BUCYRUS — After more than 60 years, the Bucyrus Take Off Pounds Sensibly weight loss support group is still going strong.
While the national TOPS organization was founded in 1948, the Bucyrus group began holding meetings in 1964.
“We met in the basement of the city hall at first, then moved to the hospital for several years,” said Eileen Studer, one of the first members.
The TOPS Club, Inc. is a weight-loss support network to help people build healthier habits through education, practical tools and weekly in-person meetings for support and encouragement.
“We weigh-in at each meeting and are so supportive of each other, lose or gain,” Bucyrus TOPS leader Bev Kalb said.
Co-leader Connie Zellner said the group has been there for each other for many life events: births, deaths and everything in between.
“We are like family,” Zellner said.
The local group has about 18 active members and TOPS Club, Inc. has about 180,000 members who participate in 10,000 chapters throughout the country. The average number of members per local group is around 20.
Jana Taylor joined the group in 2022 and became the biggest loser for 2024 after shedding 43.2 pounds. She is also treasurer of Bucyrus TOPS.
“I was able to lose the weight because of the encouragement and support of this group,” Taylor said.
She said the members of the group use their own methods to lose weight, but TOPS does have exchange cards that members can purchase for $3. The program is called the Food Exchange System, and it was created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American Diabetes Association.
“The cards kind of remind me of Richard Simmons’ Deal a Meal,” Taylor said. “The meals include protein, fruits, fats, dairy and veggies. They have different versions that are 1,200, 1,500 and 1,800 calories.”
She said many of her fellow TOPS members count calories.
“One person did the shot, but no one has had weight-loss surgery,” Taylor said.
According to information from the national TOPS organization, fad diets and restrictive eating are not promoted. Instead, healthy eating habits and medically sound nutrition are encouraged.
“We really want new gals to join us who want to come in and weigh for accountability, maybe even on their lunchtime,” Taylor said.
Each week, the group features a different topic of discussion, such as the effects of sodium on the body or diet tools to help people stay on track with their healthy eating habits.
Members get on the scale in private and Kalb said the group uses encouraging words whether a member says they have lost weight or gained weight.
“We do not shame here. We are on a journey and there will be ups and downs,” Kalb said. “We are here to encourage and help each other.”
Zellner said the group has an initial $70 fee, which includes a subscription to the TOPS bi-monthly magazine.
“After that, it is $49.50 per year,” Zellner said.
She said each member pays $1 at every meeting that goes into a fund for local charities.
“We recently donated money to the Crawford County Trap, Neuter and Return program that takes care of stray cats throughout the county,” Zellner said.
The Bucyrus TOPS group meets every Tuesday at St. John’s United Church of Christ, 120 S. Lane St., in Bucyrus, with weigh-in at 12:30 p.m. and a short meeting at 1 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Why this Bucyrus weight loss group thrives today
Reporting by Kim Gasuras, Special to Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum / Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kim Gasuras, Special to Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum | USA TODAY Network
