Tops (Take Off Pounds Sensibly)

Last night I became a member of Tops (Take Off Pounds Sensibly.) I've been looking for something that is motivating and would hold me accountable. I have already tried the whole buddy system with family and friends with no luck. You need to want to be motivated and want to be held accountable. They just weren't so they weren't giving it back.

 I thought about joining weight watchers for the weekly meetings. I also thought a personal trainer may be the right person to motivate and hold me accountable. I was searching the web for other local programs when I came across Tops. This was just what I was looking for. Tops has the weekly meetings (accountability), weekly weigh ins, with small rewards (motivation), education (knowledge is power is always motivating), and the right price (28.00 to join, plus 3.00 a month.)

For $17.00 I purchased the book Real Life: The Hands-on Pounds-off Guide. Not required but I'm the kind of person that wants all the resources available.

Such a great group and I'm so happy I found Tops and that I joined.

About TOPS weight-loss support!

No quick fixes. No fad diets. 
No pills or magic potions.

No outrageous monthly fees.

TOPS Club, Inc. is the original, nonprofit, weight-loss support and wellness education organization. Our program is scientifically proven and has helped millions over the last 60+ years. TOPS promotes successful, affordable weight management with "a hands-on pounds-off approach to weight loss®" that combines:

1. healthy eating
2. regular physical activity
3. wellness information
4. awards and recognition
5. support from others at weekly chapter meetings

Weekly meetings provide a supportive, educational environment where people are encouraged and not judged. If face-to-face meetings aren’t your style or if you can’t find a meeting that fits your schedule, you can be an online member and still take advantage of our experts’ tips and our many print and online materials. Plus, you can choose to join a chapter at any time in the future or change chapters.

With thousands of chapters across the U.S. and Canada, each meeting is a little different, so you might want to visit a few meetings in your area to find the one that’s best for you.

The first visit to any chapter is free.

1. Each meeting starts with a private Weigh-In, so you can stay accountable to the goals you’ve set for yourself.
2. That’s often followed by Roll Call, which is a chance for members to share challenges, successes, or goals if they wish to.
3. Many chapters hand out Awards each week or month and participate in the TOPS International Recognition program.
4. TOPS experts on nutrition, fitness, and motivation share their best tips to Take Off Pounds Sensibly® in our brief, interactiveChapter Programs, presented by volunteer Leaders.
5. The meeting closes with a Thought for the Week or other inspirational activity.

Visit Tops.org for more information.

Celebrity Diet and Fitness Secrets

Kim Cattrall

"As I get older, I find that cardio is less important to me. What I want to do more of is intense stretching." 

Kim's newest workout addiction is "Fizzy Yoga", a hybrid of yoga and physiotherapy that incorporates meditative breathing, physio adjustments and yoga poses.

(Via: Glamour)

Maria Menounos

"My Secret is to always be moving." 

Maria walks 10,000 steps daily.

(Via: Examiner)

Rihanna

'It's all about trying to eat healthy and be in the gym to feel better. If you look at it that way, and not like you're trying to lose weight, then it's more successful.' 

Rihanna's diet includes veggies, egg whites, and fruit as snacks, plus she drinks loads of water. No Carbs for her.

(Via: Marie Claire)

Gwen Stefani

“I’d like to have no rules and eat what I want." 

So Gwen can eat what she wants, she works out five days a week.

(Via: Glamour)

Sharon Stone

"I don't have a regular routine. When I notice things aren't quite where I want them to be, I step it up. You park further from the door, you take the stairs instead of the elevator."

Sharon follows a low-sugar diet of lean proteins, fruits, and whole grains. She avoids caffeine and too much alcohol. But she does splurge every once in a while.

(Via: Shape)

Ginnifer Godwin

"My mom always taught me to listen to my body." 

Ginnifer has been on Weight Watchers since she was 9 years old.

(Via: NY Daily News)

Kate Hudson

"It's important to be conscious of your health and not indulge too much in the things that are bad for you."

Kate stays active and she love of pilates. Kate enjoys a smart eating plan that includes a lot of sushi, and organic food wherever possible.

(Via: Fit Sugar)

Blake Lively

"I am terrible, I don't do any exercise.” 

Blake eats quinoa for a week when she's feeling she's gained some weight.

(Via: Glamour Magazine)

Rebecca Romijn

"I don't drink wine during the week - just on the weekends."

(Via: Good House Keeping)

Cameron Diaz

“I’m very thoughtful about what I eat." 

Cameron lifts weights and stay clear of fried food.

(Via: Daily Mail)

Jennifer Lopez

“I work out because I have to.” 

Jennifer is a fan of Dukan diet and the Tracy Anderson dance fitness method.

(Via: Glamour Magazine)

What I've Learned from Skinny Girl Bethenny Frankel

• Your Diet is a Bank Account - Balance your food choices just like you balance your spending and savings (bank account). Bethenny says "don’t eat too much of any one thing, balance starches with protein, vegetables and fruits with sweets, and always balance a splurge with a save."

• You can have it all, just not all at once. So no more fries with my cheeseburger. Or no more cheeseburger with my fries. ;) Side salad it is.

• Mangia Poco Ma Bene - Eat little but good (well). Quality versus quantity.

• Spoil your appetite. Bethenny says "if you are ravenous, you’re going to have a hard time just tasting something great. But if you have spoiled your appetite? No problem." So true.

• Take a  seat, slow down, pause between bites, and make food special.

• Downsizing is not deprivation.

• Check yourself before you wreck yourself. NEVER BINGE. Make peace with food.

• Know thyself: Know your own hunger, know your own food triggers.

• Exercise, sleep, participate (in your life), and loving yourself are all good for me.

• Trust my food voice, not my food noise. Bethenny says "Your food voice is a deep inner wisdom that tells you when you are hungry, and what you really want to eat. Your food noise is that obsessive voice that tells us we can’t eat this, we must never eat that, we can’t can’t possibly touch even a bite of something else. Then it turns on us and commands us to eat everything in sight because we feel deprived or stressed out and we “deserve” to eat. But then it makes us feel guilty about what we did, and subsequently tells us we don’t deserve anything good again. Or it tells us how good and virtuous we are when we don’t eat."

• If I’m going to drink with my meal I should eat protein. The protein will balance the sugar in the alcohol, and the food will stay with me longer. Keep it light and clean.

• Learn to love vegetables. Seasonal will always taste better. Your local farmers market is the best place to find them.

These are a few of my favorite take aways from Naturally Thin by Bethenny Frankel.

12 Week Biggest Loser Challenge - Effective Planning and Goal Setting

On Sunday a few of my family and friends are starting a "12 Week Biggest Loser Challenge".  One thing I've learned is planning ahead works and that is what I've been doing the last few days. I started with Charles Platkin's "effective planning and goal setting" outline. 

1. Specific: Plan it out.

How - Calories intake: 1200 - 1550 a day. Eating clean. Plan my meals ahead of time. Keep fresh fruits and vegetables available at all times for snacking. 

Exercise: Walk 2 miles (+) every day. Every other day either go to the gym, or do the 30 Day Shred. 

I've got my Fitbit to help track my miles and I'll be using Sparkpeople.com and Sparkpeople app to track my calorie intake and exercise (calorie burn). My Fitbit is also linked to my Sparkpeople account. I need to burn at least 770 calories per week. Sparkpeople helped me figure that out.

When - Eat within an hour of waking and stop eating three hours before bed. I like to get my exercise out of the way (or I tend to not get around to it) so I'll be going to the gym or doing the 30 Day Shred in the morning. The walking I'll do either in the morning or in the afternoon or both. 

Where - Where ever I'm at. No Excuses. 

Why - I'm tired of carrying around the extra weight. I'm tired of not ever having anything (cute) to wear. Most important, I'd like to get healthy and be around for my family. 

2. Motivating: My why for sure and the 12 week BL challenge. We will keep each other motivated.

3. Achievable: Very achievable. 

4. Rewarding: See my why above. The 12 week BL challenge does have a cash reward but losing the weight is reward enough for me.

5. Tactical: See my how above.

6. Evaluated: With my Sparkpeople account I'll be able to evaluate if it's working or not.

7. Revisable: Yes and if needed I will revise and not give up.