Journaling

It seems that everyone who succeeds in T.O.P.S. has some sort of food journal. I know this, but I don't do it. Sometimes, I use the T.O.P.S. App, where you check off how many portions of each food group you eat.  But like my attempts at journaling, I don't even make it through one day.

The biggest reason is the time it takes.  Next, I don't think of it.  Then again, there's tomorrow.

Anyway, I don't do it.  That's why I read with interest Mark Arsenault's article in the Boston Globe Magazine, "Write it Down."  I laughed while I read it.  T.O.P.S. uses the same reasoning and I actually am attempting to write down meals, appointments, and housekeeping chores, ever since the New Year's.  It's my New Year's Resolution.  I'm not perfect, but I haven't given up.

BTW, I know my picture is sideways, but the picture in My Pictures on my iPhone is not.  I don't know why it posted sideways but you can see that it's the aforementioned article stuck to my refrigerator.  Mark Arsenault's advice was:

All resolutions must be written down. That's it.  But not written in pixels on a phone.  It must be something real, such as chalkboard or a wall or a piece of paper.

     Once put to paper, your aspirations are literally brought into the physical world.  And if posted where you can see them--and they can see you--they will not be ignored.

My name is Faith and I also have a lot of hope. This time I will succeed.  I will.  This time I will keep it up.  I will.  I know I will.  I will.

The Last Spa You'll Ever Need

Nine Perfect Strangers is a new version of the story where a number of guests are invited to an English manor and one of them is murdered. Well...no one is murdered, but at one time there was the possibility that seven of them would be, and then there was the time that one of them might have been killed. Suspenseful? You bet!

And, funny!

The inner thought conversations each character has are hilarious at times, especially the initial reactions of the characters to each other. The characterization is very good. Each person is drawn to a precise picture. And I love how the author, Liane Moriarty, expands on the character's life, after the story line's completion.

The setting is a spa in Australia where seven people go for a health retreat. They are promised that their experiences will be life-altering. That does happen but not in the way anyone thought. Everyone lost weight (anyone would if what happened to them happened to you) and everyone appreciated life more (anyone would if what happened to them happened to you). But after a month everyone was back to their old habits. Instead of going to the spa everyone should have joined T.O.P.S. 

Something's Wrong

When you don't eat for 4 days and you gain weight, then there must be something medically wrong with me.  I was on a liquid diet, Tuesday.  Wednesday I had a colonoscopy, so I didn't eat at all.  That procedure threw me for a loop because I was languid all day; I barely ate.  I was very dehydrated and sipped water all day.  Since I was in the bathroom constantly from drinking water, I suspected a UTI, but thankfully no.  I was just sick. Friday I didn't eat breakfast because I was going to my T.O.P.S. meeting to get weighed.

I gained a quarter of a pound! 

A T.O.P.S. Christmas Party

T.O.P.S. is an organization that promotes health.  I wrote this skit for our Christmas party.  Note the unhealthy food in the beginning, then I replaced it with some more nutritious options.

Christmas Past versus Christmas Present

Setting:   Silly Samantha’s Christmas party

Characters:  Silly Samantha, Dippy Diane, Zany Zoe, Daffy Dana, Kooky Karen, Narrator

(Door Bell Rings)  (Silly Samantha answers the door.) 

Silly Samantha: Merry Christmas!  Come in, come in.  You know everybody, make yourself at home.  The food is in the dining room.  Help yourself.

Dippy Diane:  Merry Christmas!  I brought my favorite recipe—pecan pie.  I hope you have some ice cream to go with it.

Silly Samantha:  Of course.  My freezer is full of ice cream.  Put the pie with the other desserts.

Dippy Diane:  Oh your pecan pie looks so good.  I haven’t eaten all day so I can eat all I want now, at the party.  I’ll be sure to save room for a big slice of pecan pie and ice cream.

Zany Zoe:  It’s a good thing I wore loose clothes.  I don’t want a belt to restrict my stomach as it expands.

Dippy Diane:  I know what you mean, that’s why I prefer elastic waist bands.  I don’t feel it when I gain weight.

Daffy Dana:  Diane, did you bring your delicious chicken wings?

Dippy Diane:  No.  I didn’t have time to make anything.  I stopped at the bakery and picked up some pastry.

Daffy Dana:  Too bad.  I like your buffalo wings.  I brought the Swedish meatballs in cream sauce.  I hope everyone likes them.

Kooky Karen: I like everything, that’s why I’m sitting closest to the food table.

Silly Samantha:  Come eat.  Help yourselves.  There’s enough for seconds, thirds, etc.

Dippy Diane:  Leave room for my pecan pie with ice cream.

Zany Zoe: There’s also death by chocolate, caramel pie, and Boston cream pie.

Daffy Dana:  Try the Swiss Cheese fondue, too.

Kooky Karen:  I made the chili with venison.

Silly Samantha:  And we have plenty to drink: egg nog, Irish coffee, mulled cider, beer and some hard liquor.

Kooky Karen:  I’m already working on my seconds.

Narrator:  Everyone overate. They were actually sick the next day.  Nobody felt good about themselves.  In fact, come New Year’s they all resolved to get healthy, and that included eating healthy and fitting some exercise into their daily routine.  They joined TOPS.  And they attended regularly.  They learned how to eat nutritiously; they exercised, picked up some healthy eating tips, and made some new friends who supported each other in changing their lifestyles.  Take a look at Samantha’s Christmas party this year.

(Door Bell Rings)  ( Samantha answers the door.)  Merry Christmas!  Come in, come in.  You know everybody, make yourself at home.  Walk around and socialize. 

Diane:  Merry Christmas!  I brought a new healthy dessert.  It’s chocolate cake with chocolate-orange sauce.  I swapped applesauce for butter and used nonfat cream cheese.

Samantha:  That sounds wonderful.  Please put the pie on the table with the fruit.  Fruit is considered a dessert, too.

Diane:  Oh your chocolate cake looks so good.  I may take a piece home because I don’t think I’ll have room for dessert.  I ate an apple just before coming to this party, so I wouldn’t fill up on junk.  Although Samantha is serving only healthy foods.

Zoe:  Do you like my new outfit?  Since I’ve lost so much weight, I delight  in wearing form fitting clothes.

Diane:  Yes, you look fantastic.

Dana:  Diane what did you do to your chicken wings.  They taste better than ever.

Diane:  I baked them for an hour, basting with honey mustard twice.

Karen:  They look delicious and will go perfectly with the garden salad, I made.

Zoe:  Chicken wings, salad, and chocolate cake for dessert.  What more could anyone want?

Dana:  Plus we have a vegetable dip.

Diane:  And for beverages, we have coffee, tea, and of course water.

Samantha:  This is turning out to be the best Christmas party we’ve ever had!

A Skit for MA TOPS 9463

The Image in the TV

The scene is the living room of Lazy Lucinda’s apartment. It is the evening after supper. She is watching a big screen TV with a remote in her hand.  It’s a little hot in the room but Lazy Lucinda is too comfortable to get up and turn on the air conditioner.  Lazy Lucinda is w-a-y too comfortable.

Suddenly the image on the TV steps out of the screen into the living room with Lazy Lucinda.

LL:  What!  Lazy Lucinda sits up.  What?  Who are you?  What’s happening?

Death:  Is that popcorn I smell or rather butter on popcorn that I smell?

LL: What’s going on?  Who are you?

Death: Death.

LL: Who?

Death:  Death.  Listen—can I sit down?  The smell of that buttered popcorn is sickening.  You have way too much butter on it.

LL:  Who are you?

Death:  Death.  May I have a glass of water?

LL:  Death? What do you mean, Death?

Death: What is wrong with you?  Do you see my black costume and white face and hands?

LL:  Yeah.

Death:  Is it Halloween?

LL:  No.

Death:  Then I’m who I said—Death.  Now may I have a glass of water—what are you drinking?

LL:  Is this a joke?

Death:  What kind of joke?  You’re fifty-seven?  Lazy Lucinda?  13 Main Street?  Unless I messed up—where’s my list?  (fumbles through pockets, finally producing a paper with names and addresses) Yeah, it all checks out.

LL:  What checks out?  What do you want with me?

Death:  What do I want?  Isn’t it obvious?  What do you think I want?

LL:  You must be kidding.  I’m in my prime.

Death: (unimpressed): Uh-huh.  (Looking around) This is a nice place.  Is it a condo?  Do you own it?

LL:  It’s a condo and I rent.  Some of the stuff came with the place.

Death:  (picking up a picture with a couple of cute kids):  I love kids with big eyes.  Yours?

LL:  My grandchildren.  Look, I’m not ready to go.

Death:  That’s what they all say.

LL:  But I’m relatively healthy.

Death:  Oh ple-e-a-s-s-e.  You’re obese, have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetic and you’re going to have a stroke in a few minutes.

LL:  I can’t go.  I have responsibilities.

Death: You’re retired.

LL:  My grandchildren depend on me.

Death:  What—to drive them to school?  They need to walk and get some exercise. 

LL: I’m the weight recorder in TOPS.  I need to be there to weigh people in.

Death:  You’re the weight recorder?  Don’t make me laugh.   You’re so overweight your recliner is sagging.  You’re hot but too lazy to get up and turn on the AC.  And I’m still thirsty and you’re too lazy to get me a glass of water.

LL:  Why would Death need to drink water?

Death:  Don’t change the subject.  You’re killing yourself with your unhealthy lifestyle.

LL:  You don’t have to be cruel.

Death:  Sorry, but how else can I say it?

LL:  I could change.

Death:  Too late.

LL:  Listen, sit down.  Let me get you a glass of water.  Do you want anything else?  Want some liquor in your water?  Some cake? Cookies?  There are some chocolates on the coffee table.

Death:  See what I mean?  Don’t you have anything healthy in your kitchen?

LL:  Does water count?

Death:  No.  I mean yes.  Anything else?

LL:  Well, there’s strawberries on top of the strawberry shortcake.  And strawberries inside the chocolates. 

Death:  Ugh.  Just the water, please.

LL:  Here.  (gives Death a tall glass of water)  If you give me an hour more I could go buy some fruit.

Death:  Why?

LL:  Then I could live a little longer.

Death:  Yeah, maybe a day.

LL:  If I walked to the store, could I have a week?

Death:  You can’t just walk once.

LL:  No-no.  Of course not.  I’ll walk all the time.  I’ll change my lifestyle.

Death:  Oh!  In that case, if you changed your lifestyle there’s no telling how much longer you could live.  You could live to be old!

LL:  Just by changing my lifestyle?

Death:  Didn’t you say you belonged to TOPS? I thought you people were intelligent!

LL:  So you’re giving me more time?

Death:  It’s not me.  I’m not.  You are.  You are changing your lifestyle by adding exercise and eating sensibly. 

LL:  Great!  Thank you.

Death:  Don’t thank me.  Thank yourself.  I’ll be seeing you.

LL:  Not too soon I hope.  Bye. Bye.

Death:  Steps back into the TV screen

LL: ( Wakes up from the recliner with a start and looks around)  Wha?  Whew.  What a dream!  It seemed so real. (pushes the popcorn away) Ugh there’s too much butter on that.  I think I’ll go for a walk.  I really should exercise more.  I’ll walk my grandchildren to school, but right now, I’ll walk to the store and buy some fruit and vegetables.  Then when I come home, I think I’ll start a food journal and plan some healthy meals for myself.  I want to be around to see my grandchildren grow up.

And wait till I tell my friends in TOPS what happened to me. Wouldn’t it be something if Death appeared to all the TOPS in the group?

Food is Good

Yesterday, the Office of Reading spurred a sharp rebuke aimed at St. Paul's letter to Timothy.  Today, again, the Office has inspired a post.  I may not be advancing spiritually, but I am paying attention.  In 1 Tim 4: 1-5, Paul warns us of following teachers of error.  I'm specifically looking at demons who teach people to turn away from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by believers.  Everything God created is good; nothing is to be rejected when it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by God's word and by prayer.

That's T.O.P.S.' philosophy.  Everything in moderation.  Do not deprive yourself to the extent that you are starving.  We eat mindfully.  We practice portion control.  We eat all the food groups and do not eliminate carbohydrates, or dairy, or red meat, or meat at all.

 TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is the short name for TOPS Club, Inc., the original nonprofit, noncommercial network of weight-loss support groups and wellness education organization. TOPS offers tools and programs for healthy living and weight management, with exceptional group fellowship and recognition. Established in 1948 to champion weight-loss support and success, we've helped millions of people live healthier lives.

Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts.

Roses

In Christian art, the white rose is a symbol of purity, the yellow rose perfection and papal benediction, and in T.O.P.S. you're a K.O.P.S.  T.O.P.S. is an international group focused on healthy living.  The initials stand for Take Off Pounds Sensibly.  When you've reached your goal, you become a K.O.P.S. -- Keep Off Pounds Sensibly.

The red rose is a symbol of martyrdom.  The rose is a frequent symbol of the Blessed Mother.  The thorns have an interesting symbolic story.  Since the Blessed Mother was free of original sin, she is referred to the "rose without thorns."  In the Garden of Eden, the rose didn't have any thorns; the thorns came when roses grew on earth.  So think of man's fall from grace, when you stab yourself on the thorns.  

K.O.P.S.

Phyllis and Caroline Toast

T.O.P.S. stands for Take Off Pounds Sensibly.  When a person joins T.O.P.S., they quickly learn that K.O.P.S. is what every T.O.P.S. member strives for.  K.O.P.S. stands for Keep Off Pounds Sensibly.  A K.O.P.S. has attained their weight goal.  Now he/she has to maintain that weight.  Not three pounds over or seven pounds under, are allowed.  If that happens, the K.O.P.S. has two weeks to get back on track.

To achieve K.O.P.S., one must learn the discipline of weekly weight-ins, count calories, plan ahead, eat mindfully, exercise, face their personal weaknesses and strengths, and change their lifestyle, habits, and attitudes.  And it ain't easy.

There will be setbacks.  K.O.P.S. have to learn to cope with that.

Above is my group's (T.O.P.S. Franklin, 463), new K.O.P.S.   Congratulations ladies!

Energy Out > Energy In

You will only lose weight when your energy expenditure exceeds your energy intake.

There is no point in losing weight to a level that can't be maintained by your lifestyle.  That's what today's program in TOPS was about.  Sure, you can lose weight with most diets, but it's keeping that weight off when you go off the diet, that's the problem.  You have to change your lifestyle.  This takes perseverance.  That's the secret.  Slowly but surely.

Since I hate to exercise, I have to force myself.  I usually walk.  But I'm sick of the same old scenery, besides every single one of my routes has construction being done.  I don't like to walk by the construction workers.  So I went to Zumba.  It's OK, but I have to go when the class is scheduled, not when I want.  I might try line dancing; it's not so strenuous.

Whatever exercise I pick, I have to keep at it.  I've just got to MOVE!

Fat Rapunzel

This is a skit, I've made for my  T.O.P.S. chapter.  What do you think?

Rapunzel

 4 people: narrator reads the bold parts.  Rapunzel.  Prince.  Mother.

Props:  ladder and a large ribbon

###

Nowadays, it is very hard for a single mom to raise a daughter all by herself.  This mother thinks that she has solved the problem by locking her daughter, Rapunzel, in the tower of their attic, at the very top of their old Victorian house.

        There Rapunzel grows up to be a beautiful teenager.  Although she has everything she could possibly want, Rapunzel doesn’t get enough exercise living in a one room tower.  This doesn’t really bother her all that much, after all, who cares if she’s fat.  She never sees anybody except her mother.  So she wiles away her time by reading and listening to music.  She likes to sing, however, and daydreams that she’s a famous opera star, traveling around the world singing in opera houses.

        One day, a handsome prince hears the beautiful voice and follows the music.  He is enthralled to see a beautiful girl, way up in the window of the tower.  As he looks up and enjoys the music, we join him…

Prince:  Her voice is so beautiful.  She is beautiful, too.  I could listen to her forever.

The prince claps, when the song ends.  (Clap, Clap, Clalp)

Rapunzel:  Oh!  You startled me.  I didn’t see you.
Prince:  Please don’t stop singing, beautiful lady.  You sing so beautifully.

Rapunzel:  You embarrass me.  I –I – I don’t think I can sing, anymore.

Prince:  What a pity!  What is your name?

Rapunzel:  Rapunzel

Prince:  Come down so we can get to know each other.

Rapunzel:  I can’t.  I’m  locked in this tower.

Prince:  Why?

Rapunzel:  My mother loves me and is so afraid of the world.  I’m locked away to keep me safe.

Prince:  I’ll protect you.  Ask your mother to let you out.

Rapunzel:  OK.  I will ask her tonight when she brings my supper. 

Prince:  I’ll come back tomorrow, the same time.  Good-bye beautiful lady.

Rapunzel:  Goodbye, sweet prince.

Later on in the day, Rapunzel’s mother unlocks the door to the tower and brings in a huge platter of spaghetti and meatballs, garlic Italian bread, butter, whole chocolate milk, and pecan pie with ice cream. 

Rapunzel: Oh mother, thank you.  The most wonderful thing happened today.

Mother:  Yes dear.

Rapunzel:  I met the most handsome prince, and he wants me to leave the tower, and go down to meet him.

Mother:  What!  Oh dear, this is what I was always afraid of.  Think Rapunzel.  Why does he want to meet you?

Rapunzel:  He likes my singing.

Mother:  Ha!  Don’t be naïve.  You think he’s impressed?  Wait till he sees you.  You are over twenty  pounds over-weight.   He’ll back off faster than ice cream on a hot day.

Rapunzel:   oh (sadly)

Mother:  Never mind, my dear.  Mumzie loves you.  Now be a good girl and clean your plate, I’ll be up later and we can play cards.

Poor Rapunzel ate her food choking back deep sobs.  What can she do?  Fate is so cruel.  She finally meets a young handsome prince, and she’s too ugly to let him see her. 
      The next day, the prince comes back.

Prince:  Rapunzel, Rapunzel, come out and play.

Rapunzel:  I can’t dear prince.  My mother forbids it.  I must stay in the tower.  But I will sing you a song.

Prince:  But why?

Rapunzel:  Because it’s safer than outside.  What song would you like to hear?

Prince:  I don’t understand.

Rapunzel changes the subject by singing.  She sings so beautiful that the prince is lost in thought.  When she finishes, they bid each other good night.
     The next day, he’s back.

Prince:  Rapunzel, how’s this idea?   If you can’t come down, can I come up?

Rapunzel:  Er…er…er The room is a mess.  I’m embarrassed for you to see it.  

Prince:  I don’t care about the room.  I just care about you.  You can clean the room and tomorrow I’ll bring a ladder.

Now what was Rapunzel going to do?  Once the prince saw how overweight she was, he’d never come back.  Maybe she’ll tell him she’s very sick with something contagious.
     The next day, he’s back.

Prince:  Rapunzel, I’m here with a ladder.  Let me come up.

Rapunzel:  NO!  No, you can’t.  I’m sick.  I’m sick with measles.  It’s highly contagious.

Prince:  That doesn’t bother me.  I’ve been inoculated. 

And the prince starts to climb up.  But the ladder is too short to reach all the way to the window. 

Prince:  Oh Rapunzel, what can I do? 

Rapunzel:  Whew!  Oh.  I mean, Oh Well!  Maybe it’s not meant to be.  Let’s just talk and get to know one another.

Prince:  We’ve done that.  And I already know that I love you.

Rapunzel:  And I love you.  But you, well, you don’t really know me.

Prince:  I do.  I love you.

Rapunzel:  What if I’m fat and ugly?

Prince:  I’ve gotten to know a beautiful girl.  If the outside of this beautiful girl is fat and ugly, that won’t matter at all.  That’s just the outside.

Rapunzel:  Really?

Prince:  Yes, I mean it.

Rapunzel:  Well, I could let down all my hair, and you could climb up.

Which was exactly what the prince did.  The prince and Rapunzel are together.  And he was not repulsed by Rapunzel’s weight, at all.  She was not ugly, just overweight, and he knew exactly what to do about that.

Prince:  Rapunzel, it’s no wonder you’re overweight.  You don’t get enough exercise.  You won’t be able to escape out of this tower if you can’t fit through the window.  Let’s set up an exercise regimen.

Rapunzel:  Yes, you are so right.  I get no exercise at all.  And I’ll eat less.  My aim is to fit through that window to be with you.

We will now fast forward to a month, ahead.  Rapunzel has been dancing to her singing.  She has taken up zumba and pilates.  She also dropped out of the clean plate club and told mumzie that she wants salad to be part of her dinner and cut the portions drastically.  Mumzie wanted to keep Rapunzel happy and Rapunzel never seemed happier.  The prince came everyday.

Prince:  Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair. 

Rapunzel:  Here you are.

Prince:  My goodness.  Look at you.  Your clothes are too big for you.

Rapunzel:  I’ve lost ten pounds.

Prince:  I think if you keep the regimen up, we can elope, next month.  Let’s dance to that.

And so Rapunzel and the prince danced the night away, planning their elopement.  The prince made wedding arrangements and planned the great escape.  Finally, the day came.

Prince:  Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair.

Rapunzel:  Here you are.  Why, what are you carrying?

Prince:  Rapunzel, you can fit through the window now.  You can also fit this engagement ring on, and the wedding ring that awaits you.  Here is a strong satin ribbon to tie on the bed post, so you can lower yourself out the window.

Rapunzel:  The ring fits!!  And I fit through the window! 

Prince:  Rapunzel you have made me so happy.

Rapunzel: You have made me happy too.  Who knew what exercise and eating less would do?

 

Losing Weight with a Rosary

I found myself sitting next to a president of St. Mary's Catholic Women's Club, at today's T.O.P.S.' meeting.  Since T.O.P.S. is about "Take Off Pounds Sensibly", we were talking about how our week went--weight wise.

Since three days out of seven this week, I partied with heavy "fat" food, I'm sorry to say, I gained a couple of pounds.  I had two St. Patrick Day parties.  That means two kinds of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, squash, turnips, carrots, parsnips, and Irish bread.  And you know how dry Irish bread is unless you slather it with butter or jam?  And don't forget the green beer!

Besides, last night was a friend's birthday party.

These are real excuses.  I don't even consider them excuses.  They're so real that they're reasons, not excuses.

Although I gained, my Catholic friend didn't.  Still she complained.  She bemoaned the fact that her weight never changes.  It's always the same.  She also said that her meals are for the most part, the same.  Very rarely, is there a change in her meal plans.

We looked at what she ate, and it was a healthy plan for her age, and height.  Then I asked her about her exercise.

B I N G O

She doesn't exercise.  She said she knows she should but she can't work up the motivation to get up off the couch.

I asked her if she prayed the Rosary.  She replied, "No."

Again, like exercise, she'd like to pray the Rosary, but she can't work up the motivation.

"Well, here you go!"  Walk around praying the Rosary.  You can walk around the apartment, if you don't want to go outside.  There's the solution.  She'd be killing two birds with one stone, i.e., physical and spiritual exercising.   

Our Pope Emeritus walks while praying the Rosary.  If an 85 year old man can do it, so can she.

Lateran Fat

This post is not the leap that one might think it is, upon reading its title, Lateran  Fat.  Today the Church celebrates the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica.  This building was built by the Emperor Constantine, and since it was the first church ever built in Christendom, it is honored as the mother church. 

The reading this morning is the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians 3:9c-11, 16-17. Paul tells us that we humans are God’s building.  We are temples of God.

In the Gospel, John 2:13-22, Jesus refers to Himself as the temple.

In the Preface, the priest prayed:

For in your benevolence you are pleased to dwell in this house of prayer in order to perfect us as the temple of the Holy Spirit, supported by the perpetual help of your grace and resplendent with the glory of a life acceptable to you.

All these readings came to mind when I reflected on the rest of my day.  Today I have T.O.P.S.  My friends in T.O.P.S. are very, very, conscious of their bodies.  Whether or not, they call their bodies “temples of the Holy Spirit” or not, they are conscious that they should take care of their God given bodies.  That’s not so easy.  It can be depressing when you do take all the care you possibly can, and your body is not perfect. 

The basilica of Saint John Lateran needs constant care.  It is old.  It needs more and more care the older it gets.  Sometimes scaffolding around its structure seems permanent.  It’s a money pit.  One could become depressed and give up on maintenance. 

Would history ever forgive us?

Are we not more important than a building?  Paul reminds us:

Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?  If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.

This is why my T.O.P.S. friends don’t give up.  They instinctively know that they are important in God’s eyes.  They can’t give up.  They have to constantly eat mindfully and live healthfully. 

I also add that the spiritual health of all of the T.O.P.S. people, in my chapter, anyway, is conscious that they reflect images of God.  They are very, very, supportive of each other.  We have all become friends.  We attend other functions, not related to T.O.P.S. at all, just to support another member.  We visit and call when one of us is sick.  And we pray for each other.  We pray to meet each other in heaven some day; where we’ll all have perfect bodies.

Halloween Skit

What do you think of my Halloween skit for T.O.P.S.?  I've had a lot of fun composing it.

Halloween Skit

Characters:

                                Narrator

          Shopper

          Good Angel

           Bad Angel

           Trick or Treater

Props:

                Toy shopping cart or basket for a few items

Candy, Halloween stickers, small cans playdoh, noisemakers, Halloween pencils, Halloween bouncy balls, temporary tattoos, small bottles of bubbles, sugar free gum, raisins, etc.

Costume for the Trick or Treater

Face Mask

Narrator:  Halloween will be here before you know it and we all know that Halloween, to most children, means candy.  To promote good nutrition and dental health, is the aim of T.O.P.S. members.  So when trick-or-treaters ring your door bell, offer them some fun alternatives, instead of sugary treats.

Here is a T.O.P.S. member shopping for Halloween treats.

Shopper:        Let’s see.  What should I buy?  What do little kids like?

Bad Angel:     Candy, you dolt!

Good Angel:  Not candy.  Too much sugar.

Shopper:        Candy isn’t good for teeth either.  I don’t want to contribute to their dentists’ yacht fund.

Bad Angel:     It’s Halloween!  One time a year won’t hurt.

Good Angel:  The little kiddies binge on Halloween.  This sets up a bad precedent.

Bad Angel:     Precedent?  President?  Peppermint!  Yes, buy peppermints.  They’re good for you.

Shopper:        It is Halloween.  It is only one night.  Maybe some candy isn’t so bad.

Bad Angel:     Yeah, yeah, yeah.  Ha, ha, ha, ha, (maniacal glee)

Good Angel:  Wait a minute.  Not so fast.  Kids don’t have to have food to have fun.  What kind of message is a T.O.P.S. giving?

Shopper:        I really want to encourage good eating habits.

Bad Angel:     Bah!

Shopper:        I don’t want to give the message that only sweets are good.  But what else do kids like?

Bad Angel:     Cigarettes

Good Angel:  There are lots of fun alternatives to candy.  Look here’s some:

Apples and boxes of raisins, and sun flower seeds

Bad Angel:     GAG!

Good Angel:  and there’s
Stickers,                                  Place items in the cart.
Halloween pencils,
Halloween bouncy balls,
Temporary tattoos,
bubbles,
balloons,
sugar free gum,
etc.

Shopper:        This is the perfect solution.  Kids will be so happy.  And I’m happy.

Bad Angel:     And I’m disgusted.

Good Angel:  And I’m De-e-e-lighted!

Narrator:       It’s now Halloween.  Our T.O.P.S.  shopper has put all the good non-candy alternatives in a big bowl.  The trick-or-treaters can now pick out what they want.  They love doing that.

Bad Angel (wearing face mask):      Trick or Treat!

Good Angel:  What are you supposed to be?

Bad Angel:     A politician

Good Angel:  Figures.

Narrator:       I hear the doorbell.  (Ring a bell, or knock loudly on the door)

Shopper:        Ooohoooh,  I hear someone.

Narrator:       The door is opened.

Trick-or-Treater:      TRICK-OR-TREAT!  TRICK-OR-TREAT!

Shopper:        Oh how cute!  Here’s your treat.  Pick something out of the bowl.

Narrator:       Note how happy the child is. 

Trick-or-Treater:      Thank you.

Shopper:        You’re welcome.  Enjoy.

Good Angel:  Aren’t you glad you listened to me?

Bad Angel:     Hey!  Tomorrow the stores put all their Halloween candy on sale.  Everybody loves a bargain.

Good Angel:  But our T.O.P.S. are intelligent.  They control their emotions, and don’t let emotions control them. …

Narrator: Let’s everyone sing:

Halloween Song: (To the tune of “She’ll Be Comin Around the Mountain)

Oh, we’ll give away all goodies when they come.
Yes, we’ll give away all the goodies when they come.
We won’t buy any candy.  No, we won’t sneak any candy.
No, we won’t eat any candy when they come.

Oh, we’ll give away all goodies when they come.
Yes, we’ll give away all the goodies when they come.
To the witches and the ghosties, to the pirates and the bums,
And we’ll all weigh in with losses, every one!

Great Idea

Wait until I tell my T.O.P.S. friends.  Look at this video.  Every year, the nonprofit Operation Gratitude delivers surplus candy to overseas troops.  Here's how I plan to get rid of my extra Halloween Candy.  It's also a way to make me feel good, while still looking good.

Inspiration Workshop

My T.O.P.S. chapter hosted an Inspiration Workshop.  Take Off Pounds Sensibly is an international organization dedicated to health, nutrition, and support.  It's not a diet club because we don't sell food, or gimmicks, or recommend specific diets.  We preach healthy habits.  Most people have to change their lifestyles to be what they want to be. Although the title is Take Off Pounds Sensibly, I used it to gain weight, because its about healthy habits.  Now I stay for the support to stay within a healthy weight range.

Today's Inspiration Workshop was a lot of fun.  The theme was back to school.  We had plenty of apples for the teacher and everyone else.  Those are "affirmations" on the stems.

Here was our schedule for the day.  I liked the cooking glass because I learned a new apple muffin recipe that was easy and nutritious.  The singing and exercise was fun, too.

Dianne Therieau was our guest speaker.  She's from my chapter.  We're quite proud of her.  She's a nutritionist.  We always use her as a resource in chapter, but today we got to show her off.  Everyone was educated about nutrition and asked lots of questions.  She did an excellent job.

In keeping with our theme, we all brought our own lunches, some in lunch boxes.  We had recess, and even pledged allegiance to the flag.

I think everyone was inspired by this workshop.

Everyone left smiling, and talking about what a good workshop this was.  That's my criteria for a successful event.  Look at our pictures to see more.

Lackadaisical Spirituality

Franklin T.O.P.S. 463

This afternoon I was happy to have maintained my weight.  You see, I kinda/sorta blew it this week.  I was not eating mindfully.  I ate things I shouldn't have over the weekend, and said, "Oh to hell with it!"  Then ate whatever was in sight, for the rest of the week. (Hmmmm, yesterday I posted about cookies...see the pattern?) 

But at "weigh in" today, I turtled.  I remained the same weight as last week.  Go figure?

Not being as bad as I thought I was, I feel very encouraged.  I will be good this week.  I'm resolved!  It's suppose to be a good weekend, so I'm going to take my granddaughter for a walk.  We'll go swimming.  I need to vacuum; every room needs to be cleaned.  So I know I'll be more active than usual.  And if I watch what food I put in my mouth, I should lose.  I bet I do.

Staying upbeat and resolved is also a problem, spiritually.  (I bet you were wondering how I was going to tie in spirituality.)  In fact, the same problems people have with their weight, often mirrors their spiritual weight.  Not making progress, losing, gaining, yo-yo-yoing, giving up, starting over, are spiritual problems.  We can get lazy, like I did, and say, "Oh to hell with it!"  Then God blesses us in that special way that fits each of us, and we resolve to re-establish and fortify our relationship with Him.  

Of course, the resolve yo-yo-yoes--come and goes, but we can't give up.  Our health depends on it.  

Actually, this is another reason I'm glad I'm Catholic.  The past is absolved in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Imagine being reconciled with God!) and one begins again.  Just like my plans for the weekend.  

Not only will my halo shine brightly; it will fit!

Pentecost Cures Fat Faces

Contemplating Pentecost had me searching what Thomas Aquinas wrote.  He used images that my frame of references honed in on:

 The prophet says: “His face is covered with fatness” (Job 15:27),


Naturally, I looked up that verse.  It gets worse.  The rest of that sentence is:

and his thighs too heavy with flesh.


It's no wonder AQ quoted that verse.  We both have a weight problem.

I know...I know he wasn't talking about body fat, but rather mind fat, or lazy thinking.  But he and I know that it's the same principles.  In order to get rid of the fatness we have to change our lives.  That's the entire theory behind T.O.P.S.  

You have to change the way you do things.  Your life has to change.  Make good choices whether it's food or moral behavior, and you'll be healthy--both body and soul.

I propose that St. Thomas Aquinas become the patron saint of T.O.P.S.  

S.R.D.

Yes, I've been too busy to post this week, and this is why. I was going to work, rushing to daily Mass (It's Lent, after all.), rush to exercise class, then going to French class, trying to meet two deadlines, pack and get ready for SRD, plan the next T.O.P.S. meeting. Whew! Now, SRD, is over. I met the two deadlines. And I can breathe easily.

What's SRD? State Recognition Days is a weekend of honoring the best losers in T.O.P.S. Six from my Chapter went. Here's the picture. It was a wonderful time. I'm inspired to get back to losing. I met the most wonderful lady sitting next to me at dinner. She has been a K.O.P.S. for twenty-three years! A K.O.P.S. is someone who has Kept Off Pounds. Twenty-three years!!!! That means she never went over three pounds of her goal weight, nor dropped down more than seven.

Do you think I'll ever be a K.O.P.S.?

Eating Mindfully

My group, T.O.P.S. is working on eating Mindfully. Last week, we tried dropping a hundred calories, daily. I had planned on doing this by making 3 small changes to my life style. I didn't do so well.

My three changes were (1) drink more water (2) make half my plate vegetables and fruit (3) more exercise.

I sometimes did # 1. I did do # 2 faithfully. I never did # 3.

My weight remained the same.

At least I didn't gain!

This week, I'm going to eat with my left hand. I'm right handed. Eating with your opposite hand will make you eat slower and give you time to think about what you're eating. Using the opposite hand will also give that part of brain muscle some exercise.

And there # 3--MORE EXERCISE! (See I am smarter than the average bear.)

Apple Affirmations

I wanted to do something fun in T.O.P.S. today. Since this is Halloween weekend, I thought we'd play a game. I thought of bobbing for apples, but that can be messy and isn't really hygienic. So I made up Apple Affirmations. It's not a game. It's more like a T.O.P.S. Chinese Cookie. You know, the cookies with fortunes in them. Although, since this was for T.O.P.S., I exchanged the cookie for something healthy, i.e., an apple. Instead of fortunes, I thought I'd give motivational boosts, with little slips of paper attached to the apple stems. The motivational boosts were in the form of affirmations:

Better choices lead to better living.
The only person that stands in the way of my success is me.
Taking control of my weight and my health is my number one priority.
Persistence and resistance will prolong my existence.
I won't let slip-ups be my downfall.
Self-control is my antidote to temptation.
My genes are not my fault, but my behavior is my responsibility.
I can manage temptation.
If I am wise, I will exercise.
I will maintain a positive attitude.