MONTANA STATE RECOGNITION DAYS 2011

was held June 24-25, 2011

at the Holiday Inn, Great Falls, MT

Meet Our Winners . . . .

ROYALTY

King Larry Bonefeole

27.50 pound loss to goal

MT 428, Missoula

I have been on diets before and lost 30 to 40 pounds but became discouraged because I returned to my normal lifestyle and all the weight I lost returned and even more. 

The first thing that impressed me at TOPS was the KOPS because they had not only lost to their goal, but kept it off. Thank you KOPS for your example. 

An article in the October TOPS News by Dr. Nick Yphantides, TOPS programs, and God's help,  I can write my success story. The article by Dr. Nick said to become healthy, lose weight, and keep it off there has to be a lifestyle change, change of behavior, and change of thinking. For me it was a change in eating habits which was no more salt, no more eating after 6:00 pm, and no more skipping breakfast. This meant eating for the right reasons, such as to stay healthy not just eating for pleasure! It was making a commitment to be serious about eating less and exercising more to reach my goal weight in 18 months.

God has led me each step of the way, by joining TOPS and the programs that opened my eyes and mind to successful weight loss. I am a type 2 diabetic and with the weight loss, I have been able to eliminate one medication and a sleep problem. Waking up each morning is a gift from God and with his help and my TOPS weekly meeting, I will continue with the KOPS.

Queen Leslie Berkey

77.00 pound loss to goal

MT 200, Seeley Lake

My story begins in 1954, when I was 5’7” and weighed 130 pounds.  That was in the days when movie stars and models were not toothpicks. However, my aunt decided I was fat. So began my journey through life with my self-image of being fat.

In 1955 my father moved us from Connecticut to California, away from all our family and friends.. This happened after my freshman year. I was devastated! So with my fat self image and no friends over that first summer, the weight came on, and the war began!

Meanwhile, I married my wonderful husband and had three great kids. However, I still fought the epic battle! My husband was in the Navy, and we were stationed in Okinawa in 1968. There I found TOPS. What a wonderful organization. I found the most wonderful friends, support, comfort, ideas, help and a kick in the pants when needed.

 Through thick and thin, I have stayed in TOPS these many years. I’m glad to have reached my goal, yet sorry it took me so long. Alas, my self-image has not caught up with me. When I see myself, in a long mirror or a store window, it is always a surprise. Now I have the challenge of changing my self-image!

Our King Runner Up & Queen Runner Up

King Runner-Up Allen Bernhard & Queen Runner-up Dorla Cartwright

King Runner-Up

Allen Bernhard

20.50 pound loss to goal

MT 126, Libby

I had several family members who had joined TOPS. After seeing their results, and after lots of encouragement, I joined in September 2003. At my first meeting I was told that I needed to drink 8-8oz glasses of water a day. I thought they were NUTS! How could one person possibly drink that much water in one day? The first two weeks I didn't drink my water and had a gain at both weigh-ins. After that I started drinking my water and started losing! I would love to say that it was all smooth sailing from then on, but we all know better.

I suffered a major setback when my arthritis flared up on me. My fellow TOPS friends encouraged me to join the Montana Athletic Center to help with my arthritis problems. I joined and found it was helping. I also started walking regularly. Over time my arthritis had subsided and I was walking 4 miles a day and still going to the gym on a regular basis. I was finally back in control. What a wonderful feeling!

I have learned so much from our programs every week. I have learned about healthy foods, and found I actually like them. I have learned about emotional eating, yo-yo dieting and so much more.

With the help and support of TOPS,  MT 126, Libby, I became a KOPS on May 03, 2010. I thank them all for all they did to help me travel this road. My favorite part of each meeting is at the end when we all stand in a circle holding hands and recite:

You take my hand and I'll take yours and we'll start out today. For a helping hand is what we need to start us on our way. The road to goal is a lonely road, we need someone to care. Reach out my friend and take my hand and then we're almost there.

Queen Runner-Up

Dorla Cartwright

41.50 pound loss to goal

MT 545, Neihart

One day I reached the point of no return. I was tired of carrying the extra weight that limited what I could do. I already had 2 knee replacements. I had to get this extra weight off to take care of my new knees. In October of 2007 I was visiting with a couple of friends, Judy and Robin, and they invited me and my husband, Wayne, to come to a TOPS meeting.  We thought this over for awhile and decided to visit and possibly join as we were having no success losing weight on our own.

During that first meeting I realized my portions were much too large and I was eating too many sweets. After joining TOPS and learning the importance of drinking water, I found if I drank an 8 ounce glass of water before each meal it helped me with my portion control and the scale started going down. Exercise seemed to be another step in the right direction towards reaching my goal. My husband, Wayne, is one of my biggest supporters. He and I would go for a mile and a half walk nearly every day in addition to doing floor exercises.

I have been so happy to have won many awards through my weight loss journey, both as a division winner and at chapter level. I could not have achieved my goals without the love and support of everyone in my TOPS group. I need the weekly accountability and support my TOPS pals give me. I, in return, want to give them support to help them achieve their goals. Thank you Judy, Jackie, Wayne, Robin and Sue. Without God's help through this journey I would not have been able to achieve my goal, so most of all, I give God the glory.

 

DIVISION WINNERS

Division Winners Dan Jordan, Pat McCoy, Linda Cureau,

Joyce Lahaye, Mary MacCatherine & Shirley LaRocque

Division 1- Male

1st Place Don Jordan MT 0193, Great Falls Weight Loss 22.50 pounds

Division 1- Female

1st Place

Lorene Gotta

MT 0061, Great Falls

Weight Loss 63.50 pounds

Division 2- Male

1st Place

Gary Baker

MT 0566, Forsyth

Weight Loss 20.00 pounds

Division 2- Female

Division 3- Male

2nd Place

Maurice Burns

MT 0538, Martin City

Weight Loss 17.00 pounds

Division 3- Female

Division 4- Male

Division 4- Female

1st Place

Shirley Pollard

MT 0343, Stevensville

Weight Loss 41.00 pounds

Division 9- Male

1st Place

James Garner

MT 0202, Plains

Weight Loss 53.50 pounds

Division 9- Female

 Congratulations to TOPS MT0376,Malta

Best Average Loss Per Member of 11.87 pounds!

TOPS MT 0542, Kalispell Installs 2011-2012 Officers

Officers shown in picture on the left from left to right, they are: Maria Erekson, Linda Blanc,

Lolly Herbel, Area Captain Deb Pier, Carol Ask, Lynn Jarvis, and Tanya Troyer.  Photo on the right is

the entire chapter.  Both photo's taken at the April 5, 2011 meeting.

TOPS MT 0126, Libby Installs 2011-2012 Officers

Those pictured are: Del  Shriner, Millie Duff, Kathy Lauer,

Tammy Byrd, and Myrtle Feldenzer.