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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (March 30, 2018)
PAGE A4, KEIZERTIMES, MARCH 30, 201d Sensible strategies, support network made difference in woman’s weight loss success By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes One of the most diffi cult things to do when seeking any sort of support – be it emo- tional, physical or some com- bination of the two – is con- necting with the right people. Sometimes the search alone can be overwhelming, but Martina Sierra is a walking testament to what is possible when someone commits to fi nding the right people. When Sierra joined Taking Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) in 2007, she weighed 253 pounds. Today, she weighs 136 pounds and has kept the weight off for more than six years. “The support made a 100 percent difference. I knew there was a group of people that cared about me as a person and cared about my journey to being a healthier person. They were going to be there for me when I was having a bad time and I could be there for them,” Sierra said. TOPS (www.tops.org) is a non-profi t organization and network of weight loss support groups. Keizer has three TOPS chapters with weekly meetings, one at Faith Lutheran Church, another at John Knox Presby- terian Church and the third at Clear Lake United Method- ist Church. Meeting days and times are available at the web- site. National and individual club dues amount to about $8 per month. Sierra is the club KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald Martina Sierra has lost more than 115 pounds since joining Tak- ing Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) in 2007. She now leads the TOPS chapter at John Knox Presbyterian Church. leader at John Knox and the area captain for all of Marion and Polk counties. While Sierra has stuck with TOPS, attending her fi rst meet- ing was something of an am- bush. “I had lost weight and gained it back and gained more back. Then, one day, my mother appeared at the door and said, ‘You’re coming with me, we’re going to TOPS.’ I said, ‘What’s TOPS?’” Sierra said. Her mother explained on the drive to the meeting. TOPS meetings start with a weigh-in followed by a roll call in which the members declare whether they’ve lost or gained weight since the last week. “That can be the most diffi - cult part of the meeting because some people will have lost and others will gain. If the member has lost weight, we congratu- late them, if they gained we remind them that we are glad they came to the meeting,” Si- erra said. After the roll call, someone in the group leads a program about new exercise techniques or nutrition information that might lead to better results. There is no formalized meal plan members have to buy into, but there is a constant feedback loop with awards for weekly and monthly weight loss, long- term results as well as statewide and national competitions. Last year, the organization chal- lenged members to lose more than 1 million pounds. As a whole, they met and exceeded the goal. Club members are encouraged to work with their regular physicians when setting weight goals. “My original doctor set my goal at 165 and said I would never make it. I proved him wrong,” Sierra said. If there is a catch, it’s one that most dieters come to real- ize anyway: it’s a marathon, not a sprint. It took Sierra fi ve years to meet her fi rst goal (she can cite the date it happened), but she also kept the weight off by changing her lifestyle in small ways over time. “One of the most important things I did was journaling,” Si- erra said. “I would write down what I was eating and what I felt like when I was eating. I was able to discover patterns in my own eating and learn about nutrition in general.” She changed portion sizes, but never denied herself the occasional treat in modera- tion. She also started moving more even when doing routine things like watching TV. Through it all, the support of other TOPS members was crucial. When the meeting times for her original group in south Salem stopped work- ing for her schedule, she visited four other club meetings before settling into the club at John Knox. Aside from enjoying the humor of the group, she found they did other things like keep- ing in contact outside of meet- ings that helped on her journey. “I got a note from the leader of the group the week I visited. I had already decided I was go- ing back, but that made me feel like they really cared. I’m now the leader of the group and the one trying to make those con- nections,” Sierra said. Her service dog, King, a 6-year-old English black lab- rador, also became the group’s unoffi cial mascot. It was com- mitting to fi nding a group that worked best for her that has kept her motivated and spurred growth in ways that extend be- yond the confi nes of the meet- ings. “That support is important when you’re having a bad day and someone says, ‘I’m glad you came today because we need you here,’” Sierra said. “I lost weight, but I grew as a person. I gained self-confi dence and became less isolated and more willing to put myself out there.” crossword KEIZER CLASSIFIEDS CAR NEEDED SERVICES SERVICES CAR NEEDED for transportation to and from church. Looking for donation of vehicle for woman on fi xed income. Call Leslie at 971- 388-8721. 0406 A PLACE FOR MOM. The nation’s largest senior living referral service. Contact our trusted, local experts today! Our service is FREE/no obligation. CALL 1-888-651-5669. Get an iPhone 8 or Samsung Galaxy8 for $34/month. Call AT&T Wireless today to learn how to get a new phone. Call while supplies last. 1-855-608-7945. 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