‘It’s not a short journey’: N.S. man, woman prove weight loss at any age is possible

69-year-old Sharron Leeson is down 140lbs since starting her weight loss journey two years ago.

Sharon Leeson had been told about Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) for years, to manage weight, diabetes and arthritis.

“I did originally weigh 288 pounds and when I joined TOPS I was 253. Then I got in the program because I was advised to take TOPS through a couple medical staff,” Leeson said.

“Diets were not the thing for me. I’ve heard TOPS for years and years. So I said, OK, my cousin is in TOPS, I’ll give it a try. I had quite the adjustment getting into TOPS and going through the program and to find exactly what they do because it’s not a diet.”

TOPS helps adjust someone’s lifestyle and introduces new foods, like Greek yogurt instead of ice cream, to change habits.

“I am so, so, so, so thankful that I got into TOPS to meet all the fantastic people,” she said.

“And I’m going up to Truro in June to pass my crown on to this year’s Nova Scotia Queen. But I have to get down to 135 pounds, and I weigh 147. So I’ve got a lot of work to do, or I can’t go up to the stage to actually give it to this year’s Queen.”

Being Queen means losing significant weight and being an inspiration for others. At age 71, Leeson says her arthritis pain has gone from 100 down to 20 with the weight loss.

“They couldn’t believe I was even able to lose all that weight I had to, in a way because of my health. Breathing in and going up and down stairs and I had both my knees replaced,” Leeson said.

Leeson went from 253 pounds to 147 in two years.

“So, once I got on to that and it started getting better and better with the breathing and the walking and stuff, and the weight was coming down, down, down. I just didn’t think I’d ever be here. Be it down to what I am now. And being so thankful that I got into TOPS and into meeting these people.”

She had a message for those looking to make lifestyle changes.

“It’s never too late, you know, it’s never. I’ve heard that so many times. You’re never too old to work. And you just know what you have to do it,” Leeson said.

Ronald Heisler felt the same way and emphasises the work that needs to be put in.

“It’s not a short journey. There’s going to be some detours along the way,” he said.

“And a story that I’ve told, I’ve heard many times. If you get in your car and you’re driving to Cape Breton and you see a sign that says Yarmouth next exit, you don’t keep going. You have to turn the car around if you want to get to Cape Breton.”

He said that TOPS was the reason he lost and kept weight off.

“If you attend regularly, there’s the accountability factor there. You’re going to have to step on that scale every week,” Heisler said.

“You learn very quickly that you can’t make up in two days or three days or four days if you’ve overdone it on the first three days after the meeting. So, accountability is a big part. And then after a while, you know, the group is so supportive to you. You want to be supportive to them and not just go in there every week and post gains and things like that.”

Once you achieve your TOPS goal, you become a KOPS, Keep Off Pounds Sensibly.

“That’s where you want to be. And then you still go because you’re a support,” he said. “You’re very inspirational to the other members of the group that are trying. And they see that people have made it and have kept it off. So, it’s not just sort of one and done.”

Heisler, who is turning 72 this year, weighed 256 pounds in 2016, and is down to 175.

He says walking and exercise is necessary, but the change of life drives you to keep going, especially for your mental health.

“There’s nothing worse than self-loathing. When you step on a scale, and you’ve gained weight,” he said.

“We go in there and see how things are going with our friends, and they quickly become your friends because, you know, they are so nice. So, if you want a home sort of atmosphere, where are you supportive of losing weight and supportive when you’re struggling, it’s the place.”

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