[CyberTOPS] fighting a losing battle in my chapter

[Teri]

I am the leader of my chapter.  In the past my chapter has done really well
losing.  This year we suck!!!!  The attitudes of some of our members is that
it a social get together each week.  I have been bringing the elephant that
sits in the middle of our meetings to our attention almost every two weeks.  I
think they are getting tired of me pointing out that we all need to start
supporting each other more.  Well a few weeks ago my chapter hosted a
Christmas Bazaar for a fundraiser.  One of our members who has already lost
both his legs due to diabetes, gave money to our co leader to go buy
donuts.... UGH!!!!  If it is not one thing it is another.... she did it... she
left to buy donuts.  I came down on her, saying that she shouldn't have done
that.  By buying the donuts she gave him the reinforcement he needed to eat
them.  If he wants them he can get them!  And also how we are ambassadors for
TOPS at those functions, and what kind of role modeling are we doing when we
eat like that in public.  She said we can't control what people eat, I said
you are right outside of TOPS functions we can't control that... but at TOPS
functions we need to eat healthy...

I had a talk with our Area Captain who was at the Bazaar and seen what they
were doing.... I was so frustrated, and embarrassed by my chapters actions.  I
talked it over with her re: what to do with the chapter.  She said some
members may get upset, however for the good of the chapter I should talk to
them about sabotaging our chapter when we bring in trigger foods.  So I looked
up on the internet re: sabotaging and trigger foods, printed out things and
will role model with my officers next week re: it.  Also will send around
flyers, not say anything unless someone brings it up, but it is nutritional
facts about glazed donuts having 450 calories (empty calories) and etc.

So a few weeks back I couldn't get to my meeting, so I asked a member to print
up the agenda and program and have another officer take over.  Well the man
who paid for donuts and his wife got their dander up when they were all told
that at our upcoming Christmas Potluck we needed to bring in Healthy, diet
aware, low fat, low carb food.  They were really mad.  I heard they were upset
and called them.  I found out that they didn't like being told what they can
and cannot eat.  I told her that I had the Area Captain and the Area
Coordinator coming down on me in RE: to the donuts they had brought in, and
also at TOPS we are a weight loss support group. Although I can't and won't
tell them what to eat on their own.  At TOPS I can tell them what they can and
can't bring to our meetings.

Now I find out that a member is wanting to bring PORK and Beans... at 110 cal.
per serving... I know that is is a fiber, but also it has almost as much
sugar.  Not a good item... UGH!!!!! Won't they learn?  I am fighting a battle
against food.    These members who want to bring the beans have lost both
about 80 pound to gain it mostly back.... UGH!!!!  I talked to someone close
to them, and now they will be bringing a case of water for people to drink for
the potluck....

Thanks for letting me vent....
Teri