- Details
- Hits: 91
Mick Jagger sneered, “I’ve got nasty habits.” Poor Mick! But he could change his nasty habits and stay healthy while still enjoying his meals to the max. One of my favourite non-nasty habits is portion control. If you practice portion control you don’t give up anything; you just control how much you put on your plate.
- Details
- Hits: 82
In love? Read on
“For me? You shouldn’t have!” you say as you reach for the bow-wrapped heart-shaped red box, full of luscious cherry-filled chocolates. Valentine’s! Gifts of Love! But wait!
- Details
- Hits: 100
January is a time for fresh starts and for making New Year’s Resolutions. Maybe you make resolutions, and maybe not. But since everyone wants good health, I thought I’d ask some of my friends from TOPS what has worked for them. They have kindly agreed to let me share these tried and true practices with you, their friends in our community. Maybe you’ll try some of them. Their names have been changed to … you know. Andora said that when she buys groceries she sticks to wholesome foods. She doesn’t toss “goodies” into the shopping cart, so they never get through her front door. And if they’re not in the house, she can’t eat them.
- Details
- Hits: 119
You might think that you don’t have to worry about hydration in December on Mayne Island. (On Maui you would, of course.) Maybe you always carried a bottle of water in summer when it was sweltering out. But here and now, staying hydrated isn’t a concern, right? Wrong! You probably feel less thirsty in cold weather, but being less thirsty doesn’t mean that you’re better hydrated.
- Details
- Hits: 94
Comfort foods can help make the short days and chilly nights a little bit cozier. We all have comfort foods, don’t we? Sometimes just the smell of a dish, like pancakes frying on a Sunday morning when you’re lying in bed, or a single ingredient, like coffee, can evoke strong memories.
- Details
- Hits: 75
The full moon in September is called the Harvest Moon. September is a time of abundance, when Mayne Island orchards are heavy with fruit, and our gardens produce a wealth of vegetables. It’s wonderful to celebrate the profusion of the earth’s gifts at this time with feasts and potlucks and barbecues under autumn skies.
- Details
- Hits: 91
So you want to lose weight but you think you don’t like to exercise? Read on.
We know nutrition plays the leading role in the weight loss drama, but exercise is still a supporting actor and is great for your general health. Why not try some truly enjoyable ways of being active? Let me suggest a few.
- Details
- Hits: 88
Tofu or Not Tofu
Tofu has been a main protein source in my family for about fifty years, so when the question of tofu came up at TOPS recently, as some folks expressed concern about genetic modification and hexane processing of soy, I decided to look into these subjects.
- Details
- Hits: 78
Like the French
Ah, the French. They eat butter, cream sauce, bread, dessert, and drink wine. Why aren’t they all obese? Don’t they break all the rules?
Well, they have their own rules, based on pleasure, according to Agnes Poirier in The Guardian, who writes, “My diet is very rich and yet I am thin. Food, to most of my compatriots, is a matter of colours, savours and flavours.” Let’s take a closer look.
- Details
- Hits: 83
Snack Attacks: 10 best ideas for outwitting them
Do you sometimes get “obsessed” with an overwhelming urge to snack? Do you get up in the night and raid the fridge? Do you discover you’ve popped a bag of candies or a carton of cookies into your shopping cart, to be astonished when you get to the cash register?
- Details
- Hits: 78
TOPS is not about dieting.
If you’ve tried dieting and found out it didn’t work for you, don’t worry. TOPS is not about dieting. TOPS is about becoming a healthier, happier person by being sensible about what you eat and how you live. Instead of depriving yourself of the foods you enjoy, we support you to adjust your portion sizes. If you resist exercising we encourage you to start getting more fit with the kind of exercise you enjoy.
There are many opportunities to get a little more exercise in your day if you think about it. We discuss the kinds of food that are healthier and share recipes we’ve tried. We celebrate one another’s successes and encourage each another when we struggle.
From my own experience, losing weight in a sensible way is not starting a “crash diet” but rather a slow but sensible change in eating habits and lifestyle that gradually improves general health while shedding pounds. I know others in TOPS share this opinion based on their own experience.
At TOPS we remind one another about important matters like drinking enough water, eating the healthy fats, eating nutritious meals, walking more, eating more fruits and vegetables, and other healthy habits, by adapting games like bowling or bingo and devising amusing contests to keep up good habits. We have fun.
We also volunteer to present a short program on any health-supporting subject that interests us such as how to eat consciously, how to decipher labels on food packaging, how to substitute a healthy ingredient for one that isn’t healthful, how to get a better sleep, or how to cook food in ways that don’t remove the vitamins we need to nourish our bodies.
Remember, you aren’t in this alone. We all know how hard it is to do this on your own because we’ve been there. We’re a very supportive group and we’re here for you.
When you join TOPS you will make an appointment to see your doctor and together you will set a sensible weight goal for yourself. Your improved or maintained good health is always central to what you do at TOPS.
Please join us. 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
- Details
- Hits: 67
What If I Can’t Get Out to Exercise?
The snow last month presented a challenge to those who get their exercise from walking or going to the gym. So I looked through some of my TOPS magazines and came across some exercise ideas to do at home.
Here are some simple ideas I found. Everyone has probably done these at some time or other but there is a difference between knowing how to do them and remembering to actually do them. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider before starting any exercise program.
- Details
- Hits: 97
“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.