Take Off Pounds Sensibly or TOPS as it is known as was founded in 1948. It has approximately 170,000 members and over 10,000 chapters in the United States, Canada and other countries. Membership can be open to anyone, this includes children.
TOPS works with a support group format. You meet with others that are having weight issues and you discuss what your goals for a more fit and well lifestyles are. The TOPS group then helps you try to meet those goals. Take Off Pounds Sensibly helps achieve those goals by helping to create new nutritional guidelines as well as increased activity for those involved. TOPS does not use any pre-packed meals or supplements to help assist in achieving your desired weight, they believe that lifestyle change is the only way that someone that is struggling with weight problems will be able to achieve any success.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly states that they like to see long term goals and weight loss, not just a few short weeks worth. There is a monthly fee to join TOPS (it varies from 20.00 to 30.00 a month in most places) When you join you will get a start up package that includes your nutritional needs as well as healthy recipes. When you have reached your ideal weight, TOPS does not just throw you back out into the world, they offer incentives for those that take the pounds off and keep them off.
TOPS offers an online system for those that would like to attend "meetings" and get support from the comfort of their own home. Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) has shown that since 1948 they have successfully been helping people battle weight loss, in 2008 they claim a collective 861,535.70 pounds were lost by their members. TOPS has some of the right ideas when it comes to significant weight loss. It can not be considered a passing thing and be successful, lifestyle change is the only way that true success can happen.