Named the "Queen" of the 2015 California Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) Club, Diane Naylor of Oakhurst, CA, weighed 380 pounds at her heaviest. She found the motivation to lose weight—and win the competition—while watching an episode of ABC's Castle, according to the Fresno Bee.
On the show, a medical examiner character pointed to several nearby corpses and said, "All those people had dreams, and their time ran out. Don't let your time run out before you reach your dream," Diane explained. That was her turning point.
Now at age 63, Diane weighs 155 pounds, and attributes her weight-loss success to the nonprofit weight-loss organization TOPS, which has 15 chapters in California. Since joining the group two years ago, she's lost 177 pounds, not including the 50 pounds she shed before joining.
In addition to winning the TOPS Club state title, Diane also earned the 2015 International Queen Runner-Up title for her weight-loss achievements.
The club, which costs about $30 in membership fees each year, holds Diane accountable and provides a constant support system. Weekly Monday meetings keep her in check and remind her not to cheat her new healthy lifestyle, especially on weekends when she's most tempted, she told Today.com. "If you don't have access to similar group—start one yourself," she advised. "Find similar-minded people who will understand and support you."
Before losing the weight, simply walking down the driveway was a challenge, Diane said. She was a self-proclaimed food addict who ate meals and snacks all day long.
Nowadays, she doesn't stop moving until she reaches 10,000 steps a day. She eats healthier foods like fish and veggies, and spends her time crossing activities off her bucket list like zip-lining, motorcycle riding, and woodwork projects, with plenty of dreams yet to accomplish.
"If I can do it starting at age 59, starting this late in life and with this much weight loss, they can do it too," she said. "Never give up on your dream."
(h/t the Fresno Bee)
