THUNDER BAY - Three years ago, when Joyce Webb stepped on the scale, she was well over 300 pounds. Her weight had become such an issue that her doctor suggested surgery.
Now, Webb is weighing in at roughly 170 pounds, and is among weight-loss royalty thanks to a program that has acknowledged her as the weight loss queen of Ontario.
Webb gained the majority of her weight in her late 20s and struggled with it for decades. She fluctuated between programs, continuously losing and gaining back weight.
“I wasn’t feeling good. I couldn’t walk very far. Pains in my legs, and always out of breath.”
Once her doctor told her weight loss surgery may be required to help her health, she said, “something had to be done.”
That’s when Webb decided to join TOPS, which is a non-profit organization that helps people lose weight over a long term.
Webb began journaling, exercising, and eating healthier as a part of the program.
She went for short walks, used a stepper, and a recumbent bike as a means of exercise.
“At first it was difficult,” she said. “I’d been heavy for so long and I didn’t know how much my body was going to react to losing steadily.”
In three years, she lost 155 pounds.
“I still have my treats,” she continued. “My pizza, my burgers. But they’re not for a snack. That’s a meal. I had to stick to that.”
Eventually, the benefits to her health made the choice to lose weight an easy one.
“Going to a regular clothing store and going to the smaller sizes, it’s just awesome. Being able to walk without stopping… my legs aren’t sore, I’m breathing well. I can do anything.”
She’s also been acknowledged as the female runner-up of the international competition, signifying that she’s lost the second-most weight among TOPS members in the United States and Canada.
“I really amazed myself.”
“You’ll get there eventually,” she said as advice for anyone trying to lose weight.
“You just have to believe in yourself because you’re worth it.”
