September 3, 2014 at 4:09 p.m.

Rhinelander woman continues family tradition at TOPS organization

Rhinelander woman continues family tradition at TOPS organization
Rhinelander woman continues family tradition at TOPS organization

By Kayla Thomason-

Carol Holtz of Rhinelander is carrying on a unique family tradition by serving as the northern Wisconsin coordinator of the TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) organization.

TOPS is a weight loss support group that has been around for 66 years. Holtz has been the coordinator of the northern Wisconsin TOPS chapters for 10 years. She also serves as online coordinator.

Her grandmother, Esther Manz, started the program in 1948 after talking with friends from a birthing class. The women were interested in helping each other eat healthier and achieve slimmer figures.

Manz patterned the program after the support system used in Alcoholics Anonymous chapters..

"She pulled together and decided 'you know what, we need to do something where we are supporting each other,'" Holtz said.

The first TOPS meeting was held in the Milwaukee area and a lot of people showed up.

"I guess there was a huge line to get into the meeting to get weighed in and become members of it," Holtz said.

TOPS leaders taught the members what a healthy lifestyle is - eating healthier food, exercise and motivation - and consulted with each member's doctor who would set a goal weight for the individual to strive for and offer advice as to what diet and exercise plan would be safe for them.

The fundamentals of the program have not changed since her grandmother's time, Holtz said.

"We base ourselves on doing education for weight loss, so we go over different things like what kinds of foods are good to eat depending on people's needs," she said.

TOPS has an exchange program for food where the members can substitute an item from the same category if they don't care for another option on the list, such as fish. TOPS also has a menu for vegetarians.

If someone gains weight or plateaus, the other members encourage that person to try again.

"The big difference between us and other weight loss groups is the fact that we're support," Holtz said.

After reaching target weight, members can join a related program called Keep Off Pounds Sensibly (KOPS).

"We have a lot of very successful members and what's nice is we actually have a high rate of people that keep off the weight once they have lost it," Holtz said.

TOPS won't make someone go to a gym but they will give them many options for physical fitness. TOPS keeps goals attainable, Holtz said.

While the main goal of TOPS has not changed, the program is tweaked as new research becomes available.

Another major advancement is that TOPS is now online.

"(My grandmother) may not have liked using technology but she would understand the importance," Holtz said, adding that her grandmother was a forward thinker who would likely be thrilled by the growth of the program she founded.

"I just hope that every day I am doing the best that I can and that my grandma is smiling down on me," she said.

Holtz has three young children and they know a lot about TOPS, but she said she will not push them into taking over her position in the program.

It costs $28 a year to join TOPS and members get online access and a magazine. Anyone age 7 and older is welcome to join.

Chapters are located all over Wisconsin and some towns have multiple groups.

Rhinelander has two chapters both based in churchs, Calvary Baptist Church and the First Congregational United Church of Christ.

Chapters meet on different days and times to accommodate members' schedules.

Northern Wisconsin has 130 chapters and 2,000 members.

Anyone is welcome to check out a chapter for free because every chapter is a bit different due to member's personalities.

"I love working for TOPS," Holtz said. "There hasn't really been anyone from the family working with TOPS since my grandmother. I love getting out and teaching people about balancing our lives to be healthier, I also like hearing everyone's story on their weight-loss journey."

For more information or to join TOPS, visit www.tops.org or call Holtz at (715) 362-3895.

Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].

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