Hi !!  I'm Laurel and this is our site that my hubby made for our chapter and me.  I belong to a great organization called TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) since February 1996.  With this great group, I have been able to lose 76 1/2 pounds and maintain it since January 1997.   TOPS does NOT give you a diet to follow, pills or anything like that, it only gives us the support we need to do one of the most difficult tasks you can imagine-- lose weight and keep it off!  All members are there for the same reason- weight loss.  Now, TOPS wants you under Doctor's care, but since it advocates sensible eating and exercise for weight loss, you basically are on your own as to how you want to do it.  The support plays a major part of it.   Admitting I couldn't do it alone was a big step for me.  I belong to a great group, TOPS #GA 449, Harlem.  The best thing I can say about TOPS,  is that when you join them, you're joining a family and that family cares.  You can get all the caring that sometimes we can't get in our regular lives.  Just having the accountability of weighing in each week and knowing someone cares enough to ask "How'd you do?" keeps me coming, even after maintaining for 3 1/2 years now.  TOPS recognizes your weight loss achievements by monthly awards, possibly state awards and they even have International awards.  The SRD pictures are from the Georgia State Recognition Day and IRD is the Big one--International Recognition.  Now, any member can attend these functions and the inspiration gained is well worth it.  After attending the 1999 IRD in Kentucky with me, my hubby joined TOPS to take off those last few pounds that didn't seem to budge after losing around 40 initially with me.   I had been after him to join for 3 years, but it took one little IRD to convince him.  Men are a minority in TOPS, but that is slowly changing.  Robert met his goal in September 1999, losing 33 1/4 pounds to his goal.  He graduated as a KOPS(Keep Off Pounds Sensibly) in Macon, Georgia on March 31-April 1 at SRD and was also crowned our State King for 1999 with the most pounds lost to goal of all men in Georgia for that year.  I am as proud of him as he is of me, we lost it together, just as we put it all on together.  We are still eating buddies, just eating sensibly now!  We attended another IRD together, this time in San Antonio, Texas and this time as TOPS members and both KOPS!!  Does it get any better???

 

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