One woman’s personal journey to lose weight has become a healthy lifestyle for several local residents in Gordon County and thousands across the globe.

The support group is called T.O.P.S. (Take Off Pounds Sen-sibly), and it was started by Esther Manz, as a response to the need to help herself and other overweight people in 1948.

It’s simply an accountability group, but it has helped nu-merous people lose weight and improve their overall health.

According to Tops.org, the idea of meeting with other diet-ers for mutual encouragement helps people lose weight.

Now, there are chapters everywhere.

The Calhoun chapter of T.O.P.S. meets at 7 p.m. each Mon-day. All participants are encouraged to participate in a con-fidential weigh-in at 6 p.m.

They meet inside of the Calhoun Senior Citizen room, and men and women sit at a round table of four to six people. During food discussions, they pair up and share responses, but can also rely on others around them for support.

Next, there is a roll call: each person answers the roll call by stating whether they’ve lost, gained or remained the same weight.

There is also a program each week, which is sometimes presented by a special guest speaker. Kathy Steele a T.O.P.S. captain of a Woodstock team was the guest speaker at the Nov. 23 meeting.

“Every time we go to the refrigerator it becomes a pat-tern,” she said. “Then it becomes a habit and it’s wired together.”

“To create a healthy habit it takes a lot to make the right attitudes and behaviors automatic,” she added.

During her weight loss journey, she said keeping a food journal handy helped her remain focused on her intentions.

“Get rid of the negative talk, and notice the good decisions you’re making,” said Steele.

While some share their weight loss in pounds with each other, others remain private about the topic. Everyone is expected to act according to how they feel most comfortable about their body and dieting.

The annual membership fee is $26, and dues are $5 each month.

For more information, visit www.tops.org or call T.O.P.S. leader Paula Patterson at

706-629-5934.