Take Off Pounds Sensibly, commonly called TOPS, has been meeting in Waycross for forty years. Although it is an international nonprofit organization, it is not a household name like Weight Watchers or Nutrisystem.
This is because TOPS does not sell a line of prepackaged food. TOPS is a support group with a long history of success. Both underweight and overweight people are members of TOPS.
“We don’t have a line of food and you don’t have to do any particular diet. It’s what you work out between you and your doctor or nutritionist,” says Phyllis Driver, the group’s weight recorder.
Driver has been a member since 2008 and has lost 52 pounds.
TOPS is founded on the premise that there is no one size fits all method for people to improve their health. Most of the members of the local chapter attend for weight loss support. They also come from all of the surrounding counties to participate.
Member Matt Sanford said, “Everybody’s different. Some people want to loose ten pounds, and some people want to loose a hundred.”
“We are a support group,” says Co-Leader Donna Drew.
“We do have a diet, and we do have a book which we give to new members. It’s an exchange diet,” adds Drew. “You don’t have to do it. You can do anything that works for you.”
Leader Jeanie Monk has been with the local TOPS since the first meeting at the Chamber of Commerce 40 years ago.
“The very next week we elected officers and it’s been going ever since,” says Monk smiling. “It’s never shut down.”
TOPS was founded in 1948 by Esther Manz following the birth of her fifth child.
TOPS met with immedi-ate popularity. There are currently over 200,000 members.
The American Medical Association has supported TOPS since its inception, an alliance that has separated TOPS from many other weight loss organizations.
In 1966, the TOPS Club, Inc. Obesity and Metabolic Research Program was established.
Research into the genetics of obesity and safe, scientific ways to prevent, manage and treat obesity are ongoing. Eating related disorders such as bulimia and anorexia are also included in the studies.
TOPS discourages fad diets, weight loss pills and fast weight loss plans and instead encourages a balanced diet and regular exercise.
TOPS does not impose a deadline for meeting your weight goal. Monk’s dramatic 80 pound weight loss has occurred recently.
“We have a circle of light on State Recognition Days for people who have met their goal. They circle the whole room with flashlights and sing a song,” says Monk. “Every year I would cry and say, ‘I’m going to be in that circle next year,’ and the next year I wasn’t and never have been, but I’m only 15 pounds from my goal!”
Once a member reaches their goal, they move into KOPS (Keep Off Pounds Sensibly). To maintain this status, you must stay within 10 pounds of your goal weight.
A member who loses 100 pounds and keeps it off for a year becomes a Century Club member.
TOPS not only encourages people to lose excess weight, but also supports those struggling to keep their weight up. No matter your weight goal, TOPS is available to offer support.
For information about joining the local chapter which has members from all surrounding counties, call Jeanie Monk at (912) 281-7008 or Phyllis Driver at (912) 281-5388.
Membership in TOPS is $49 for a basic plan, and monthly dues are $7. The annual renewal fee is $40.
Cheryl Johnson displays TOPS cards which help track calories based on doctor recommendations. Photo by EJ POND
