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2005 Louisiana Royalty
ANN BOND &
LLOYD
CORTEZ,JR.
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2005 LOUISIANA STATE QUEEN
ANN
BOND,
TOPS®#
LA, 18 SLIDELL
107.50 POUNDS LOST TO GOAL
SUCCESS STORY
All my life I remember being overweight....all during my
childhood I heard my mother tell people “it’s baby fat” Though out
the years I have tried to lose weight only for weight to find me and
now at age 45 I have finally lost my “baby fat”
I will start my story in May of 1991 when my son James was born.
Years went by and with the help of my husband we we able to care to
care for all of James’ special needs but in 2003 life circumstances
left me a single mother with a handicapped child.James had
many challenges both mental and physical and the older he got the
harder it was for me to care for his special needs. Every morning I
would get James ready for school and things that should only take a
few minutes would take me much longer; I remember one morning very
clear, I was doing something as simple as brushing James’ teeth and
had to sit down and catch my breath. Just think what kind of shape I
was in after doing something like giving his bath, dressing him and
putting him in his wheelchair. I knew I had to do something and fast
.
On Sunday, June the 1st 2003 friend suggested we start a weight
loss group at church where we would weigh-in and support each other
and I remember thinking “what a wonderful concept that was, ”weight
losses didn't go well for the others but I lost 30 pounds. After
only one month I was the only one showing up for our weekly
weigh-ins. I was on my own again and for me this spelled TROUBLE!!!
Now, without the support from my friends and my weekly weigh-ins I
was cheating!!! But life changed for me on Thursday, July 24th, when
I attended my 1st TOPS® meeting thanks to another friend of mine that
told me about TOPS®. I knew from the moment I walked into the meeting
room that this was the place for me. The support from my chapter was
overwhelming and I never felt like a stranger ... these were my
friends.
My first year in TOPS®...At my first meeting I weighed in at
282.50 pounds. I did very well my first year I lost over 90 pounds
in only 5 months. This weight loss won me 1st place in my division
that year at SRD/2004 but I missed my goal weight by less than 20
pounds. In 2004, my2nd year in TOPS® changes in my life gave me
“excuses” not to attend my weekly TOPS® meetings-----and yes, you
guessed it, I gained some of my weight back. The latter part of 2004
after avoiding numerous telephone calls from my local chapter I ran
into one of the members in the grocery store and she gave me the
strength I needed to get back to my weekly meetings. It was very
embarrassing for me to face them with such a large gain but again
they were very supportive.Once again that year I didn’t
hit my goal weight before out last weigh-in but I didn’t give up. I
still attended SRD/2005 this time just sitting there while they
crowned another beautiful queen...I remember thinking “how foolish I
have been” I was so happy for our queen but a little voice inside
said, ”that could have been you” This is my 3rd year in TOPS® and I
guess the rest of my story is pretty obvious to you all. I’m not
just sitting in the audience this year----I made it and next year
could be you!!!!
My advice to all my TOPS® friends— don’t give up and most of all
no matter what, attend your weekly meetings whether you have a loss
or gain go to your meetings because someone there will give you
support you need to reach your goal.
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2005 LOUISIANA STATE KING
LLOYD CORTEZ,JR.
TOPS®#LA
430,
CHACKBAY
51.25
POUNDS LOST TO GOAL
SUCCESS STORY
I developed high blood pressure due to being overweight. My
cardiologist prescribed
blood pressure medication and recommended that I lose weight. I have
lost weight ,off and on by trying different fad diets all of my life
without any success in keeping off the weight for any length of
time. I successfully lost 40 to 50 pounds at that time but
eventually gained that and more every time that I would stop
dieting. Also, heart disease runs in my mother’s family all of her
brothers have died at an early age of various types of heart
disease. She currently suffers from congenital heart disease and has
had to have a defibrillator implanted in her chest last year. So, my
health was one big reason for joining TOPS®.
There are three other significant reasons for my joining and my
success at TOPS®.
Firstly, my mother Genevieve Cortez, has been a KOPS® member for
several years and has encouraged and gently pushed me to joining
TOPS® knowing full well that I had to face that scale once a week I
would be able to maintain my weight loss. (MOM ALWAYS KNOWS BEST).
Her biggest reason for encouraging all her children to join TOPS® is
not for any of her children to suffer the medical problems she is
having at this time in her life. And I thank you for always
supporting me and wanting the best for me.
Secondly, I joined TOPS® for my beautiful daughter Sheridan
Cortez, who at 12 years old is also a member of TOPS® .I watched her
struggle with her weight in her pre-teen years and wanted to help
her knowing how much I struggle with yo-yo dieting since I was a
teenager.
We joined TOPS® together as a family so that we could support each
other and hopefully educate ourselves in how to sensible take off
the excess weight without gaining it back. She dove right in to the
TOPS® program and filled out not only her charts but mine and my
wife’s charts as well.
Sheridan no longer needs the charts but knows what she has to do
with her exercise and also what she can not have where food is
concerned. I think that TOPS® has given her what she needs to meet
her goal and eventually become a KOPS® member.
Lastly, I have to attribute my success to TOPS® and my fantastic
fellow members, without their support and encouragement I would not
have been as successful in losing and keeping the weight off. I
wanted to give an HUGE THANK YOU to all of the members of my
chapter,#430, Chackbay, La, especially, Miss Verdi, who encouraged
me and my whole family week after week always kind and supporting.
You are a special person and I wanted you to know how much not only
I, but everyone appreciates you. I am honored and privileged to
belong to such a caring group of TOPS® members. God Bless all of you
and again Thank You.
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2005 Louisiana State
King & Queen Runner-Ups
2005 Louisiana Queen Runner-Up:
Tammy Perritt
2005 Louisiana King Runner-Up:
Leroy Aucoin
KING RUNNER UP:
Leroy
Aucoin
TOPS® #LA
370,
Thibodeaux
51
Pounds Lost to Goal
Success Story
QUEEN RUNNER UP:
Tammy
Perett
TOPS®# LA
409, Haughton
78
Pounds Lost to Goal
Success Story
I
joined TOPS® in Haughton, and within a year had lost 50 pounds. But I
lost focus and gained them back and added on another20 to boot. Then the
yo-yo’s started, that was 10 years ago . On a trip to IRD, my friend
Patty and I went on a roller coaster, but were asked to leave the lap
bar wouldn’t close. I was so embarrassed, and I love coasters! I knew
this was it and began losing again, all the way to goal, a total of 85
pounds.
My mom;
a KOPS® was always there for me along with my pals at # LA 409, Haughton.
Well mom I’m ready for my ride now.
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