In chess, the ROOK, also known as the castle, is a unique piece and considered one of the major ones on the chessboard. A player has two of them, positioned in each corner. A ROOK moves in straight lines, across a RANK or FILE.
Moving in a straight line seems simple. I wish my journey to a healthier me would have been in straight lines. However, we know that weight loss is not linear and will always have its ups and downs.
There was a point in my pre-TOPS time when I felt that I could lose weight at anytime. All I would need to do would be to eat less and move more, then my weight would go down in a straight line. It seems so simple, just like the moves of a ROOK.
However, what may seem simple is not. TOPS opened my eyes to how complex obesity is as a disease, and how weight loss will never be linear. There are many turns on this journey. You never know when a BLOCKADE will pop up.
Along with my misplaced naivety during my early years, there is also much new data to sift through. In all seriousness, which way is the pyramid really supposed to point? Historically, TOPS has always professed to eat real food and use portion control, so it is nice to see everyone else catch up. TOPS has helped me find an ADVANTAGE.
Chess has rules to guide its game. TOPS also has a set of guidelines to make sure we stay on board.
Just as having a strong understanding of how to move the pieces on a chessboard can help someone win, many TOPS members succeed because they better understand how to use the tools available for weight loss. TOPS offers many helpful tools and resources. For example, the TOPS Exchange Program can feel challenging to some, while to others it’s a piece of cake — oops, I mean a walk in the park. Pardon my HOWLER.
My POSITION is that I have a basic knowledge of both chess and the Exchange Program, and I use what I know to help shape my next STRATEGY. To prove my point, in chess I rely on the basic moves of the ROOK. However, I don’t yet understand all the special moves a ROOK can make, such as castling, which shows there is always more to learn.
The game of chess and life will always be challenging. TOPS will help continue to provide me with the education I need to succeed. It will take time, but it is worth it. As for chess, well, I will also keep practicing so I will not get “rooked.”
Good morning everyone, hope all is well with you and your families! Thanks Mr. Danforth for your support and kind words! Chess is a challenging game as is the game of staying healthy. Most of us were taught to take care of others first. Now as we have grown it is time to remember to take care of ourselves FIRST, so we can continue to care for others.🙂