Rathdrum woman loses big
RATHDRUM - A trip to Hawaii is usually full of the aloha spirit. But as Judy Halone sat in her plane seat headed across the ocean in September 2018, turbulence bounced around in her head during the six-hour flight.
The Rathdrum resident was embarrassed that her thighs barely fit between the armrests. She was afraid to ask for an extender for the seat belt. A sweater blanketed her belly.
This was no way to begin a vacation to the land of beaches, palm trees and sunshine.
For Halone, that was the beginning of the end of her battle with obesity — one she was determined to win.
“The struggle was real, indeed. It was time to change course,” she said.
Two weeks later she walked into her doctor’s office.
“I need help,” she said. “I hate being obese. I hate my high blood pressure. I hate that I’m grumpy and wearing clothes that are frumpy.”
After some discussion, she considered her options to get started. One was to join TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly).
That was more than 60 pounds ago
Today, she no longer wrestles with armrests.
"I wear my sweater instead of using it as a blanket and feel comfortable in my seat belt,” she said.
People noticed.
For her efforts, Halone was named the Idaho 2020 TOPS Queen.
TOPS Club, Inc., the nonprofit weight-loss support organization, has begun unveiling its top “royalty” from 2020 for 2021.
TOPS royalty are women and men who, at the end of the year, have officially recorded the largest weight loss from their starting weight, regardless of the time taken to reach their goal.
Halone dropped 60.4 pounds.
“Commemorating these life-changing accomplishments is an integral element of TOPS’ winning formula, particularly after a most challenging year,” said TOPS President Rick Danforth.
He said despite the pandemic, with assistance from TOPS support, the 2020 royalty, and many others prior, “have exhibited that achieving a personal transformation is still doable through small, sustainable lifestyle modifications.”
In March, Halone was asked to serve as the TOPS Panhandle/Appaloosa Area Advocate for Idaho.
She also participated in the TOPS International Recognition Days virtual conference in July.
“I consider it a great honor to support each precious member while we work together toward achieving goals,” she said. “We remind each other: 'The struggle is real, and TOPS is here to help.'”
