No point in beating yourself up about a 3 pound weight gain around the holidays. There is nothing about the holidays that is conducive to weight loss, so only gaining 3 is quite an accomplishment. But you are right! It is time to get back on track!
we're 4tun8 you decided to return :) don't sweat over the couple of pounds you gained. be happy it was only 3 pounds. i'm almost willing to bet that by getting back into regular life you'll be able to lose those pretty quick! nice to see you again!
So I went to the TOPS meeting in my neighborhood last night... it was very.. um... interesting. definately not inspiring. My local club leader weighed in at 352 pounds and told me she had been a member for 30 years. So I immediately thought "well, then THIS doesn't work!" but the truth is, it does work for her and the other women who were there. They are just socializing at the weekly meetings, which is great for them, but not for me. 6 of the 10 women that were there had been original members from my neighborhood and told many stories about families who had lived in my house, which was built in 1880. Appearantly, each of these women made quite a bit of money selling their little houses in what is now a "trendy" neighborhood within the city. It was like a living history lesson... great, but not why I was there. The TOPS meeting was like bingo or something similar... each paid $25 in membership dues and then more dollars for little things, like gaining weight, not keeping their food journal, being late for the meeting, etc. and then they gave part of the money back to randomly drawn winners. They never really addressed any weight loss issues. I guess they've "been there, done that." At the end of the meeting, when I said that I wasn't planning to join, the leader was very nice and said that not all of the meeting are like this one, but they hadn't seen each other in a few weeks due to the holidays and they only collect the yearly membership dues at the first meeting of the year - which I was lucky enough to hit. Obviously, I like the idea of a support group - which is why I am here. Thanks to all of you, I can do without the TOPS Club. Jen
Well a club full of unmotivated people certainly can't help. At least you didn't waste any time figuring that out. The nice thing about a website like this is that only the motivated people come back.
Not all TOPS meetings are the same. I belonged to one myself and found alot of inspiration. Our leader had lost over 100 lbs. and we had 5 women there that were KOPS (keeping off weight sensibly) one had kept off her weight for 30 years. BUT, there were the women who were there just for the night out and would not participate in any activity. Unfortunately, you really have to shop around to find a group that you fit in to and I found my group by word of mouth. TOPS has a huge rally in the spring that is awesome. You meet some really great people and learn how they have lost the weight and how they're keeping it off. They have seminars and speakers. It's held on a regional basis. What's great is that most of the speakers are members. Price wise it is the best if you're looking for the support group atmosphere, but again you really have to find that special group. The group I belonged to was $5.00 per month to the group and I think it was $20 or $25.00 to TOPS Int'l. Hope you don't give up on it completely. :( A couple of bad apples shouldn't spoil it for all of TOPS. EllieFunt
I have never been to to a TOPS meeting, but it brings up a funny little story. When I waitressed (a lonnngg time ago)there was a group of 3-4 women that would come into eat every Thursday night after their TOPS meeting. This would be at about 9:30pm. They were all pretty big women that would tell you how great they were doing, and then order cheese sticks, chimichangas (it was a mexican restaurant) and top it off with some Deep Fried Ice Cream. I'm sure that they forged some good friendships, but it seemed sort of like idle chatter to me. How can you go "weigh in" and then go "pig out"? I'm sure not all members/ meetings are like this, but that is the limited experience (or hearsay) I have to add to the thread concerning TOPS.
Oh, I know. We had women in our group that would tap on the table and complain that they hadn't had dinner yet, that they were going to the buffet after meeting. Then you have some people that don't eat at all on the day of their weigh in. Not healthy either. (It also seems that TOPS attracts the over 65 crowd, they're not really interested in the exercise aspect of weightloss) I met a women at a workshop that was bragging about keeping her weight off for 15 years, it was Sunday evening and we were having dinner, she only ate part of her salad and she told us she would eat no more until after her weigh in Monday night. How healthy is that? Why would anyone want to be like her? Like I said you really have to shop around. Alot of groups make TOPS into a Bingo type outing and it shouldn't be, it could really be a great motivational tool if used correctly.
Yes, my neighborhood TOPS group wasn't into exercise either. There is a nice fitness center right in the same building where they are meeting, which is one of the reasons I went to the meeting. I expected that the members would mostly be 50 to 70 year old women - like my mom who goes to one in her neighborhood. That's where I heard of it. Of course, my mom too has been trying to lose the same 20 pounds for 30 years and mostly talks about their secret Santa and social gatherings. I should have known! Anyway, I thought there would also be a few diverse members. Other "whippersnaps" as the weigh-in lady called me! I do prefer to work out with buddies, but don't want to spend the money on another fitness club when our park district already supplies a decent one for $30/quarter. When I brought it up to a small group during the meeting, the "leader" came over and sort of interrupted my conversation and said that "for legal/insurance reasons, we aren't allowed to exercise here." I don't know if she meant here - in that room, or at any TOPS gathering, or in the public park with an equipped fitness center! Since all of the women seemed of similar mindset, I didn't bother to ask. I don't have anything against TOPS and wish them all well. And I like their pledge which goes in part like this: [list:4f93577de8]"Every time I am tempted to use food to satisfy my frustrated desires, build up my injured ego or dull my senses, I will remember, even though I overeat in private - my excess poundage is there for all the world to see"[/list:u:4f93577de8]
Whippersnapper. Everyone has to do it at their own pace. Maybe TOPS also stands for Taking Off Pounds Slowly. **that's what we used to say about the Thursday ladies**
That's funny, Jolene! And as I near 40, I take "whippersnapper" as a compliment! Jen
I think for most of them it means taking of pounds sendentary (did i spell it correctly?)
.. :) .. They would alsways be there right before we closed and would linger after closing, then not tip very well either.. If it helps someone I'm all for it, Take those Pounds Off!! Get them gone!! Go girls, GO!! :)