Georgia couple shares weight loss journey through TOPS nonprofit

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - One in 4 Americans have experienced being overweight, according to the CDC, 35 to 40% of Georgia residents are overweight, placing the state in the highest obesity category. South Carolina falls in the next tier, with 30 to 35% of residents classified as obese.

One Savannah couple is now sharing their weight loss journey through a nationwide nonprofit organization.

Savannah man named Georgia TOPS King

A Savannah man was recognized as the top weight loss achiever in Georgia through a nonprofit weight loss organization after dropping 43 pounds and hitting his goal weight by year’s end. Daniel Moore said a medical emergency helped motivate his decision to change.

“I got hauled in by an ambulance to the emergency room with a heart condition,” Moore said. “And the guy that took me in said, if I want to make a habit of this, I need to lose some weight so he can lift me. And I said, that kind of hit home.”

Losing weight with peer support

Daniel and his wife Valeri both participate in TOPS — Take Off Pounds Sensibly — a nonprofit weight loss organization that emphasizes peer support and healthy habit-building. Valeri Moore was named the 2020 Georgia TOPS Queen.

“We don’t necessarily say we lose weight, but we release it,” Valeri Moore said. “Because when somebody loses something, the brain might think it wants it back. But we don’t want it back. We want it to be released.”

Daniel Moore said changes to his daily routine made a significant difference, including cutting out frequent restaurant meals.

“I quit going out to eat lunch, which I would do a lot,” he said. “Get burgers and fries and fried food and all that kind of stuff.”

Small changes, lasting results

The Moores said TOPS taught them the value of small habits, such as setting a fork down between bites and practicing portion control.

“He’d be in a nursing home if we weren’t cognizant of how important it is to watch what we eat,” Valeri Moore said.