I appreciate all who took THYME to read and comment on the first spice of TOPS Spices of Life. There are many spices available to use, and it will be a challenge to turn them into honest refractions of my journey to a healthier lifestyle.
I chose SAGE as the next spice off the rack to explain the stage I am at on my journey. A SAGE is a person distinguished for their wisdom. I wish I could say I knew what I was doing during my pre-TOPS life. I was just not using the smartest ways to maintain my health.
Since I joined TOPS in 2002, I have learned a lot about myself and how to lose weight. I am no SAGE; however, I am healthier and a little smarter now. Preparing these bi-weekly blogs helps me learn even more. I surmise you learn more about your journey when you prepare a program for your chapter meeting. We need to support each other in our approach to increasing our longevity. We can all take steps to be a SAGE.
It is obvious that the SAGE of TOPS is its founder, Esther Manz. To take a dream, turn it into an idea that helps the public learn more about weight imbalances and put in place an organization lasting over seven decades takes wisdom, not luck.
I always thought it was ironic that the first major article about TOPS, which appeared in LIFE magazine in 1951, had General Omar Bradley on the cover. Mrs. Manz is not only the SAGE of TOPS but a General who led TOPS for over forty years, creating a support system for all of us.
Our SAGE was not a dietician, but her idea was supported by science. Dr. Frederick Stare, founder of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard’s School of Public Health and considered one of the leading dieticians at the THYME, stated that group therapy was the best possible way to lose weight. New studies continue to support this approach.
Beyond our chapter meetings, TOPS News, the TOPS website, SRD/PRD/ARD and workshops, a great place to get more information on a healthier lifestyle is at TOPS’ next health and wellness forum, Health on the Horizon (click this link to learn more). This is a great opportunity to connect with other SAGES in the health and wellness field. The battle against obesity wages on, and we need all the information we can gather to fight it. This conference is a revival of the original national meetings tailored from medical conferences in the early years of TOPS.
Like sage as a spice, a little goes a long way—another small piece of information may be what resets your path. It did for me. I will refract on this further in my next blog when I take some BASIL off the shelf.
Sage (Salvia officinalis): A fragrant, slightly bitter herb in the mint family, native to the Mediterranean. It has soft, gray-green leaves and a warm, earthy flavor. Common uses are to season meats such as poultry, pork, sausages and stuffings, as well as soups and sauces. It does well with butter and root vegetables. Suggested medicinal uses are an aid for digestion, sore throats and inflammation due to its mild antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Sometimes used in teas and for its scent in herbal blends. Caution: This is a strong herb, so a little goes a long way in a recipe.
