Claudette Dube has had a year at the top.
The Lac La Biche resident has spent the last 12 months as the reigning provincial queen of the provincial T.O.P.S. organization.
The Take Off Pounds Sensibly honour came after the wife, mother, grandmother and retired career counsellor successfully lost — and maintained — her weight loss goal of more than 67 pounds over the last two years.
Achieving the title has been rewarding, humbling and a long-time coming for Dube, who has been part of the Plamondon chapter of the international group since 2009. She tells Lakeland This Week that she started with TOPS to network with others who were trying to lose a few pounds in a supportive, local setting.
“There is so much support in the TOPS groups. Honestly, I think our group was more excited when I became Queen than I was. It’s such a nice place to be,” said Dube.
Quite literally a measured success, Dube has attended weekly TOPS meetings and monthly weigh-ins with the goal of achieving and maintaining a desired weight. In her case, she set a goal in 2009 of losing 67.75 pounds. She reached that goal in 2022.
TOPS members who reach their weight goals and stay within a narrow parameter for a full year become KOPS — Keeping Off Pounds Sensibly — and are eligible to become Queens and Kings if their achieved weight goal is the highest of all the provincial groups, and is maintained for a full year. Complete with crowns, a new provincial king or queen is inducted each April at the TOPS annual convention and Provincial Recognition Day.
Dube said she has attended the special conferences several times during her 14 years in the organization, watching as KOPS and past kings and queens of the organization circle the provincial membership — sometimes as many as 300 people — holding candles to shine light and encouragement to those trying to reach their own goals.
Dube laughed for a moment when asked about her 14-year journey, saying that each of those candle ceremonies were part of her “slow but steady” journey — but then her eyes welled with tears.
It’s also been an emotional journey.
“All of those candles… all of that support — and when I saw that, it’s what made me decide to be a KOP. I said I didn’t care how long it takes, I want to be in that circle giving that support. It was so powerful,” she said, holding back tears as she recalled her journey and recognition. “In TOPS there’s a whole way you are recognized from your own chapter to your region, across the province and further. You struggle to do this. It’s not easy and then you are recognized for it.”
Even with the strong support of the TOPS organization, regular conferences, a network of guest speakers, resources, close connections to local group members, and of course family, it has been a challenging time — and a very personal one.
“It has really helped me. I was always active, but I was also always chubby, on the heavy side, but now I feel be better, and activity is a lot easier. And you just know you look better, so it gives you that confidence. I want others to feel that.”
With the support of the TOPS group, her friends and family … and mainly her own, new-found strength to set her own path, she truly feels like a queen.
Over the year, Dube has been recognized for her efforts and her dedication. She has attended local and regional events associated with T.O.P.S. and told her story. She hopes it helps others who are working to make changes.
“Everyone has their own journey and their own reasons, so it’s different for all of us,” she said, when asked about others following her success. “Could I lose more weight? Well, I now think it’s doable because I have the support and I know more about me. Wherever you are, you have to make up your mind and stick with it. For me, right now I’m quite happy with where I’m at.”
First queen of the north
Dube is the first member of a northern Alberta TOPS chapter to be selected as a provincial queen. The runner-up for queen was also from northern Alberta; a member of the Westlock TOPS group.
There are Take Off Pounds Sensibly chapters across the Lakeland and northern Alberta, including in Lac La Biche, St. Paul, Athabasca, Rich Lake, Westlock, Mallaig, Plamondon and Bonnyville.
The organization was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Annual membership fees are $59 for new admissions. Returning members pay $49 per year. More information about the organization and local chapters can be found on the TOPS website.
