I’ve been a member of TOPS, on and off, since I was 25 years old. However, in May 2003, I found an amazing chapter, TOPS NE 0222 Blair. This group of people has cheered me on with my losses, week after week and, when a gain would creep in, they were there to get me back on track. My family, too, has been so supportive and knows the many years I’ve struggled with weight and all the complexities involved with obesity. We need our families, friends, and support groups to get us through this journey, which I really started to take seriously about four years ago.

We’ve all been there. You come to a crossroads in your life and decide it’s time to lose weight. I had been to my doctor for a yearly physical and received news that my glucose level was borderline high, my blood pressure was up, and my weight had escalated to nearly 300 pounds. Clearly, at the age of 48, it was the wake-up call I needed to take control of my health. The first year, I lost a little over 50 pounds and then started to plateau.

My turning point was realizing it was time to incorporate exercise into my life. I think we all come to that place in our lives where we realize that this is it, no more denial, no more “eating my feelings,” and truly coming to grips with the fact that we’re slowly killing ourselves—not just physically, but mentally.

TOPS is a huge advocate of exercise, and I’ve learned that exercise can be fun and very rewarding. Today, with a total weight loss of nearly 140 pounds, I feel younger, my energy level is high, and I feel that I can take anything on. When I’m out in public, I no longer worry about what I look like. How wonderful it is to be able to go to a concert or event and not have to worry about getting stuck in a chair or taking up too much room on the bleachers—not to mention the agony of anticipating the climb up and down the bleachers.

The hard work has reaped many benefits. I reached my goal and became a KOPS, received my Century Award, and was crowned TOPS’ 2008 Nebraska Queen. Having the opportunity to visit various TOPS chapters throughout the year and representing Nebraska at 2009 International Recognition Days (IRD) in Florida has been amazing. Standing on the stage at IRD during the KOPS Circle of Light ceremony was breathtaking. Looking out at all the individuals who have made this commitment to being healthy and living the dream made me realize what I had accomplished. Don’t get me wrong. Maintaining this healthy lifestyle is hard work, but the benefits are so worth the effort.

Remember, you are ultimately the person who is in control and making the decisions. However, to think you can do it on your own goes against all we’ve been taught. I could not have done this on my own. My friends, family, and trainers have pushed me, challenged me, laughed with me and, most importantly, encouraged me never to give up. This is a gift that has no price tag, and I will be forever grateful.