Staff writer
Losing weight can make a woman feel like a queen.
For Arlene Bowers, it became more than a feeling Thursday. She was crowned the 2010 queen of the TOPS KS 1075 chapter in Marion.
Bowers received her crown following a graduation ceremony for her during the chapter’s weekly meeting at Hilltop Manor. Beverly Budnasek, the coordinator of Kansas TOPS chapters, conducted the ceremony.
The 71-year-old Marion woman joined the club June 10 and reached her weight goal Dec. 2 after losing 25 pounds. At that time, she qualified to graduate from a TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) member to a KOPS (Keep Off Pounds Sensibly) member.
Bowers said an unsuccessful back surgery four years ago left her unable to do much. She had always been a “little” woman, but she started to gain weight and eventually put on 25 extra pounds.
“I didn’t like myself very well,” she said.
Bowers took the challenge seriously to lose weight. She lost weight every week after she joined the TOPS chapter. She said she reached her goal by eating a lot of fruits and vegetables and watching her fat intake. She also gave up desserts.
“I love sweets, so that’s been hard for me,” she admitted.
Bowers also kept active by doing 30 minutes of stretches and exercises every morning and walking 1.5 miles five or six days a week.
She had the support of her husband, Vern Bowers, who, although not a member of the chapter, lost 26 pounds during the same period.
Bowers said her effort at weight-loss, the first in her life, made her realize what others go through when struggling with their weight.
“It’s been an eye-opener for me,” she said. “It was work, but it was worth it. I like myself again.”
Bowers’ challenge now is to keep off the weight. To remain a KOPS member, she must maintain a weight between seven pounds below and three pounds above her target weight.