TOPS isn’t just about taking off pounds, though that’s important. During this pandemic our chapter has found a way to go on meeting and supporting each other, hearing our friends’ voices, seeing their faces and listening to each other. By using an app called Zoom we still meet weekly.
“It’s hard,” is a common refrain. In times of stress like this, a lot of feelings surface. Everyone misses something. We miss our children, our grandchildren, our aged parents, as well as our volunteer work, or our social clubs. Many of us are lonely and anxious. Some of us are easily angered about small things. We are tempted to return to old habits that have worked for us in the past, maybe old addictions, like alcohol or smoking, or even new ones like video games. Some obsess about housework. Some indulge in food, and we all agree that this is no time to “binge” and undo all the good we’ve done by regaining the weight we’ve lost. We’re being gentle with ourselves, though, realizing that doing whatever helps us get through this comes first.
Our TOPS group is very grateful to the Mayne Island community. Our stores are working extra hard to supply and protect us in spite shortages of toilet paper, and lately of flour and sugar. (Are there suddenly a lot of French pastry chefs around here?) We in turn are doing what we can to help, like sewing masks and getting in touch with neighbours to make sure they’re all right. But we realize we can’t help others if we don’t take care of our own needs first.
One way to take care of ourselves is to control what we can. We can structure our days to make sure we get regular sleep, get out in the sun, exercise (walk in well-spaced groups,) drink enough water, stay in touch with others, eat nutritious meals, and stay safe. We can follow the good advice of the medical experts who remind us daily to wash our hands often and well, and to keep the distance of a hockey stick between us and anyone else.
What are some other helpful things we’ve tried? Some of us are reading more. We can borrow books on-line from our library. We try recipes from our TOPS magazine. We’re sharing funny stories on social media because we know laughter is good for us. We’re listening to more music. And it seems everyone has a hobby to turn to for relaxation or a sense of accomplishment, things like baking (but remember to freeze some of it,) gardening, sewing, or painting.
We’d love to see you at TOPS. We support and encourage every member to meet their health goals through developing better habits. We usually meet every Wednesday morning at the Community Centre, from 9:00 to 10:00. For now we meet on line. We’re a low-cost, enjoyable, self-help program that happily welcomes everyone. (Your first visit is free.) If you want to Take Off Pounds Sensibly with us, please call....
Submitted by Amber Harvey