After catching-up on the summer podcasts that I missed I just listened about the TOPS groups... and I was wondering, did anyone look into joining one of these groups? Or is already a member? Any feedback? Thanks!!

Ok - so I did find a TOPS group near me. After having gone to Weight Watchers in the past, I have to admit that the $26 fee was like pennies. Though at this chapter you have to pay $.25 per pound gained and there are also fees if you fail to complete an eating log for the week ($.50) - Not too bad, I am going to give it a go!

Well, TOPS has been pretty good so far! The ladies in the group are supportive and their weight-loss is slow, but consistent.

It is definitely more of a social group than WW is, but they are there to lose weight and maintain losses and it is not all about marketing junk food and products, like I felt WW was...

Let us know how things are going once a while. You can be our "inside reporter"!

I have never heard of this group, Bethany. I just looked it up, though. It looks interesting.

I looked them up after hearing the podcast featuring them, and there was one near me, but they only met during hours that I was working if I recall... I was surprised that they were that widespread and yet comparatively unknown.

So far it has been good - I would definitively look them up if you have a chance Robin. Our group meets in the evenings, and I try to get there at least twice a month... I told them that I couldn't be there every week from the beginning and they said that's fine, but I still pay the $1 dues for the weeks that I miss (mostly because of childcare and conflicting meetings)

Well, I have been totally off of the weight-loss path! I haven't gone to TOPS in over a month, and will have to face the scale to assess the damage! We had a lot of snow in February and many meetings were cancelled... then there was a problem with the meeting site and we were not allowed to be in there until they determined if the roof could hold all of the snow! Regardless, I know that every day on the right path makes a difference and am here to get moving towards a healthier life (again...)... I think that I am going to make a commitment to post here about my TOPS experience a couple of times a month... That may really help me to stay focused!

Bethany - you have not failed until you give up. A year from now what happened last month won't matter as much as what happens in the next 12 months. Dig deep and find that motivation to get back on track. You will be so glad you did!

So I haven't been to TOPS (I am kind of embarrassed to go because I gained weight), but I have been making changes... I can feel like these ones are likely to stick.

I talked to my husband a lot about it last night... I asked him about when I was down to 162 - 4 years ago (I had lost 42 pounds in about 20 weeks using weight watchers(my lightest ever)...and am now 215... because I was starving and defiant). I asked him what I was like when I was losing weight before, what did I do differently, etc.... That conversation seemed to really help. It was nice to hear him say that losing weight is strictly a health related issue - and that though he is close to his ideal weight that he would like to be more active and lose a couple of pounds too.

I talked to him about how I feel like I am good at a lot of things, but I am not good at losing weight and keeping motivated when I am stressed and tired... and how sitting on the sofa for 'me time' doesn't provide 'me' with anything... I need to be up and moving. I need to stop making excuses...speaking of excused... my mom has hypothyroid - and I think that I have been using the excuse that there is some kind of medical thing wrong with me and they will give me a pill to speed up my metabolism and whala! I will be skinny with little effort... well, yesterday I got a full set of blood tests back, and normal, normal, normal... these helped me to realize that only I can change my eating and activity habits... and that I have to do it now before I become sick and dependent on even more medication.

So what did I change? I pulled out Jillian Michaels older book (I think it's called Winning by Losing) and I reread the sections about self - I know that I am an emotional eater. I reward, punish, deprive, and indulge my emotions with food every day... I am going to keep that section of the book open on my night stand so that I can glance at it in the mornings... also I found a book called 'The Ultimate Diet Log" which is like a food journal that has been helpful... the authors walk you through small changes that can lead to weight loss and looking for things in your diet that may need changed (for example - increase veggies - always snacking at 3 in your car? take an apple instead of drive through)

- Lastly, I bit the bullet an bought a pair of pants that fit me, I mean button and zip ones, not stretchy knit - this helped the most... I think that I have to love myself no matter what, and for women - sometimes new clothes is the best way to do that...

I know this is long, I should probably find a blogspot lol! I just had to get this out.... I have been really struggling and my weight has just skyrocketed, and I don't want to take some goofy pill or starve myself down - I want it to stick... And I know now that losing weight is a challenge, but changing my life is a marathon that doesn't end at my goal weight...

So after some intense doctoring, I have managed to maintain my weight at 214 since this last post. Which is a start. I am feeling like I am starting on the right path, have joined the YMCA with my family and have been working out 3-4 times a week. My eating is still not under control which is going to change today. My husband bought me the newer You on a Diet book (I really enjoyed the recipes and ideas about lifestyle from the first book) and I picked up the Jillian Michaels book too, which seems to get me moving....

Also, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia - I don't know if anyone else has this and wanted to get some input about the condition and what works for them...

btw - I haven't been to TOPS since the snow caved in the roof at our location. Also, I kind of feel like I would rather be at the YMCA working out than sitting in a meeting...

Well this week I had the goal of no drive thru and drinking no calories (especially in the form of fancy coffee drinks).......and I did it! I didn't necessarily eat perfectly, but staying out of the drive thru made a big difference ...

i.e. I always eat on the run on Mondays - instead of McDs fries and double cheeseburger I had sit down KFC grilled chicken and corn! and I did have 2 calorie laden drink - a hot chocolate at home and a sweetened tea (loads of calories there)...

So! Same goals for next week - no drive thru +no eating convenience foods in the car + no drinking calories!

ttyl! Bethany

It's amazing how much better I feel this week - simply avoiding the high sugar coffee drinks and the drive thru! I have found that if I do eat fast food, sitting down and looking at it on the table often makes me realize how much food it really is and I can't eat it all!

I think that next week I am going to tackle the simple sugars!

Down 3lbs just from avoiding the drive through and calorie drinks!!

So, ever since I decided to avoid the drive thru and high calorie drinks (especially the coffee types) I have had some slow, steady weight loss! I haven't even missed the drive thru the past week! Which is pretty amazing for me.

On top of that I have been making a nice, healthy dinner for myself and my family and enjoying local, seasonal fruit for dessert... I feel much better and am having some results!

This next week - starting now I plan to continue: No eating in the car or drive thru food, NO fancy coffee drinks (this will be especially hard this week), and get to the gym 3 times this next week!

I got word that the TOPS group is meeting in the mornings right now, but have been calling in my at home weigh-in, until our location is available back at the normal time!

OK - So I know I haven't posted for 2 weeks, but I have definitely been able to stream-line and focus on my activity! I have had to give-up fancy coffee drinks altogether - I found that I was addicted to them and one would lead to more and more...

I also started the C25K from Pod-runner this week... I did complete the whole 9 weeks last year then quit after completing a 5k (which I walked)... So I am looking forward to incorporating running into my fitness routine!

I finally feel like myself - my goals for this week: continue w/c25k +Tang Soo Do +Hip Hop Aerobics Class AND go back to avoiding the drive-thru (which I have slipped back into a bit)!