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Live a Healthy Life

TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) offers the lifetime goal of taking and keeping the weight off without gimmicks or gadgets.

By: Carol Beck-Round | Category: Health & Fitness | Issue: May 2015

TOPS Chapter #493 members include (L to R): Ruth Hodges, secretary; Ardith Louwerens, group leader; and Juanita Hurst, treasurer.

TOPS Chapter #493 members include (L to R): Ruth Hodges, secretary; Ardith Louwerens, group leader; and Juanita Hurst, treasurer.

Weight loss products and the hype surrounding them bring in billions of dollars annually to companies that appeal to those who need to lose pounds. But while some work to initially help lose weight, most don’t – and the results rarely last.

TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) is a not-for-profit international organization that supports a healthy diet and lifestyle – for life. “There are no gimmicks, no gadgets, and we don’t sell food or hold dinners,” says Chapter Secretary Ruth Hodges. “We promote determination, portion control, exercise and healthy food choices.”

According to recent findings, from what is believed to be the largest study of a weight-loss program in the United States, TOPS is associated with clinically significant weight loss among participants who remained in the program for at least one year. In a study published in “Obesity,” the official journal of The Obesity Society, TOPS participants who renewed their annual membership consecutively over a period of one to three years lost between 5.9 percent and 7.1 percent of their initial weight.

The group advocates a lifestyle change and provides the lifetime support a member needs to take it off and keep it off. “We are an educational group for a healthy lifestyle,” Ruth says, “and part of that is being at an appropriate weight.”

According to Ardith Louwerens, group leader, “Each individual works with his or her doctor to determine their goal weight.”

To help with food choices, the group goes by a food exchange list from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It promotes choices in the following groups: fruits and vegetables, fat-free and low-fat milk, lean protein, and healthy starches and fats. “We also use a tool called MyPlate,” says Ruth. “In addition, we offer weight-loss challenges and contests to motivate each individual.”

Once you reach your goal weight, you’re still a part of the group, according to Juanita Hurst, group treasurer. “You still need encouragement and support as a KOPS member (Keeping Off Pounds Sensibly),” she adds.

The group also advocates an overall fitness plan, which includes strengthening and range of motion exercises as well as walking to benefit the cardiovascular system.

As part of a chapter growth challenge for 2015, the Claremore TOPS Chapter #493 is encouraging people who need and want to lose weight to join – not as a quick fix, but as a lifetime commitment to good health. “There is a high percentage of obesity in our state,” says Ardith. “We’d like to encourage people to visit once for free.”

National TOPS yearly dues are $32, with the chapter dues set at $5. The group meets every Wednesday, with weigh-in from 8 to 8:45 a.m. followed by a meeting from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Rogers County Extension Building. Part of the dues goes toward a bi-monthly magazine subscription (“TOPS News”) as well as access to educational tools and shopping on their website, www.tops.org. It’s the beginning of a lifelong healthy lifestyle without any hype or gimmicks.

For more information, contact

TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly)

(918) 341-6824

www.tops.org
 


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Carol Beck-Round Profile Picture

About Author Carol Beck-Round

After 30 years in public school education, Carol Round retired and moved from Grand Lake to Claremore, Oklahoma in 2005, where she writes a weekly faith-based column which runs in 14 Oklahoma newspapers as well as several national and international publications. Three volumes of her columns have been compiled into collections: A Matter of Faith, Faith Matters and by FAITH alone. She has also written Journaling with Jesus: How to Draw Closer to God and a companion workbook, The 40-Day Challenge. This past year she has written three children’s books, a series called Nana’s 3 Jars, to teach children about the value of giving, saving and spending money. All of Carol’s books are available through Amazon. In addition to writing her weekly column, authoring books and speaking to women’s groups, she writes for Value News. She also blogs regularly at www.carolaround.com. When she is not writing or speaking, she loves spending time with her three grandchildren, working in her flowerbeds, shooting photos, volunteering at her church or going on mission trips overseas, and hiking. She is also an avid reader and loves working crosswords and trying to solve Sudoku puzzles.

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TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly)

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