“What If…?”
I was reading the TOPS NEWS (their magazine) recently and thought I’d share some ideas I found there. The article said that saying “what if” can be a way to protect us from things that can go wrong. But it can also keep us from taking that first step and trying out something new. Coming to TOPS can feel daunting, if we say, “What if I fail?” But if we say, “What if I succeed?” so many options open up for us. Just think of the ways your life will improve if you reach a healthier weight.
You might think, “What if I join and I slip on my meal plan?” But you could also think, “What if I stick to my meal plan a few days this week?” We are all human and slip up once in a while. I know I ate far too many cookies, forgot to drink water, and avoided walking over the holidays, and I gained back some of the weight I lost, but I’m getting back to my healthier lifestyle and I will succeed, with the encouragement of my friends at TOPS. We have all kinds of fun ways to give encouragement.
You might think, “What if I never reach my goal?” Instead, you could think, “What if I just get healthier than I am right now?” You would enjoy life more if your health allowed you to do some of the things you yearn to do. Do you want to walk more, dance more, play more games, run around more with your children or grandchildren, swim more, wear clothes you love, do more physical work? The list goes on, and is personal to each one of us. What’s on your list?
What if you think, “What if I’m too (you fill in the blank) for the group?” Instead you could think, “What if the group enjoys the diversity I bring to it?” We have folks of all sizes, beliefs, backgrounds, and experiences in this group and would love to have more people join. Men and much younger people are scarce at the moment, but we would love to include you in our fun-loving, sometimes silly, supportive group. Everyone is welcome to learn how to improve their health by taking off pounds sensibly!
I had a carload of doubts and “what ifs” before I joined, but I’m happy I did join. I have fun at our meetings, learn new things there, get lots of understanding and encouragement, and have improved many aspects of my health while losing weight in a careful, sensible way.
We meet every Wednesday morning at the Community Centre, from 9:00 to 10:00. We’re a low-cost self-help program that welcomes everyone. If you want to Take Off Pounds Sensibly with the rest of us, please call...
Submitted by Amber Harvey