A good place to track your intake...

Hi Lady, I enjoyed it (being a TOPS leader) because I liked helping other people and it kept me honest plus I learned a LOT and I never missed a meeting or a weigh in for 4 years! And as much as I wanted to help everyone (like you do) I came to realize that some people just don't want to be helped, they just want attention. And unfortunately after a while, these people will suck the life out of you. I read a great article about "negative energy" that I have to dig up and forward to you. Just remember that you have to focus on YOU and take care of YOURSELF first. Hugs, Vi

IF YOU CAN FIND IT, MS VI ... I'D CERTAINLY READ IT! I PROMISE ... ME 1st (OR CLOSE TO IT!) GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK PS: I MAY HAVE MISSED YOUR ANSWER OR NOT COME TO IT YET ... WHAT ARE "SOFT" FOODS?

Dear Vi -- glad you had a great experience at TOPS. My mother forced me to go to TOPS when I was just a teenager. Those people who lost weight each week got to stand up, wear crowns, and get applause. Those who didn't lose were ignored. Those who gained had to stand up and sing a little song that went "we are fat little pigs who ate too much, baa, baa, baa". I will NEVER forget that humiliation and punishment! I cried every week, had nervous attacks, and after 6 months of that misery, stopped going. By the time I as 16, I weighed 190 pounds and had already been on 6 diets, supervised by my well-meaning mother. I knew I was consigned to a life of sadness about my appearance, was on 26 more diets, tried WW, OA, Jenny, Nutri-, LA Wt Loss, etc, failed miserably at all of them, and found that same condescending attitude at ALL those other places. That stayed with me till age 50 when I began to pursue WLS. Now, I feel liberated. I have started my new life. These things are behind me. I will always be an advocate for compassionate and caring people like you who probably were better leaders than I have ever experienced. Like you say, ME FIRST now. Cyndi

I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH, MS CYNDI ... &, I NEVER UNDERSTAND CRUELTY. WHAT MAKES ONE PERSON THINK THEY ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN ANOTHER? EVERYONE HAS "WARTS"; SOME ARE JUST MORE APPARENT. NICE TO SEE SOMONE FROM MY GENERATION. I'LL BE 53 NEXT FEBRUARY .. & I KNOW I'LL BE CELEBRATING THAT BIRTHDAY WITH A WHOLE LOT LESS OF ME! FUNNY YOU SHOULD SAY HOW LIBERATED YOU FEEL. I JUST GOT DONE SENDING AN E-MAIL TO MY SWEET DAUGHTHER-IN-LAW, MS LISA. I ASKED HER TO BE MY "EXERCISE ANGEL" BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T WAIT AROUND AFTER HAVING OUR PRECIOUS GRAND DAUGHTER ... SHE GOT RIGHT BACK TO EXERCISING & REGULATING HER DIET PROPERLY & LOST ALL THE BABY FAT. WHAT A ROLE MODEL FOR ME! SO, ANYWAY ... SHE WAS SAYING HOW SHE FEELS COMFORTABLE IN HER OWN SKIN AGAIN. &, I TOLD HER THAT ALMOST FROM THE MOMENT I WOKE UP FROM SURGERY, I FELT AN EASE ... A CALMING INSIDE ME BECAUSE NOW I KNOW FOR SURE THAT I AM IN CONTROL OF MY WEIGHT; WEIGHT WILL NEVER BE IN CONTROL OF ME AGAIN. WHAT A FABULOUS FEELING. I'M RIGHT THERE WITH YOU, MS CYNDI! WE HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN LIBERATED. GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK