[CyberTOPS] reFOCUS - Issue 8 - 2009 (ABCs of Weight Loss)

[Marji Clark]

Greetings from IRD at the Happiest Place on Earth, Disneyworld!  Wish you
were here!!   

 

Sometimes getting back on track or getting started is as simple as getting
back to the basics of weight loss.  When we were little and in school we had
to learn the basics of the alphabet and numbers before we could write words
and add numbers.  What are the basics of weight loss that we teach here at
TOPS Losergarten?

 

Do I need to get my pointer out, class?

 

1.	Exchange Program or eating right portions or calories of
healthy-good-for-you food
2.	Water
3.	Exercise
4.	TOPS Meetings
5.	Support of TOPS friends
6.	Balance in all aspects of our lives (family, fun, friends, work,
religion, etc.)
7.	Keeping Positive
8.	Take care of "me" (enough rest, sleep, fun stuff, dreams)

 

Let's start with the letter "A."

 

A is for ATTACK         

 

Where are your problem areas?  What is holding you back?  Attack them like a
pit bull or a spider monkey (Jackson says that) and the weight will fall
off.  

 

Some Examples:                  Attack:

Too much eating out            Pack lunches, take healthy snacks to get you
through, pick safe options, take half home, share with someone, avoid 

                                             feeders

Not enough exercise           Take every opportunity to exercise (take the
stairs, work out daily doing something - not everyone can do everything, but

                                             everyone can do something)

Lonely                                  Call someone (do something for
others)

Night eating                          Do something with your hands, find a
passion, duct tape (my fav), go to bed 

  

For me, it has been lack of focus, setting myself up for failure, my clutter
(reading Peter Walsh's book "Does this clutter make my butt look fat?" -
very good for those of us who are clutter bugs).  I need to have a plan of
attack.  While here at IRD I am trying to jumpstart my way back to goal, by
exercising and eating better.  It is the ideal place to start, because IRD
is an arsenal of hugs, inspiration, solutions, sharing, forgiveness of
ourselves, healing, love, new and old friendships, laughter - with all that
behind you there is only one way and that is the positive!

 

A is for ANGRY

 

Get angry!  Get mad!  I am angry that I have to deal with this problem of
being overweight.  I am angry with myself when I binge and gain weight.  I
am angry that I can't eat it all right now.  I am angry when I don't
exercise and I am angry that I have to exercise (though we all know it makes
us feel better - no brainer).  No one else in the whole world understands
how HARD it is (yeah, right) - it makes me angry.  Use that energy that is
wasted in anger and do something about it.  If you have gained weight, spilt
milk.  Don't wallow in the self-pity and anger.  Do something.

 

A is for ATTITUDE

 

Get the right attitude.  You can do this.  It is easy.  One day at a time.
One meal at a time.  They add up to a better, longer, healthier life.
Surround yourself with positive people, positive things, positive
experiences.  Attitude is a state of mind.  As Dr. Pelizza said - "Who
chooses what you think?  You do when YOU CHOOSE TO."  I choose to be happy.
I choose to have hope.  I choose.The choice is yours and mine.   

 

So you see weight loss is truly as easy as 1-2-3 (Just like the song, ABC is
as easy as 1-2-3).  If you do the ABCs of weight loss you will lose the
1-2-3s (as in pounds lost).  

 

Class - we will learn about the letter B in our next session, because I
"B"elieve that you can "B"e anything you want to "B"e and that you can
achieve your goals!  So do your homework - get back to the basics - back to
our journeys - back to the ABCs of weight loss.

 

You are not alone, 

 

CULitr, CU at Goal, CU at KOPS, Marji 

 

Not a TOPS sponsored or sanctioned newsletter.

 

Books and resources that have helped me:

Body Clutter and Sink Reflections (2 different books - Marla Cilley -
www.flylady.net) - my clutter is related to my weight struggle

The Solution by Laurel Mellin (first read in 1999)

Life is Hard, Food is Easy by Linda Spangle

100 Days of Weight Loss by Linda Spangle

Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink, Ph.D

Outsmarting the Midlife Fat Cell by Debra Waterhouse

 <http://www.pelizza.com/> www.pelizza.com 

 

Past issues of reFOCUS can be accessed on:   <http://www.topscares.com/>
www.topscares.com and  <http://www.tops123.com/StdTOPS/InspiredFocus.html>
http://www.tops123.com/StdTOPS/InspiredFocus.html 

 

Visit the Florida TOPS website at:

 <http://mysite.verizon.net/res1vhv6/floridatops/>
http://mysite.verizon.net/res1vhv6/floridatops/ 

 

Visit the NC TOPS website at:
<http://www.topsbouquet.org/NorthCarolina/index2.htm>
http://www.topsbouquet.org/NorthCarolina/index2.htm (Coach Laura)

 

Other Websites

 <http://www.topscares.com/> www.topsCARES.com - TOPS site for Delaware,
Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland/DC, New Jersey, Pennsylvania - all are
welcome to visit

 <http://www.tops123.com/> www.tops123.com - TOPS site for Illinois,
Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa - all are welcome to
visit

 <http://www.tops.org/> www.tops.org - Official TOPS website

 <http://www.cybertops.net/> www.cybertops.net - CyberTOPS -- Where Friends
Meet for a "Net Loss"!

www.sparkpeople.com

www.delmonte.com/solutions (has some good ideas and articles)

 <http://www.5aday.gov/> www.5aday.gov

 <http://www.smallsteps.gov/> www.smallsteps.gov

 <http://www.ediets.com/magazine/html/lifestyle>
www.ediets.com/magazine/html/lifestyle

 <http://www.dietbites.com/> www.dietbites.com

 <http://www.eatright.org/> www.eatright.org

 <http://www.hungrygirl.com/> www.hungrygirl.com

 <http://www.walgreens.com/> www.walgreens.com (look under healthy library,
under care guides)