2007 State King

John Haight

TOPS® #FL 407, Sun City Center

65.5 Pounds to goal

 

Believe it or not, I was pretty thin as a kid and teen.  I burned calories up as fast as the came in.  When I graduated high school and went into the Nave, I was a lean, mean 129 pound fighting machine.  When I got out, I had bulked up to an astounding 135 pounds.

 

I would say my weight problems started in 1955 when I injured my knee playing football.  I was off work for a week.  My boss told me to make a decision – sports or my job.  I quit baseball, football, and basketball, but kept up bowling on Friday nights.  With no serious sports to burn off the calories, I started to slowly gain weight.

 

Getting divorced didn’t help either.  I started eating out a lot.  Breakfast was from a food truck – two jelly rolls and a large coffee.  Lunch was at any fast food restaurant in the neighborhood.  Supper would usually be pizza or Chinese take-out. 

 

I was also drinking a lot of beer at that time which added to my weight gain.  I finally gave up drinking in 1675, but substituted food.  Then in 1980 I gave up smoking and once again substituted with more food.

 

I remarried in 1979.  Both Sally and I worked in downtown Chicago so we drove to work every day.  If traffic was bad on the way home, we knew where all the good restaurants were at any exit off the highway.

 

In 1985 I spent a week in the hospital, dehydrated and with very high blood sugar.  I was told I had diabetes and I needed to lose weight, to control it without taking insulin shots.  Under this doctor’s care I went from 225 pounds to 165.  He then said 165 was a good weight, but that I could probably eat a little more and put on a couple of pounds.  I took him at his word and started eating the way I had before going into the hospital.  The pounds started coming back on. 

 

By January 2006 I was back up to 276 pounds and I knew I needed to do something.  I lost 25 pounds on my own, but still was way too heavy.  A friend told us about the great success her husband had losing weight with TOPS®.  (He lost 160.50 pounds and was International King Runner Up in 2004).  He was speaking at the next chapter meeting, so we decided to go and listen.  He spoke about his weight loss, the ups and downs he had during his journey.  His talk was so inspiring; it gave us the incentive to join TOPS®.

 

I don’t know a carb from a calorie, but my wife does the meal planning.  I even let her fill my plate as she is far better at controlling my portions.  Our first trip to the grocery store after joining TOPS® took a lot longer than usual as we read labels.  You cannot just look at a package and think it is good for you.  Read the labels. 

 

We used to eat out a lot, but we have started limiting ourselves, and the first thing we ask for is a take home box.  If you take it off your plate before you start to eat, you will not eat it all at once.

 

I won’t say it has been easy, but with determination and the help of my TOPS® friends I have reached my goal.  I have to thank God for giving me the courage to start my journey.  I have to thank my wife Sally – I could not have done it without her.  I want to thank Bob Goldenetz whose talk inspired me.  I want to thank all my chapter members, especially leader Jo Moses whose help and encouragement are always there for me.

 

This program works, but you have to work the program too.  It might seem hard, but it is worth it.  BELIEVE ME – I’M PROOF OF THAT!!

 

2007 State Queen

Eloise Judy

TOPS® #FL 297, Port Charlotte

119.0 Pounds to goal

 

I joined TOPS® back in 1967. I had been heavy since I was a teen. My mom tired like crazy to help me. As well as other family members tried in their way. But I was a rebel. I even got a job in my senior year of high school at a German Bakery and used my paycheck to pay for shots from a weight loss doctor. I lost some weight and got married. Over the next 8 years I had 2 children. I even returned to my prenatal weight in the hospital and kept going up after that.

When I reached a weight I felt I would never reach, my mom told me that one of my aunts had joined TOPS®. I decided to try it.

 

When I got to a meeting in Tinley Park, Illinois, no one was there. But I waited around and one member finally showed up. She told me all about the group. It sounded good and something I could do. She assured me that next week would be a normal meeting. Well, I was very determined and went the next week. I really got a big welcome and had instant friends. I was flabbergasted that they elected me secretary that meeting. I went home with a lot of enthusiasm and determination.

 

I lost 70 pounds that first 6 months. Over the last 40 years I have lost, gained and sometimes turtled. But I have always stayed very active in TOPS®. I have held all offices without a break.

 

I was privileged to be the Florida SRD chairman of Fiesta TOPS® in Fort Myers in 1995.

 

Going to really widened my TOPS® loved ones. You know who you are. I have TOPS® friends and angels by continuing to be very active in TOPS®. They have helped me get through many difficult times of unemployment, ovarian cancer, nursing school, raising children, lot of damage from Hurricane Charley (it even destroyed our meeting place and we had meetings at my house). My TOPS® angels have also helped me get through many other medical problems.

I thank you for all the help, support and love through all these 40 years. I have always said I am a lifetime TOPS® member.

 

King: John Haight, TOPS® #FL 407, Sun City Center

65.5 Pounds to goal

 

Queen: Eloise Judy, TOPS® #FL 297, Port Charlotte

119.0 Pounds to goal

 

Runner-up King:  Lyle Peters

TOPS® #FL 391, Keystone Heights

47.5 pounds to goal

 

Runner-up Queen:  Ann Friedberg

TOPS® #FL 636, Palm Coast

106.5.5 pounds to goal