Christina Barnes of Albuquerque before and after she lost 48.25 pounds and was named ‘TOPS 2024 New Mexico Queen’. Courtesy/TOPS
TOPS Club News:
TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds SensiblySM), the nonprofit weight-loss support organization, is unveiling its “royalty” for 2024. Christina Barnes of Albuquerque, who lost 48.25 pounds, is the 2024 New Mexico Queen. She was honored April 25-26, 2025, at the New Mexico recognition event at the Albuquerque Elks Lodge in Albuquerque.
TOPS® royalty are women and men who have officially recorded the largest weight loss from their highest weight at TOPS by the end of 2024 and reached their goal weight, regardless of the time taken to reach their goal.
With an individual approach to weight loss and overall wellness, TOPS provides consistent group support, health education, and recognition to encourage successful weight management. New Mexico has an adult obesity rate of 35.3%, and in 2024, TOPS members in New Mexico lost a cumulative 1,133 pounds.
“All of us affiliated with TOPS are extremely proud of our members’ weight-loss accomplishments,” said Rick Danforth, TOPS President. “Through their TOPS membership, these individuals can commemorate their life-changing successes, other members, and those who have preceded them. By continuing their faithfulness to lifestyle alterations, a characteristic of TOPS’ successful formula, TOPS members employ the methods they’re offered and the support of their peers to achieve their weight loss objectives.”
In-person or online weekly meetings are the heart of TOPS support. In-person meetings start with an optional weigh-in, with members then sharing challenges, successes, or goals. A brief program covering a variety of health and wellness topics follows and may conclude with awards and recognition for the week. Visitors can attend their first TOPS in-person meeting free of charge and are encouraged to try more than one chapter since they’re all a little different.
For online membership, meetings are conducted via Zoom and are offered at least five times weekly. The meeting starts with members disclosing challenges, successes, or goals. Next, the online facilitator presents a prepared program that sometimes includes guest speakers sharing expert views on fitness, nutrition, and more. Meetings conclude with action steps related to the presented program.
Membership is affordable, starting at USD 70 per year, plus nominal chapter fees. Join TOPS, visit www.tops.org, or call 800-932-8677 to learn more about TOPS and to find a local chapter.
Christina Barnes Tells Her Story
My weight loss journey began in the fall of 1969. My sister returned from Vietnam, where she and her husband were stationed. He was in the military at that time, and they had been deployed abroad for three years.
I was nursing my six-month-old daughter, and my sister took one look at me and exclaimed, “Goodness, but you have gained weight!” At that time, I considered it natural to gain weight while pregnant and breastfeeding an infant. I had paid little attention to my weight gain.
My sister, being older and bossy, told me I needed to join a new weight loss group she had been attending. We looked up TOPS, a weight loss organization, and found a meeting near me. I was so inspired by the members, who were so friendly and welcoming; I joined that night. I began attending the meetings and started losing weight. By working the program, I lost about 40 pounds within 18 months. Then I became pregnant with my youngest son.
After two years, I was around ten pounds from my goal and was teaching an exercise class at a gym near my house. One day, I was leaving the gym, and a TOPS sister saw me. She told me the TOPS national rule indicated TOPS members would not be eligible for any recognition for weight loss if they were affiliated with another weight loss organization. My TOPS sister reported me to the weight recorder, and she confirmed the regulation was true.
I decided to quit TOPS after that. I believed I could continue my journey on my own. I was a certified exercise instructor at the time, so I was able to maintain the loss by teaching exercise classes.
I continued to lose weight toward my goal; then, I twisted and broke my knee. I had a year of pain before finally having the break repaired. The recovery was long and painful. In the meantime, I was feeding my pain with food. That, of course, put the weight back on.
I have finally, after many years of yo-yoing up and down, rejoined TOPS. The regulations have changed, and now we can be recognized for our weight loss, no matter how it was achieved.
Yay! After several rides on the weight loss roller coaster, I reached my goal and finally recognized that I need support, which I get at TOPS.
Thank you to all my sisters and brothers in TOPS who have encouraged me through my ups and downs. I have met the enemy, and with TOPS, I have achieved my goal. It is never too late! You can do it!
About TOPS®
TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is the original weight-loss support and wellness education organization. Founded in 1948, TOPS is the only nonprofit, noncommercial weight-loss organization of its kind. TOPS promotes successful weight management with a “Real People. Real Weight Loss.®” philosophy that combines support from others at weekly chapter meetings, healthy eating, regular exercise, and wellness information.
Today, there are about 65,000 members, including men, women, and international members, who join chapter meetings online, with thousands of chapters in all 50 states and Canada. TOPS also has an online program for people who might prefer that model or who live too far away to attend in-person chapter meetings. Online resources include news and information from the health and inspirational community, meal planning ideas, workouts, chapter resources, and more.
Visitors are welcome to attend their first TOPS meeting free of charge. Membership is affordable, starting at $70 per year, plus nominal chapter fees. The longer you’re a TOPS member, the more you save through reduced renewal rates. Visit www.tops.org or call 800.932.8677 to learn more about TOPS and to find a local chapter.
