TOPS: Little things make all the diffenence

TOPS Chapter 9319 El Dorado Springs met in The Firefly Services building, formerly known as “Preferred Family Healthcare” at 700 E. Hospital Rd, El Dorado Springs, Mo on Thursday, Oct. 31, for their regular weigh-in and meeting.

Our leader, Warren called the meeting to order, Samantha and Carol led us in singing “Trick or Treating”

We said our TOPS pledge and KOPS pledges

Marilyn led us in some chair exercises

Warren then led us in Roll Call. Nineteen members weighed in, we had a loss of 11.6 and a gain of only 2.0 pounds, giving us a net loss of 9.6.

Weeks’ best loser was Pat, with a loss of 3.6 pounds. Congratulations Pat! Other great losses were Samantha, 1.2, Steve 1.4, Jan 1.6, and Sharron 3.4 over a two- week period.

Linda Hall had the program today; she shared an article titled “Little Things Made All the Difference” that was taken from a TOPS Magazine 2004. Linda gave each member a copy of a little “story” titled Retreat After Me. Both articles were written by a TOPS member. TOPS Member Nancy joined TOPS in 1979. She thought TOPS was Great. She believed that just because she had officially joined and stepped on that scale a magic spell had been cast and she would quickly get to the weight of her dreams. She quickly learned there is no “Magic potion to weight loss. TOPS could not do it for me. She struggled with dieting and her weight went up and down. She struggled for several years, losing a bit, and gaining it back.

When a doctor suggested she try a support group she told the doctor she had been a member of TOPS for years. Her doctor told her TOPS is one of many tools to help lose weight and keep it off. It is like a saw or a hammer, they cannot build a house by themselves. Her doctor said she should go to the meetings and really listen and take part.  She said I should use whatever the chapter had to offer; the rest was up to me. So that was what she did, she paid attention to all the little things. Some of the tools are the rewards/recognition from TOPS for losing six weeks in a row, or being named weekly or monthly “best loser.” She started sending notes and calls to other members as encouragement and as a result she encouraged herself. She gradually lost 121 pounds by using the tools TOPS has to offer.

Linda’s program sparked a lot of discussion on how TOPS helps us stay on track and lose while remaining healthy. Linda then challenged us to keep changing the little things. Thank you, Linda, for a wonderful program.

Pat gave the results of the October contest; Carol was the winner.  Congratulations Carol for a job well done.

Marble Game:  there is $7.50 in the pot. Laura won the right to draw but did not get the winning one.

Warren read parts of a monthly newsletter from TOPS.  It is time to start thinking about the new year, set goals for a new year, you have a blank canvas before you, how are you going to use it?

We are reminded we will meet on Tuesday the 26th the week of Thanksgiving.

Christmas party was again discussed, Carol made a motion we set the date for our Christmas Party for Thursday, Dec. 12, Laura 2nd and Motion carried.

The Christmas parade was tabled till next week. The Parade is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 14, and the theme is “Inside Santa’s Workshop.”

With no other business we closed with our motto “IF IT IS TO BE IT IS UP TO ME”

TOPS #MO 9319 meets each Thursday morning in the Firefly Services building formerly known as “Preferred Family Healthcare” at 700 E. Hospital Rd, El Dorado Springs, Mo. Weigh in starts at 7:45 a.m. the meeting begins at 8:45 a.m. and is over by 10 a.m. For more information call Linda at 417-876-7404.  Come and join us.