Moments of well-being

We had a very good meeting Monday with 17 members attending. We had a total loss of 35.4 pounds and total gain of 1.5 pounds with a chapter net loss of 33.9 pounds! Neve had our best weight loss this week with a loss of 9.8 pounds! Way to go, Neve! We celebrated Brenda H with being August best weight loss of 5.4 pounds. She received an airplane pin and stress rock that had TOPS ROCKS printed on the stress rock. Congrats, Brenda, keep up the good losses. Our Two Bit Bowl contest drew out Willene’s name but she had a slight gain, so the quarters stay in the bowl for next week’s drawing. The Ladder contest is a close call with Shirley and Brenda H ahead with two more rungs to reach the top. A new surprise box was passed around for the members to feel how heavy the box is. Thirteen of the stickers on the box has been marked off. Our Chapter Challenge for this coming week is to maintain their weight or lose weight.

We have eight members going to the TOPS Fun Day in Wagoner this coming Saturday.

Our program was an article from our TOPS Magazine. The title “Moments of Well-Being” was an interesting article. It had three nourishing practices for Stress Relief. The introduction question was, “Do you ever feel like life is just, well, really hard?” While there is no magic wand to solve life’s challenges, there are ways to help manage your response to the stress caused by these challenges. Here are three practices to help you feel more grounded and nourished. When you feel more at peace, you are more likely to make health choices. (1) Find a comfortable spot outside like park bench, patch of grass or even your own back yard. Put the phone away, close your eyes for a moment, and listen to the sounds around your— birds chirping, leaves rustling, or even the ambient hum of a nearby highway. Feel the breeze on your skin and the sun on your face. (2) Deep Breathing. Practicing deep breathing regularly has multiple benefits, including lowing your heart rate, improving mental focus and potentially improving sleep quality. Find a comfortable seated position and place one hand on your chest and the other on your belly. Slowly inhale through your nose, feeling your belly rise as your lungs fill with air. Exhale slowly through your mouth, feeling your belly fall as the air leaves your lungs. Repeat this process for 2-3 minutes. (3) In the Moment. Grounding, also known as earthing, is a simple yet powerful technique to help you feel more centered and connected to the present moment. One easy way to practice grounding is to take off your shoes and socks and stand barefoot on a natural surface like grass or sand. Take a few dep breaths and focus on the sensation the ground beneath your feet. This exercise can help you feel more stable, secure and anchored in the present, even when life feels chaotic or overwhelming.

It cost $52 a year to join TOPS Club INC. We meet at First Christian Church, 706 N Wheeler, Sallisaw, Monday at 10:30am-12pm. We begin weighing at 10:30am and the meeting starts at 11 am and ends at 12. For more info, please call Billie at 918/413-1383 or Lynda at 360/824-2091. We look forward to meeting you.