TOPS Club, Inc.® (Take Off Pounds Sensibly®), the nonprofit weight-loss support organization, unveiled its most successful members, or “royalty,” in California Sat., June 6, during its celebratory State Recognition Days event at the DoubleTree by Hilton Modesto.
TOPS Club, Inc.® (Take Off Pounds Sensibly®), the nonprofit weight-loss support organization, unveiled its most successful members, or “royalty,” in California Sat., June 6, during its celebratory State Recognition Days event at the DoubleTree by Hilton Modesto.
Barbara Treece of Cypresswas announced 2014 California Queen, losing 203 pounds. John Sheakley of San Mateo, 2014 California King, lost 67 pounds. TOPS royalty are men and women who, at the end of the year, have officially recorded the largest weight loss from their starting weight, regardless of the time taken to reach their goal. Treece and Sheakley are just two of the more than 7,000 members in the state who lost over 32,000 pounds combined last year.
“Just like weight doesn’t suddenly show up all at once on a person’s body, it doesn’t leave all at once; it takes time,” said Treece. “When I lost my job in December 2010 after 25 years, I was devastated. At 347.75 pounds, it was difficult for me to move, and my doctor told me that I had diabetes. I knew I had to do something to rebuild my spirit. I had first joined TOPS in January 2005 after my neighbor told me about the program. I now had more time to devote to getting serious about losing weight. I knew how to eat healthy and that I needed to move every day, but I needed support from others and the accountability of weighing in each week. With the encouragement and patience of my TOPS chapter leader, Sue, I was soon able to walk two miles a day. My fellow chapter members encouraged me along my journey. Now that I make better food choices and use portion control, as well as incorporate exercise each day, I have lost a total of 203 pounds. It’s a humbling experience to have people tell me that I’ve inspired them to keep working towards their goal.”
Noted Sheakley, “In March 2014, my doctor told me that, according to the BMI chart, I was on the border between being overweight and obese. As a former long-distance runner, I was shocked that I was associated with the word obese. A nutritionist provided me with a wealth of information. With my college education that included health and nutrition topics, I already understood most of the information. I needed to be with other real-life examples that had the wisdom and provided the encouragement to help me lose weight. I searched online for a group of people like me that just wanted to get together each week to help each other lose weight – TOPS. In addition to weight loss, I also lost a lot of my frustrations, anxiety, hurts, hang-ups, and bad habits – but I gained a new source of self-esteem.”
TOPS offers an individual approach to weight loss and overall wellness. Consistent group support, health education, and recognition are all key components to successful weight management.
“We are so proud of our TOPS members’ amazing weight-loss successes,” emphasized Barbara Cady, TOPS President. “Members like Barbara and John lost more than 400 tons combined in 2014 – a huge feat! Celebrating their life-changing accomplishments is an important part of TOPS’ winning formula, whether losing weight or maintaining goals.”
TOPS Club Inc.® (Take Off Pounds Sensibly®) is the original weight-loss support and wellness education organization. Founded more than 66 years ago, TOPS is the only nonprofit, noncommercial weight-loss organization of its kind. TOPS promotes successful weight management with a “Real People. Real Weight Loss.®” philosophy that combines support from others at weekly chapter meetings, healthy eating, regular exercise and wellness information. TOPS has more than 125,000 members – male and female, age seven and older – in thousands of chapters throughout the United States and Canada.
Visitors are welcome to attend their first TOPS meeting free of charge. Membership is affordable at just $32 per year in the U.S. and $36 per year in Canada, plus nominal chapter fees. To find a local chapter, view www.tops.org or call 800-932-8677.
