TOPS members got 1 point for losing, KOPS got 1 point for being at or below goal, everyone got 1 point for staying for the meeting, 1 point for keeping a food diary, 1 point for exercising, and 1 point for drinking their water, for a total of 5 points each person could earn for their team each week. The team with the most points were the winners after 6 weeks and the losing team had to serve them a salad lunch. It was a lot of fun and we are thinking of having it annually. If you do this contest, it's a good idea to have an equal number of KOPS on each team.

Have a good day everyone.

Nita

Good morning everyone
I can't remember which of new ladies said something about not knowing us as we are scattered and post irratic sometimes.The bio's at the top are a good place. I just updated mine some.I read them every once in awhile and especially when someone new posts there.I see I have a lot in common with a few of new ladies too.
Nita It will be nice to see you at Daytona.I was asked to help as hostess and Joyce said she would make sure it was something I could do sitting.But I had to decline.It is going to be very difficult just to do what I have to do.Sat will be the worse as it will be a very long day for me.I usually lay down every afternoon. I just am not up to helping this year.Do you have a clue where it will be next year?? I bet you do. private message if you do.I promise I won't tell.
I was surprised at your contest.Or at least at the prize.We are not suppose to include "food" Confused me some. 2 functions a year But we all stray from rules some.Or at least I know I do. I just thought you were more strict than I am.
Yes it is beautiful weather here in Florida.I can't wait for hubby to get pool fixed.It will be nice to have it up and going.
My grand daughter is going to come today and do a few things around the house. This is a younger one than the one that usually helps me.This is Brianna and other one is Felicia. Main thing I told her was I wanted her to paint my toe nails. I know Go ahead and laugh.But those of you that are big like I am know how hard it is to do.She is only 12 and I thought she would say ""GROSS"" but she said that was fine.She didn't mind.Aren't grandkids great!!! Especially when they are big enough to help do things instead of us having to chase after them.
Ok I better get my butt in gear.Have a great weekend all

Hello Everyone....It's beautiful here and I'm feeling pretty good. My mind is a bit too much thinking about food, and I know that is a danger sign, so I must get busy and keep the mind on somehing else. I've got some sewing that I need to do.

Eleni...Lord knows I don't remember the name, but I was reading the bios and found a person in there that has so much in common with me it's strange. Names in the families, weight, age and on and on. I don't even know if she is writing on the board now. As for as food in meetings. We have started bringing a food for the best loser every week. It can be anything from diet pop or an apple. I thought the salad contest reward was great. Every Christmas we have a dinner combined with the other group in town. I have to whole hearted agree with you about grand children....they are the best. Right now our favorite little fishing buddy is fishing with my hubby. She's 12 and she loves it more than anything. She is really the only one of the grand children who loves it that much.

Nita....I met a lady from Florida about 5 years ago right here on 3fc's, and we are still friends today. I talk to her on the phone and we email all the time. Our weather is great too. Hubby went fishing, which I love, but I've just let myself get too big to go in comfort anymore. That will be a different story in a few months. I'm hoping by fall I can go. A Nov. baby, that will help me remember you. Thank you very much with the contest idea. I wasn't even at the meeting when they elected officers, but I got on the contest committee anyway. I like it, it keeps me doing things on the computer I like. I'm in to graphics big time.

Sherri....Thank you so much for the nice welcome. I think I'm beginning to get the hang of the board. You all make a new thread everyday. When I wrote on this board years ago, we posted on one thread until we got from 25 to 30 posts. Perhaps your way is better.

Hotcupojava......Isn't it funny we know our state of mind when it comes to food, even early on in the day. In order to get through this day I have to really get busy and keep my mind into something. Are you the one who had the by-pass? Is that the reason your food wants to come up sometimes? I hope you have a great week end.
Belle

First goal!!!!

Eleni, Donna was at one of our meetings during the 6 weeks of the contest and she did not object to the salad luncheon prize. We were looking for something that everyone would work toward. Some of the members don't really try if the prize is not something they want, but nearly everyone got involved with this one and worked to win. They didn't want to be the ones to make and serve the salads, they wanted to be served. It was a successful contest. And everything is changing a lot with the new people running TOPS. I feel that if something like this gets people working to lose weight, it's a good thing thing to do.

Nita

I am sorry I don't get here as often as I used to. I have good intentions and then something distracts me. ha Must be an age thing!!!lol!
It is good to see so many new ones posting...Welcome to you all! Glad to have you aboard!
Just a thought about the salad thing. We have had salad suppers or soup suppers and don't have then until after we close the meeting. We did this as a fund raiser. Members go out to eat after the meeting and so instead of them paying some fast food place, we have low fat/cal dishes and they pay what ever thay want to and it goes into the SRD fund! It has been successful for us. And it isn't considered a food function, because the meeting is closed. If members don't want to stay, that's okay. But most of them do.
We also just finished a contest where the prize was a gift cert. from a local grocery store. It was much like your salad rules, it was called 'Let's go Fishing' and I cut fish from craft foam and they got to put on on a fishing line (made from crochet thread, like a stringer). I used small gold safety pins to put them on with and I used different color fish for each week. The winners were the TOPS and KOPS with the most fish and a net loss for the month, it went over pretty good. They liked the prizes. Anything that you don't have to dust...lol.
I just got back from SRD, and as usual it was fun. We only had 9 members go this year, usually have about 12 to 15. Everyone had a loss...we got back on Sun. night and didn't weigh in until Thursday. So that was good! I really had a good loss, part FAT and part fluids as the Dr. put me on mega dose of lasix before I left! We only had 4 KOPS attend (we have 9) but we have a member in the century club. We had no graduates this year, first time in years. But several are close so maybe next year!
Our weather is getting so nice., so I will probably be MIA more than I'm here. We stay at the lake most of the summer! But I will try to stay in contact every once in a while. I do miss you all and think about you. This is such a good place to get encouragement and everyone is so supportive. I feel like you are my extended chapter.
Eleni, have fun at SRD, but don't over do!
Penny, where are you??? Haven't seen you around for a while (or have I just missed you?)
Sherri, how are you doing?
Christi, are you hanging in there?
Nita, have fun at SRD...
Susie, how are you?
and the rest of you...have a good week, remember "If It Is To Bee, It's Up To Me" The Choice is MINE!
Wanda

It's me again and I am just trying something...later

Nita and Mickey Thanks for info on "food". I have always shied away from things like that as the area capt's and co ordinators I have delt with always said it was a no no.In fact the area captain called me last week about someone that was going to be transfering over to my chapter.ANd she mentioned she had spoke to one of her chapters about something similar and she suggested they do something different. But I do know Donna seems much more lenient than Carolyn was. I guess as long as food is not eaten during the meeting it must be ok.We do not have a place that we can do a lunch as we meet in a library. But gift certificate to groc store is a good one. We quit giving the dust collector prizes a few years ago.I was tired of carrying the stuff around and most people didn't want them anyway. I now give cash coupons.Anythng from 25 cents for bringing food chart in to $5 as a prize.They even have a choice of a charm or $3 as somepeople don't want the charms.I love the charms. But like you said.Whatever will inspire them.
The wekend is going good.Yesteday seemed like Sunday as Bill was home all day working on pool.He is usually working on a side job. The pool is almost full and so far everything looks good.The big test will be when it gets up another couple feet.Hopefully nothing will leak.
South Beach is going good. I have been doing badly at night the last 3 nights. Have to get control.Eating too much after supper.Even popsicles and boiled eggs can be too much.Eating out is getting easier. Have to do some manuvering tho.We went to macaroni grill as we have a lot of gift certificates from kids.They had some low carb and low fat item.I almost did good.Well I did good.I choose grilled salmon and asparagus.The aspapargus was like you cut some timy tree limbs and burnt them on a grill.Worse that bad.As soon as it put plate down I knew they were bad so quickly ordered a ceasar salad which saved the day.I am one of those few people who actually like aspapragus but these were baaaaaddddddd. I kept hoping he would ask why I took them all off my plate but he didn't so I just let it slide.
Oh Mickey,I have also been put on very large doses of Lasix plus zaroxyln
I am looking forward to SRD.We only have 4 members going.The smallest group ever.But my chapter has been plagued with so much illness and other stuff that I am glad to see anyone going. My neice is coming as a guest because my sister is our queen.
My goodness I have written a book.Hope everyone has a great day.It is going to be another beautiful day here. TOPS hugs to all

Hello all... I am guilty too, havent posted in a bit, I think the last post was several weeks ago when I was in a lot of pain with my heel.. The pain is a very large heel spur on the back of my heel, looks like something you could hang a coat on The doc didnt shoot me with cortisone as the flare up was almost over.... I did buy a new pair of New Balance sneakers for work and that seems to help too.

I have not been on program for most of April and I was doing so well..... MY daughter and I have recomitted ourselves to our programs and I start back to the gym tomorrow.. I have gone to my meetings faithfully as I just started as co leader for the first time. It has been interesting, both the treasurer and weight recorder are on vacation and I have been learning so much about the offices!!! we are finally having our office induction ceremony monday night, I offered to make a punch, Found some recipes using crystal light and cranberry juice .....

They started a new game using playing cards and each week you get a card if you lost weight or stayed for the meeting.. at the end of 6 weeks, the person with the best poker hand wins, prize is to be determined, not even sure what they are doing for that.. we have a fairly large group, usually around 25 stay for the meetings... nice bunch of ladies and yes, we have one male, and hes doing great......

I best quit before this turns into a book, everyone have a great week and I want to see less of you in a week (me included) I have yet to learn all of your names, but this is Indiacatz aka Barb love and light to all.....