THIBODAUX, La. — There are times you may feel alone in your struggle to lose weight.
As we continue our Weight Loss Wednesday reports, we traveled down the bayou to check in on a 75-year-old weight loss program that's still going strong, as it brings people together for a common goal.
Tillie Breaux, 77, of Golden Meadow, can't mention her 96-pound weight loss without a shout out to an entire team.
“The friendship, you know the support, you become a family,” Breaux said.
And she can't talk about being crowned state queen, and the upcoming statewide ceremony, without tears of emotion.
“So they played this song, Candles on the Water, and I always wanted to be that circle. This year, I'll be there. It was so important for me to reach my goal,” Breaux says as her eyes fill with tears.
Because of major health, and personal obstacles, it took 26 years, but with her TOPS support group, she never gave up.
“You know, you've all heard the story you dig your grave with your fork. We hear that down south all the time,” State Coordinator Donna Hebert, 63, told the group meeting.
TOPS stands for Take Off Pounds Sensibly. It's a 75-year-old, nonprofit, support group network, with chapters across the U.S. and Canada. In Louisiana, 600 people go to regular meetings in their own communities. Their ages range from seven to 100 and something. Hebert led the meeting in Thibodaux.
When asked why did she think TOPS helped her lose 70 pounds, she replied, “The dedication, the commitment, and definitely the support.”
And then there are the weigh-ins before the meeting starts.
“When you come to that scale sometimes you want to take a hammer and break it, but actually the scale, it's your friend. It doesn't lie to you, where we lie to ourselves at times. The scale does not lie,” said Hebert.
“Ten pound loss, three pound gain, and a net loss of seven pounds. That's great. We in the good,” member Jackie Gauthé reads to the group as they cheer and clap.
People share personal challenges, and success tips.
“Sometimes you have these issues in the household, where you buying for different kinds of diets in the household, and that's a big challenge and battle,” member Michael Marel announced to the group.
“You gotta wanna. If you don't wanna, you ain't gonna. So, you got to have it in your heart. That this is what you want, you know, why you working for it, and you want to do it,” member Linda Chouest says to the group.
“We're both dealing with diabetes. We both have heart problems. So, we're going to a multitude of doctors, and that takes its toll on you,” Dwight Davidson says in his testimony.
“You don't achieve anything without working at it. I started gaining weight. My husband died and the first year plus, I gained 28 pounds, because I was eating his meal and mine too,” Evelyn Waguespack LeBlanc, 91, announces to the group.
TOPS encourages exercise, the diet recommended by your doctor, and portion control.
“My favorite's spaghetti. If I had a plate this big and this high, I'd eat two servings,” laughs Eiffel Levron, who was crowned state king. “But now I just eat a little bit.”
Dr. Jacob Mey, researcher and registered dietician at the renown Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, says it's important to always get expert nutrition advice for your specific health needs, but in general support, systems increase success.
“There's something about the community, the personal relationships, the support, the motivation, that just all adds together to being beneficial. And all of our best studies that have long-term weight loss, and metabolic health success, all involve a group, or community aspect to them,” explained Dr. Mey.
“These are the types of programs that are shown to be effective. Anyone who was interested in TOPS should first talk to their physician, gradually start walking, and maybe add some yoga, or some type of weightlifting,” said exercise and weight expert, Dr. Melinda Sothern, Professor Emerita, LSU Health Sciences Center, School of Public Health.
And that strategy works for the TOPS group.
“You know, crawfish season's coming up, right? Well, I don't share my sack with nobody,” said Hebert.
It works, as long as sometimes they can have just a little taste of their culture.
There is a small annual fee, around $50, and then monthly chapter fees, anywhere from $2 to $10.
You'll get a magazine subscription, and website access to help you on your journey.