Joan Corriher and Candy Wachter from Cullman TOPS (contributed)
CULLMAN – The Cullman chapter of Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) is celebrating 50 years of being part of the community. TOPS described itself as “a support group of women and men during the journey to lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.” The national TOPS organization was founded 70 years ago by Esther Manz and has been changing lives ever since.
The Cullman chapter meets every Tuesday from 3-4:30 p.m. at the Donald E. Green Senior Center. Leader Candy Wachter and co-leader Linda Elsmore welcome everyone to join them.
Wachter smiled, “(It’s) a great support group. We support people in their journey to become healthy and stay healthy and try not to preach to them. Nobody is exactly the same, but everyone’s been in that struggle to try to lose weight, so somebody always has some advice to give, support to give or how to stay away from those Magnum Bars.”
Elsmore added, “You don’t have points to count. You have to lose weight within your household on your own but with support.”
The group points out smarter food choices and common mistakes people make when preparing food or ordering out. It emphasizes the value of eating more fruits and vegetables and discusses which foods to avoid.
Said Elsmore, “People look for diets that don’t involve eating healthier and exercise, and those don’t exist. You have to move.”
New members get help from a new member coach who helps with setting goals. An informative “Day 1” book comes with answers to frequently asked questions, a guide to good food choices and recommended portions, how to read nutrition labels and other information. Members are encouraged to keep up with their measurements in inches as well as pounds.
Elsmore explained, “Sometimes the scale doesn’t reflect your progress. You might weigh the same even though you’ve lost several inches. People often replace fat with muscles, and that’s great, too.”
Members are encouraged to reimagine some of their eating choices by incorporating a new vegetable or fruit into their diets. Wachter said she recently began adding avocado into her diet and looking up different ways to prepare avocados.
Elsmore asked her, “Oh, did you like it?”
Wachter laughed, “Well, I didn’t throw it up!”
She said she has since found several ways to enjoy avocados and hopes to continue trying new foods.
The group also has access to the gym at the senior center. It allows members a place to exercise without the awkwardness many experience at other gyms and fitness centers. One of the main hopes is to get people up off the couch and moving.
Said Wachter, “You’d be surprised how much just walking can do. We have a group that just walks. I remember how much better I felt just by losing the first 5 pounds. It really helped reduce the stress on my knees.”
TOPS has many incentives for its members. Each year a king and queen are selected who become eligible on the state level. State winners compete for the national title with this year’s pageant being held in Portland, Oregon. Along with Scale Back Alabama, a state-funded weight loss initiative, cash prizes are awarded for different accomplishments. The group also gives back locally by helping provide Bingo prizes at senior events and donating food to local charities and food pantries. Members donate a pound of food for each pound lost.
TOPS welcomes new members of all ages, but only members older than 55 (with physician’s permission) can utilize the exercise equipment at the senior center. National monthly membership dues are $32 and an additional $2 a month for the local chapter.
For more information on TOPS Cullman, visit www.facebook.com/TOPSCullman/.
At a glance
TOPS – Take Off Pounds Sensibly- meets every Tuesday at the Donald E. Green Senior Center, 1625 Cleveland Ave. SW Cullman
Weigh-in 3-3:30 p.m.
Meeting 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Contact- Candy Wachter 256-338-1272
Facebook- TOPS AI0073 Cullman
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