Alas, seniors get fat too! You would think that at a certain age you wouldn’t have to worry about every bite that you eat, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. You may not be driven to fit into a single digit dress size anymore, but weight control still matters. Neither weight gain nor a sedentary lifestyle can or should be written off as an inevitable part of aging. Studies indicate that the prevalence of obesity among older persons is growing, and that the consequences are quite dire. Excessive weight gain in older adults has been proven to have adverse medical, functional and psychosocial ramifications.
What is the answer? Most of us can’t afford to go to a spa in Switzerland to find the tools and support needed to diet successfully. We need to look into programs in our own hometown that can provide the encouragement that we need. A support group is a good way to get over the “I can’t do this alone” syndrome. A friend of mine has successfully lost and kept off 70 pounds over the last few years. She is pleased and excited about her accomplishment and is eager to share her story. She worked with Weight Watchers and with TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) to achieve her goals, and is still going strong. She hopes that her observations will serve as an inspiration to you.
Most people have heard of Weight Watchers. It has a very good program and it really does work, if you can make the commitment and follow the guidelines. There is another less well-known group called TOPS. My friend has belonged to both groups and enjoyed weight loss success with both. She started with Weight Watchers but eventually switched to TOPS because she found Weight Watchers to be a little boring. She also noted that the Weight Watcher Groups that she belonged too were businesslike but not particularly friendly.
Weight Watchers is a non-profit organization and advertises widely. The cost is about $40 a month plus an initial join-up fee. It is very structured and formal. It requires weekly weigh-in’s for accountability. It has a delicious line of food products to make dieting easier for you, publishes cookbooks, and promotes other products designed to help you achieve your goals. It encourages but does not require an OK from your doctor in regards to following their meal plans. The people who run the meetings are required to be at or below their target weight. Each member gets a Weight Watcher weight goal or must have medical permission if they want a different goal. Information about local chapters can be found at www.weightwatchers.com.
TOPS (www.tops.org) has a yearly fee of about $25 and monthly dues of about $5. It is non-profit and does not advertise. It makes itself know through word of mouth and has a website. The meetings are informal and the leaders, whether at goal weight or not, are encouraged but not required to do an educational program, ask questions and in general run the meetings. There are fun contests going on most of the time and they give rewards for embracing the philosophy and for weight loss. The TOPS groups are friendly and informal. You are free to follow whatever weight loss plan that you want. Many of the people in TOPS groups are over 50. The social aspect of the group seems to appeal to a more mature crowd. My friend wanted to emphasize that men are welcome also; it is not just for women.
Both groups offer weekly accountability as well as a forum for people with similar goals to talk. If you are a person who likes structure and being told exactly what to do, and money is not an object, Weight Watchers is a great program. If you like more choices, do not want to spend a lot of money and enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere, TOPS is a good alternate choice. The focus of both groups is on achieving a healthy weight. Weight loss programs for seniors focus more on small lifestyle changes that promote health, function and quality of life.
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