[CyberTOPS] reFOCUS - Issue 9 - 2009 - When Pigs Fly

Sat Sep 12 23:12:40 CDT 2009

  _____  

From: Marji Clark [mailto:mclarkbiz at cox.net] 
Sent: Sunday, September 13, 2009 12:03 AM
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Subject: reFOCUS - Issue 9 - 2009 - When Pigs Fly

Sometimes losing weight and getting to goal seems impossible - like the
phrase.when pigs fly.  I'll get to goal when pigs fly.  Why is that?  Why is
it not a straight road, but more like Lombard Street in San Francisco
(purported to be the world's most crookedest street)?  

Because it is complicated.  It is difficult to find the balance of healthy
satisfying nutrition (that meets physical needs, social eating, emotional
eating, holiday eating, stress eating, and other valid eating and
not-so-valid eating 'reasons') with sufficient exercise and to evolve enough
to put food in its proper place (and not occupying my thoughts 24/7.when I
am going to eat, what I am going to eat, how much am I going to eat, who am
I going to eat with, am I enjoying what I am eating, etc.).

So why bother?

Because it is one of the most important things that we can do to improve the
quality our lives - things that money can't buy.improved health, improved
self-esteem, improved ability to move, improved ability to take care of
those people in our lives that gives our very existence meaning and
joy.children, spouse, mother, father, husband, cousins, aunts, uncles,
friends, co-workers, dogs, cats (not necessarily in this order), improved
ability to do the things we want to do - whatever floats your boat.    

Why bother?

We all know the wonderful, empowered "on top of the world-I am unstoppable"
feeling you feel when you have success and lose even just a little.  My
perfect pint sized sister (size 2 or 4) told me she had lost 3 of the 5 lbs.
she was trying to lose (my thought was.well it was not fit to write) and how
much better she was feeling.  I may not identify with HER NEED to lose
weight, but I know the "feeling" she felt.  Her "skin" was fitting better.

I am not sure I care for the phrase "when pigs fly" - always seemed a little
negative to me, but when I was at the beach I saw a pig garden stake (only
one wing) for sale for $3 and I thought "I need that as a reminder" to work
to prove the phrase wrong.   Pigs may not fly but I fly to goal by following
a plan (Exchange program), by exercising, by drinking my water, by attending
TOPS, by positive thinking, etc.  

MY pig is going to be the only porker in my life - I am trying to teach him
to fly, BUT if necessary, I'll buy a parachute or airline ticket for my
little porker because that swine is going to FLY!   

So meet my PIG.

P - Positive small changes 

I -   Impact reaching

G - Goal

A funny aside.when I was 13 I won a pig in a greased pig contest (with city
raised mom and dad in the background going "put that thing down, put it
down" - but as usual my loving, indulgent parents let me keep him).  I
raised him for 9 months at the farm next door, his name was "Winner the
Wiener."  I loved Winner.just like him, we are all Winners - just by virtue
of our NEVER, NEVER, NEVER EVER GIVING UP attitude!

Have a super week!

Challenge: Cut back on Salt; Forbidden food - Ice Cream.

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)