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2010 Kansas State King
photo
William Cunningham
TOPS®
KS 388
lost 48.5 pounds to
goal!
SUCCESS STORY
My journey with
TOPS began in 2001. I joined TOPS Arkansas chapter 532.
I obtained KOPS status in 2001, and was also Arkansas State King
in 2001. All was going well.
In 2003 I relocated
in Gardner, KS. I thought my schedule was too busy for
TOPS. I knew what to do to keep my weight off. Oh! I
was soooo wrong!!
As my weight
started to increase, so did my health problems. I had to
increase the medication that I was taking for high blood
pressure, and also started taking medication for high blood
sugar. I found I had very little energy, was tired all the
time, and hated shopping for new clothes.
In January 2010, I
decided it was time to once again to do something about my
weight. I looked on the internet and found a chapter that
met in Gardner. On January 18, 2010 I attended my first
meeting at TOPS KS 388, Gardner. As I entered the meeting
I realized that I was the only male in the room, this made me
feel a little out of place. I shouldn't have worried.
After I was greeted by the chapter leader, and introduced to the
group, I knew I had made the right choice. Everyone was
very friendly and supportive.
Since joining TOPS,
I have obtained KOPS status and achieved my goal weight of
210 pounds. My medication have decreased. I have more
energy, and now it's fun to go shopping for new clothes. I
feel really great!
I now realize that
even thought I have reached my goal, I need to continue my
membership in TOPS to be successful. With the support of my
wife, my chapter members, and attending weekly meetings I have
been able to keep focused on this goal.
Bill Cunningham
Before
After
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2010 Kansas State Queen
photo
April
Bond
TOPS® KS
1020
lost 142 pounds to
goal!
SUCCESS STORY
My
weight loss journey has been one of the most challenging and rewarding
experiences of my life. I didn’t want to face the fact that I had let
my weight become an obstacle in my daily life and health.
After
having two children I became a closet eater. I never dreamed that there
was anyone else out there who had a relationship with food like I did
and who I could talk to freely about my food addiction.
I
will always remember walking by a mirror one day and being shocked by
the stranger that looked back at me. I promised myself that I would
start my diet “tomorrow”.
That
“tomorrow” didn’t come until my dear friend and coworker convinced me to
check out a TOPS club that was starting in the school district where we
worked. I will never forget sitting in that first meeting when our
leader, Donna Shaffer, asked us to introduce ourselves and tell why we
were there. I remember bursting into tears and telling everyone that I
was there because my family deserved better.
I began attending meetings
weekly and monitoring my calories. I made small lifestyle changes and
was able to begin walking for exercise. After loosing 100 pounds, and
proudly riding in an airplane with my husband on an anniversary trip to
Chicago, I became pregnant with my third son. Despite the outreach from
my TOPS friends, I quit going to meetings.
After
rejoining TOPS I lost weight again by watching calories and choosing
healthy foods. My TOPS club and leader have been my constant guide and
companions along this difficult but rewarding path. I have learned so
much from them and know that in order to be successful in my KOPS
journey I have to continue to attend our meetings to stay accountable.
I remind myself each Tuesday night, as I tell my wonderful husband and
three amazing sons goodbye, that they do deserve better… but what I’ve
learned is that I do too!
Thank
you TOPS, for guiding me down this path and for all the years of support
that I know are still to come!
April
Bond
Before After
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