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Darlene Gauweiler understands the frustration of those struggling to lose those last ten or fifteen pounds. She shed 144 pounds over two years, but it took another entire year to lose those last ten pounds. Darlene will be speaking at a free open event at the Millbrook Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) meeting on October 17th at 6pm where she will share her weight loss journey and offer encouragement to others who might feel discouraged by the results of their weight loss efforts.
TOPS was the first non-commercial weight-loss program and has been helping people lose weight in small chapters across North America since 1948. At weekly meetings, members check in, weigh in and support each other mentally, physically and emotionally in a non-judgmental environment. Membership includes access to resources focused on healthy eating, recipes and fitness guides, as well as step-by-step instructions on how to get started and help when the incentive to continue begins to wane.
They also celebrate successes. At this year’s provincial meeting in Guelph, Darlene who is a member of the Port Perry club, was recognized as the weight loss queen having lost more weight than any other member this year.
Darlene has struggled with weight most of her life. She refers to herself as a diet queen, having tried all types of programs from Weight Watchers, Atkinsons to Slimfast. Prior to the pandemic she was experiencing some success as a member of TOPS, but then the support evaporated as meetings were no longer available and her weight climbed higher than ever.
When her size became a barrier to a surgical procedure, she set the objective of losing the equivalent of an entire person- more than half of her weight at the time. The task seemed unrealistic, but she can now say that is possible.
She attributes her success to support and encouragement from her TOPS chapter members. While the TOPS program got her weight loss progress started, it was boosted by a process called intermittent fasting outlined in a book entitled Fast. Feast. Repeat.: The Comprehensive Guide to Delay, Don’t Deny Intermittent Fasting by Gin Stephens.
This process relies solely on time restrictions on eating. There are no calories counted and no prohibited foods. Adherents only consume food during a specific period during the day, usually an eight-hour window. When Darlene reached a plateau in her weight-loss journey, she tightened up her window for eating by an hour until she was only eating during a six hour period each day.
In addition to limiting her consumption, Darlene began to walk every day. At first her husband raced ahead of her as she struggled with pain, but she was determined to continue, travelling further and faster. Now her husband has trouble keeping up with her.
Darlene is coming to Millbrook to share her message that persistence pays off. To hear her story, visitors are invited to the October 17th TOPS meeting at St. Thomas Anglican Church in Millbrook. Doors open at 5:45 and parking is available behind the church off Manor Drive. For more information, call Lou at 705-944-5422 or email bluemoons@nexicom.net. KG