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The secret to weight loss AND keeping it off!? One Wisconsin weight loss group shares its trick
The secret to weight loss AND keeping it off!? One Wisconsin weight loss group shares its trick
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Fighting Fat! 26% of Wisconsin adults are obese -- that's according to an international weight loss group founded right here in Milwaukee. The group claims to have the answer to losing weight, and keeping it off.
Something is missing from Sue Anderhold's life... but she isn't exactly sad about it. 18 years ago, Anderhold set out to shed 50 pounds.
"I honestly could not have done it on my own," says Anderhold. "And that`s what I needed. I didn`t have to go into that next size jeans that I refused to buy."
She joined a group called TOPS, it stands for Take Off Pounds Sensibly. TOPS started in Milwaukee more than six decades ago, and this week, TOPS returns to its roots. Its Annual International Meeting will bring thousands of to southeastern Wisconsin to celebrate remarkable weight-loss accomplishments.
"About a third of the population can be medically defined as obese - that`s really scary," says Barbara Cady, president of the TOPS Club, Inc.
Cady says the social aspect of the organization is what sets it apart from others. Members encourage each other to succeed, and when they do, they keep coming to meetings to help mentor those who just signed up.
"They don`t excuse poor choices. They try to help you learn from them and move forward in developing better choices," says Cady.
Cady is a product of TOPS -- she decided to lose weight after several miscarriages. Her doctor told her she wouldn't carry a child to full term unless she dropped serious pounds.
"I weighed over 300 pounds at that time. And the journey continues," says Cady.
There's also special recognition for Wisconsin TOPS members. Collectively, 5,000 of them lost more than 20,000 pounds just last year.
"That`s an amazing accomplishment of the people here in Wisconsin," says Cady.
And organizers say they did it with the help of each other. The TOP reason many member credit for their success.
"We need to keep this off. We need to help each other," says Aderhold.
The TOPS Conference begins Thursday, July 10th at the Hilton Milwaukee Center.
If you're interested in joining TOPS there are new membership packages and bundles available, prices range from $29.50 to $45.00. You can sign up online or search for a convenient meeting location to attend.
CLICK HERE for more information on TOPS.