Search Weight Loss Topics:




Oct 5

After 13 years of hard work, Kamloops woman is a TOPS Queen – Kamloops This Week

Diets that Work Comments Off on After 13 years of hard work, Kamloops woman is a TOPS Queen – Kamloops This Week

Barbara Schwitek lost69pounds through non-profit TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), a noncommercial weight loss, education and support organization

Barbara Schwitek often thought of the words recited at her weight loss support group whenever she was grazing the kitchen.

The Kamloops woman lost69pounds through non-profit TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), a noncommercial weight loss, education and support organization. As a result of her weight loss,Schwitekwas named the 2020 TOPS British ColumbiaQueen, meaning she lost more weight than any other female TOPS member in the entireprovince.

She received the honour by reaching the weight loss goal she set for herself with her doctor when she joined the Kamloops chapter of TOPS in 2007.

We chose a goal that was both obtainable and healthy and then you just go from there, Schwitek said.

She said it took 13 years of yo-yoing up and down with her weight, but with the support of TOPS and her doctors, Schwitek reached her goal weight of 150 pounds.

Schwitek said she lost the weight through a combination of exercise, planning healthy meals and portion control. There were also weekly accountability weigh-ins that helped motivate her, as did a pledge recited at every TOPS meeting that she would remind herself of that she is an intelligent person who will control her emotions and, when tempted to use food to satisfy frustrations or dull her senses, she would instead take off pounds sensibly.

Schwiteks exercise of choice was to go for walks, often taking to the outdoor and indoor tracks at Hillside Stadium and the Tournament Capital Centre.

Now that shes lost the weight, Schwitek is transitioning to a maintenance program of TOPS known as KOPS (Keep Off Pounds Sensibly).

Thats another journey of its own trying to keep the weight off within a 10-pound leeway is almost as difficult as taking the weight off in the first place, Schwitek said.

She continues to exercise and control her portions to keep the weight off, but noted its been a challenge amidst the pandemic without the support of TOPS meetings, which hadnt been running for a while due to pandemic restrictions.

We havent had a meeting in probably 16 months and we didnt do weigh-ins for a while, and then we started weighing in in someones backyard, she said.

Schwitek said its only been within the last three weeks that the group has returned to meetings, with COVID-19 protocols in place, but there are still some members who dont feel comfortable. As a result, meetings number between eight and 10 people, while membership is at 25.

Schwitek was honoured and humbled to be named TOPS British ColumbiaQueen.

She said TOPS differs from other weight loss groups because there are no paid employees and its run by its members.

Schwitek said the non-profit is affordable and essentially a support group with educational weight loss tools, not an avenue to fad diets.

She noted TOPS is also available to men and teens, with meetings in the evenings for people to attend.

For more information on the program, go online to tops.org.

Link:
After 13 years of hard work, Kamloops woman is a TOPS Queen - Kamloops This Week

Related Posts

    Your Full Name

    Your Email

    Your Phone Number

    Select your age (30+ only)

    Select Your US State

    Program Choice

    Confirm over 30 years old

    Yes

    Confirm that you resident in USA

    Yes

    This is a Serious Inquiry

    Yes

    Message:



    matomo tracker