TOPS Take Off Pounds Sensibly Review

My doctor recently advised me to seek out a formal weight loss program rather than trying to do this on my own. While I am a fan of supporting others and finding support for my weight loss journey (I led and participated in a  local group for a while) I can't afford to pay the weekly fees that Weight Watchers charges.

Another option is the TOPS program. They also have weekly meetings and online support with message boards, but the price is right at just $24 per year.

The Differences

Weight Watchers is a food and exercise program and it offers weekly meetings to support their program. They try to sell you their products from food to journals. They charge an additional fee for online participation. The leaders are people who were in your shoes and continue to follow the program.

TOPS simply promotes healthy weight loss. They do support a diet or weight loss plan. They advise you to see your doctor for an approved meal plan. Online access is included in the membership. Meetings are far less formal and the bulk of the conversation comes from those attending the meetings, like yourself. They can also put you on the spot by asking about your weight loss or gain for the week during the meeting.

Just Average

TOPS is a decent program for those who just need a little support outside of the home but can't afford to commit to Weight Watchers or want to follow a different weight loss plan. Just don't count on the meetings to teach you anything about healthy living or how to lose weight. Have a program in place and use the group simply for additional support.