The Cupertino Courier

Community

Winning is about losing for local TOPS members

By Erin Hussey

Whenever you turn on the TV or radio, there's another advertisement promising a quick and easy solution to losing pounds and keeping them off.

But, members of TOPS Inc. (Take Pounds Off Sensibly), a nonprofit organization that has chapters worldwide including Cupertino and Sunnyvale, know losing weight isn't about pills, potions or packaged food.

"I've been to everything, from Jenny Craig, Nutri-system, Weight Watchers, Dr. Atkins, the Cambridge Diet, shots and I was going to do surgery. You name it, I've done it," says Rebecca Cabral.

The difference with TOPS?

"The support," say Cabral. "If you ask anyone, they will tell you, it's all about the support."

Cabral was recently crowned the 2006 State Division Winner because of her 93-pound weight loss. To date, Cabral has lost more than 100 pounds and is striving to be crowned again at the end of 2007.

Unlike other diet programs, TOPS doesn't tell its members what or what not to eat. Each new member is required to meet with a physician to obtain a personal goal weight as well as dietary suggestions that will help them reach it in a healthy, sustainable fashion.

"Everybody is different. What works for her isn't necessarily going to work for me," says Cabral, referring to her fellow TOPS member Clarice Renollett, who was also recently recognized as a top Area Division weight-loss winner in 2006.

"For me, portion control was the name of the game. And no sugar," says Cabral, who exercises six to seven days per week.

What TOPS does provide each of its 200,000 members is a weekly meeting that includes a private weigh-in, health-related presentations and guest speakers, prizes and the support network.

"Being accountable to somebody else is important," says Renollett. Thus far, Renollett has also lost more than 100 pounds and is now a KOPS (Keep Off Pounds Sensibly) member. TOPS members may graduate to KOPS status when they reach their doctor-designated weight goal. To maintain KOPS status, members cannot gain more than three pounds or lose more than seven.

"If you weigh in at home, no one will know if you've lost or gained because you don't confess," says Renollett. "But here, records are kept and it makes a difference."

At the weekly meetings, members must state during roll call whether they have gained or lost weight. Whether the number of pounds is more or less, the group offers positive reinforcement.

"We're glad you stayed," says the group of 20 members in unison to a fellow TOPS member who had gained two pounds.

Cabral and Renollett are members of the TOPS Chapter that meets on Monday evenings at the First Baptist Church in Cupertino.

"We've had members here who are probably in their 80s but we've also had 10-year-olds as well," says Cabral.

TOPS was founded in 1948 in Milwaukee, Wis., by Ester Manz as a response to the need to assist overweight and obese people by setting up a group support system. Due to the visibility of bulimia and anorexia over the years, TOPS expanded its scope to include people with those eating disorders.

In 1966, the organization started funding an obesity and metabolic research program at the Medical College of Wisconsin. To date, TOPS and its members have contributed more than $6 million in research funds to the school.

"I've been at TOPS now for 30 years and I remember after my first day I didn't go back for 10 months," says Claire Kelly, a Sunnyvale resident. When Kelly first joined in 1976, she weighed 334 pounds. By 1979 she weighed 140 pounds. That same year she placed third in the international TOPS competition. She is currently a KOPS member in good standing.

"During that 10 months I got a card from a member that stated, 'When you ready we will be ready for you and we are always here for you,' " says Kelly. "That's what TOPS did for me and what keeps me coming back."

For more information on TOPS and local chapter meetings, visit www.tops.org.