[CyberTOPS] reFOCUS - Issue 11 - 2009 (Alter Egos)

[Marji Clark]

Meet my alter ego twins.Ima Gainer and Louise D'Wayte (she is French and a
great Artist).  They are always in conflict with each other because they are
direct opposites (the good twin and the evil twin).  

 

Ima wants to enjoy everything right now, has no boundaries, loves all of the
fattening sweets, gives into temptation, loves the candy aisle, eating all
of it with no regard to her health, binges at night when no one is looking,
looks for reasons to eat out so that she has an excuse for not being able to
be in control of food situations - definitely has food issues and the health
issues that come with being overweight.  

 

Louise tries - eats like a bird in public claiming that she has poor
metabolism and can't lose the weight that she'd like, eats plenty of fruits
and veggies, attends TOPS meetings to SHOW how hard she is working at her
weight loss.  Louise, too, has food issues, but is not happy and realizes
that they are not good for her.  

 

Unfortunately the end result is that Ima often wins and is the food pusher
to Louise.  Until now.

 

Louise says enough is enough and there is cake on your face Ima.  I will no
longer allow you to push me around.  I will do the following whether you
like it or not.

 

Louise's version of Weight Loss by the Dozen (or more)

1.	I will journal to keep you away
2.	I will keep my food diary
3.	I will continue to attend my TOPS meetings AND do more than just
SHOW up
4.	I will make a plan (I will plan my meals in advance and not look in
the refrigerator for an answer that is not there)
5.	I will contact my friends when I need more support and to keep me on
the straight and narrow (or in my case straight and thinner)
6.	I will work to keep positive, but recognize a misstep is not a
failure, simply a detour and I will get back on the main road
7.	I will eat and drink properly choosing fruits, veggies, water (in
Louise's case she does the Exchange)
8.	I will chose to move
9.	I will chose to try new things - like tai chi, yoga, crafts, basket
weaving 
10.	I will avoid restaurants that are not "safe" for me 
11.	I will find things that make me happy, feel good - going to happy
movies, read an uplifting book, plays, surrounding myself with people who
make me feel good - Momma likes happy
12.	I will go to bed when the Ima in me tries to make me succumb to her
ways (the nightly - I need a little somethin' somethin')
13.	I will track my progress and celebrate my successes
14.	I will balance my life or fine tune it to find the balance
15.	I will grieve my personal losses (family, friends who longer are in
my life) and disappointments and not bury those losses under mounds of food
16.	I will evaluate my stumbling blocks and play to my strengths -
setting the stage for success

 

Louise D'Wayte's plan is good - she invites you to add your own, personalize
it.  But watch out for Ima Gainer.she doesn't want Louise to succeed,
because if she does it makes Ima feel bad and she will have no one to "eat"
with!

 

Be a "Louiser" and not a "Gainer"!

 

Have a super week!  Make great choices.choose success!  Choose to Louise
D'Wayte!

 

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)