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Arkansas
International Winner!
2010
SRD Slideshow
2009 State Royalty
photo
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2009 State
King
Ronald Henry
TOPS®
#AR 2, Little Rock
23
Pounds to goal
I joined TOPS AR2,
Little Rock on January 8, 2009, weighing 215 pounds.
Rev. Johnson encouraged me to join. My weight was spiraling
out of control, along with my blood pressure. Thanks to the
support of my TOPS members and prayers to the Good Lord, in
one year I turned it around. I went to my doctor and had
him write me a goal of 190 pounds. That's when the journey
began.
Believe me, it wasn't easy! I had
several gains and frustrated weeks, but I was determined to
reach my goal in a year. It took a lot of EXERCISE,
SACRIFICE OF FOOD AND POP, which at the end of the year was
very rewarding and I was proud that I could actually do it.
Preacher Johnson was an inspiration to me at this task. He
kinda coached me along. This is a man that had kept his
weight under control for 36 years. I'm his driver
on Friday
night church service and Thursdays to our TOPS
meetings.
Through it all, it is still a
challenge but I'm determined to stay healthy by KEEPING OFF
THE POUNDS.
Thanks to the Lord and my TOPS friends, I think I'll
make it, in fact I know I will.
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2009 State
Queen
Charla Cheatham
TOPS®
#AR 140, El Dorado
130.50
Pounds to goal
In Feb. of
2008 I made a lifestyle change. I had read an article in
the local paper about TOPS. I gave Marguerite, the area
captain a call and she told me where and when the meeting
was. I had done the you-you dieting for years, more times
than I care to count. But I had to do it for good this
time. I went to the meeting and walked in and said oh, this
is not for me, but everyone went out of their way to make me
feel welcome. After that the support from this group was
great. They would call checking on me and I got excited to
hit those scales
on Friday morning. At lunch everyday as I would sit
with my husband he would say well "how do you think you've
done this week." And
on Friday the first thing he would say was "How did
you do?"
I accept
each weigh in as a journey to better health. I work out
1-1/2hours every morning and ride my recumbent bike for 45
minutes in the afternoon.
Diet is
not a word I use, this is a lifestyle change. I am so
grateful for my support from my TOPS members and my family.
I am very proud of the success I have achieved and look
forward to the end of this journey. But is it ever over!?
NO. The healthy change will always have to be there and you
cannot succeed without family and TOPS support. And most
important the Lord's strong hand. Thanks for all of the
confidence you have bestowed on me. I WILL NOT LET YOU OR
MYSELF DOWN.
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2009 STATE QUEEN-RUNNER UP
Runner-up Queen:
Lisa
Vorwerk
TOPS® #AR 580, Dover
121.25 pounds to goal
I started at age 40 and 268 pounds. I
was huge at a size 24/26. I had thighs that were constantly
chaffed and knees and feet that screamed for help every
day. I slept in a state of sleep apneas covered in hoses
and a mask every night just to sleep without dying. I felt
like a loser who could never win again until TOPS came into
my life in July of 2008.
I became the Leader of a TOPS group
and remained motivated, lost regularly and supported my
fellow members with a vengeance. Being leader was an
integral part of my weight-loss success. It was my job to
lead my TOPS friends to victory by becoming victorious
myself. We were really on a roll and dropping weight like
hot potatoes loaded with carbs! We called, wrote, exercised
and creatively supported each other as we each worked toward
our goals. My chapter was a huge part of my success. I
craved the contests and compliments and the group always
provided both to help keep me going.
By Christmas I had lost 40 pounds, by
SRD 2009 I had lost 70 pounds and was star struck by the
State Queen and her royal regalia! I wanted that crown. I
wanted that honor. I wanted that body! That day, I
secretly became the
Arkansas
Dream Queen. I still had eight months to reach my goal and
I really kicked in in gear.
Up to this point, I had been eating
healthy and following a well
balanced diet;
not too many carbs, fats or protein, but balance. My diet
was sensible, just like TOPS advocated. I never ate more
than 1500
calories per day
and never more than 100 calories for a snack. I was
consistent with drinking water and my progress grew. I
walked, joined a gym and exercised wherever I could.
Eventually, I needed more to keep me challenged, so I
started competing in races. My first race was the Mont
Magazine 15K run up the tallest mountain in Arkansas. I
just wanted to finish and not finish last! I did it. I
grew faster and ran in as many races as possible. My best
time is 25 minutes and 48 seconds for the 3.1 mile 5K
distance. Next on my list is a
half marathon
and eventually a full marathon.
Even though I'm not as young as I used
to be, folks tell me I've reclaimed 20 years of youth. I've
heard folks tell me my photos are like mother/daughter
photos. But I can tell you my mother looks a lot better
than I did in those photos and she is 18 years older than
me.
Now, I'm at my goal but I didn't do it
overnight because I did it sensibly. I didn't do it without
exercise because I wanted to be toned and fit. Currently,
I've lost 123 pounds and well over 66 inches. I used to
wear size 24/26 stretch pants and loose, billowy, 3X
blouses, but now I'm wearing size 4/6 jeans and size 4/6
blouses. I had hoped that I would be in the running for the
crown and I have reached my dream. Runner-up sure feels
like queen to me and I hope that my story inspires you to be
the next Arkansas Dream Queen.
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photo
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ARKANSAS STATE WINNERS 2009
Spirit of TOPS®
Award:
Wm (Preacer) Johnson
TOPS® #AR 2, Little Rock
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Division Winners
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1st Place
Jay Harrison
TOPS®
#AR 32, Rogers
86 pound loss
2nd Place
Bob Wilt
TOPS®
#AR 279, Jasper
66 pound loss
1st Place
Willie Hurt
TOPS®
#AR 592, Harrisburg
22.25 pound loss
2nd Place
Ray Sjolander
TOPS®
#AR 454, Hot Springs Village
17.25 pound loss
Division 3
1st Place
Ronald Henry
TOPS®
#AR 2, Little Rock
24 pound loss
William Wiard
TOPS®
#AR 454, Hot Springs Village
19.50 pound loss
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1st Place
Kathy Sigman
TOPS®
#AR 482, Hot Springs
61.50 pound loss
2nd Place
Carla Jones
TOPS®
#AR 336, Batesville
57.50 pound loss
1st Place
Wanda Mouser
TOPS®
#AR 564, Hope
65.25 pound loss
2nd Place
Elizabeth Hall
TOPS®
#AR 402, Conway
59.25 pound loss
1st Place
Lisa Vorwerk
TOPS®
#AR 580, Dover
78.50 pound loss
2nd Place
Pat Meins
TOPS®
#AR 565, Stuttgart
51.25 pound loss
1st Place
Karen Jill Averitt
TOPS®
#AR 578, England
43 pound loss
2nd Place
Hendrixetta Watts
TOPS®
#AR 575, Leslie
37 pound loss
Division 5
1st Place
Joyce Glenn
TOPS®
#AR 569, Elm Springs
17.75 pound loss
2nd Place
Seana Garrow
TOPS®
#AR 294, Fairfield Bay
15 pound loss
1st Place
Jennifer Tanui
TOPS®
#AR 402, Conway
30 pound loss
1st Place
Janice Shepard
TOPS®
#AR 25, Jacksonville
100.50 pound loss
2nd Place
Mary Lawson
TOPS®
#AR 153, Garfield
39.50 pound loss
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Last modified: December 30, 2010
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