The next contributor to our knowledge base is Gina Brueske, who is also TOPS Board Secretary, Retreat Assignment and Booking Director, and a KOPS.
Gina Brueske’s Lesson
Overcoming Inertia
One of the first things I learned during the pandemic is that I apparently wasn’t driven to do much during the first month or so of staying home. I was amazed at how so many people dove right in to clean closets, cupboards, garages, etc. Not that mine didn’t need attention, but knowing I didn’t have a schedule or anywhere in particular that I had to be, made me decide that I could do it tomorrow. Unfortunately, tomorrow never came.
Between us, I don’t think this is a good trait, and now I wish I had been more ambitious. After two months, I really didn’t accomplish much in the cleaning or sorting out department. Apparently, I must work more efficiently under pressure.
I did learn how to sleep in. I watched more news shows that were only repeats of the same news. It was refreshing to know my husband, Rich, and I (married for close to 53 years) still love each other and enjoy each other’s company. During this time while we’ve been confined to our house, we haven’t had a cross word between each other. We really are soulmates. We do depend on each other for many things.
I am so thankful for the lessons I’ve learned with TOPS and have been proud of both Rich and myself as KOPS. Neither of us gained any weight. Every day I cooked different meals that were on our food plan with things we had in the freezer. I only baked one time and it was something I love: rhubarb crisp. I made two and shared with my widowed brother-in-law. The rest of our rhubarb crop was taken to a local food bank so it wasn’t a further temptation. I know I have issues with desserts, and I learned long ago that if it isn’t in the house, I can’t eat it. Strange as it may seem to many, I don’t miss these things at all. I do credit TOPS for this lesson.
By Michelle September 14, 2020
I really enjoyed your article! I feel the same way about my husband We will be celebrating our 27th anniversary next month. We are both disabled, and we are together all the time. I don’t always eat the right things, but I came back with a loss of over 7 pounds. I reached my goal a few weeks later after a year almost to the day. I have to make an extra effort to become organized too. I’m one of those people who know exactly where something is even if it’s in a messy pile! Lol!
By Linda Zerucha September 2, 2020
It was good to read not to put pressure on ourselves. Some days I like to just read. My daughter has encouraged me to sell some unused items on Facebook Marketplace.I have a lot more to go. I’ve gone to meetings and have lost weight.
By Judy A Culbertson September 1, 2020
I really relate to your message. I returned to my TOPS meetings, after four months, with a 5.8 pound loss. I was well under my KOPS goal. What I have learned in my 18 years in TOPS was very helpful during the time of sheltering. I really enjoyed the slowing of time and lack of things that had to be done. I also cooked utilizing what was in my freezer and pantry. I had a granddaughter who turned 30 during that time and a great grandson who turned 2. We couldn’t go shopping or be together to celebrate, but we got creative in delivering shopping bags full of “surprises”. My granddaughter really had fun checking out the contents. She said she was glad I couldn’t go shopping.
You didn’t mention that you were busy making masks during that time. I am one of the lucky recipients of one. I cherish it because it came from one of my very favorite TOPS people. If we have to wear masks at 2021 IRD, I will be sporting my “Gina-Mask”.
By Wanda Jewett September 1, 2020
Congratulations on maintaining! In such stressful times maintaining is real achievement. Sure some have lost; some have houses that are spick and span and sparkling…we all react to stress differently. You did what came naturally to you except….you kept your health as a priority and used TOPS knowledge to keep healthy and keep from gaining.
Good for you!
By Debbie Sipes September 2, 2020
Thanks for sharing & congratulations on both your wonderful marriage & your maintenance of your weight
I must say that I, too had no desire to start cleaning my closets, or painting my bathroom, which still has not been done.
I gained around 5 lbs over the lockdown period & since we have been doing weigh ins at our weight recorders home, I have been able to lose it again Thank goodness for our wonderful weight recorders.
The guilt I felt from not getting around to cleaning and painting though became hard to deal with & once again I returned to old habits. Eventually I snapped out of it with encouragement from our weight recorder – she’s a great asset to our chapter
And by they way I did eventually do some major cleaning!!!
By Theresa Zabliski September 1, 2020
Thank you for your message, Gina. TOPS on-line is providing a wonderful resource as many of us are still staying mostly at home. You don’t need to publish this, but I just want to share some thoughts. I would just add, to you or anyone (including myself) to not to regret whatever you did that first month or throughout this challenging struggle. Yes, as we settle in for the long haul, we begin to find ways to work on some long standing projects such as closet cleaning, at times. Some of us entered this time with additional burdens – chronic illness, ailing elderly parents, recent loss of loved ones, disabled family members, children with special needs. Many can just do their best day to day, try to incorporate a few steps or a little walk, try to eat healthy when possible, try to do a few things to keep the home clean and comfortable. Very few people could predict or understand what was occurring or about to happen back in March. It was a month of shock and sometimes, severe concern /panic as one started to realize this was continuing on, as one tried to figure finances, home space, supplies, what was needed for the household / family, etc, etc. I don’t think any one of us could understand the meaning of this pandemic, the length of this on-going, life-altering situation, the economic impact and possible job losses, and how it affected various families or individuals, whether through isolation, loneliness, loss, illness, grief, or just the new, exhausting responsibilities of childcare, home schooling, working at home in sometimes cramped quarters with possibly inadequate technology to do the job, care of elderly, vulnerable or disabled family members, shopping while masking, searching for needed products, increased meat prices, continual sanitizing, no longer having restaurant-cooked or fast foods for a break for someone who usually cooks, etc. It still seems unreal at times — I stop and catch myself as I think, oh why don’t I just go to such and such a place, exercise somewhere, or get together with different people, whatever. Then – whoosh – one remembers the precautions, the need to distance, etc. There is a feeling of grief or loss as I know although the library, restaurants and YMCA are reopening, I don’t feel I can go as I don’t want to risk any extra exposure possibilities, especially for my husband who has valid concerns. I watch or hear of other people getting together for large parties or family gatherings, but tell myself, maybe in 2022, after a vaccine, etc. A short visit in the driveway from a friend or family member, becomes a treasured event, a highlight of the week. Each and every one who is seriously taking this situation and the need to contain or slow the virus, each one who is trying to keep up with daily responsibilities, each one who is hampered by lack of financial resources or inability to find needed items or just plain assistance, for example for elderly care at home, should know they are not the only one, that they are doing the best they can, and to be kind and gentle to themselves and others while we try to pull through this. Reach out for help. Or, help others if you can. We can only take it day by day, moment by moment, get out of the inertia even in little ways, but not blame ourselves for whatever way we have handled any of this time – this season – of pandemic.
By Alison Empey October 15, 2020
Wow. What a lovely, uplifting message, Theresa. Yes. I have been doing the best I could in this season. My weight is up…a lot…but I am managing my brain injury, very elderly and needy parents who are in poor health whom I cannot visit to help them (the multiple daily phone calls from them needing “something” (that I cannot help with from my home), or just venting to me are a terrible stress on me and my brain), a just retired hubby trying to adjust to his new circumstances, and me adjusting to him being home 24-7, etc., in this season of change and isolation. And you are right, my inertia is in my way. And I can, with my TOPS chapter”s help get out of my own way, AGAIN. Thank you for helping me realize I need to stop blaming myself for so much, and that I can start moving (figuratively and literally) again. Virtual hug to you.
By Teena Conrad August 31, 2020
Gina. Thanks for the message. I could totally relate. So many of the examples you gave could have been from my house. The incomplete ’round to-its” well I still have some. Teena
By Susan Sotelo August 31, 2020
I jumped right in and started cleaning..seeing how I didn’t have anything else on my schedule. Cleaned out my sons closet and my spare room and basement. I did a yard sale this past weekend… a horrible amount of work… after it was done… I hauled everything left to good will. It didn’t go so well with my husband home for a month…. he just sat and did screen time…. and really tanked my motivation. Today school started… my 16 year old gone all day motivated me to kick it back in!!
By Shirley Renaud August 31, 2020
Thank you Gina for your blog. So much me at this time! So needed!
By Karen Tinlin August 31, 2020
What a “real” message! Love it. I know that’s because you are truly a “real” person and your lessons learned in TOPS have kept you KOPS all these years.
By Clarissa Cazarez August 31, 2020
That’s awesome to maintain and just enjoy each other you and your husband and really at this time we should not put so much pressure on our self and make a conscious decision to maintain
I loved how she took charge of the dessert issue
I just like to taste myself and give it away
I found a recipe of a low calorie peanut butter cookies and I freeze the dough in 4th and it just enough for 6 cookies 2 each and that’s it you ate your 2 sorry no more for you it’s usually just a treat after dinner!!