With 68 pounds gone, Schell is TOPS loser

Published 12:20 pm Thursday, December 11, 2008

By Brenda Sexton

The Courier-Herald

In February 2004, someone sent Mike and JoAnn Schell a photograph of them on trip.

"What a rude awakening that was," Mike Schell said. "Something just clicked. I knew I had to get control."

More than a year later, Schell believes he is in control of his weight. Through a combination of Isagenix, a cleansing and fat-burning system that kick-started his weight loss, and the psychological and emotional support he gets from the Buckley chapter of Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), he has lost 68 pounds.

At Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick, Wash., May 14 Schell was awarded second-place in Division II for the greatest weight loss, 57.75 pounds, in 2004. According to Schell's TOPS Area Captain, TOPS has eight divisions that are established by the first weight recorded at the chapter level for that year to the last weight recorded in December. The top two in each division are awarded. Division II is for those who weight more than 200 pounds but under 300.

The Buckley TOPS chapter Schell and his wife belong to has 15 members. Each pays $5 a month in dues. Schell currently serves as treasurer and has also been its leader.

Schell and his wife, who has lost 80 pounds using the same system, have been an active TOPS members for the past four years.

"It's changed our lives," Schell said.

The beauty of the TOPS, Schell said, is it goes hand-in-hand with other weight-loss programs. TOPS, he said, holds you accountable and provides tips on exercise and diet and support.

"TOPS is the support system that helps you reach or maintain weight loss," Schell said.

Schell said he has had a weight problem since he was 10 years old. His problem was exacerbated about seven years ago when joint pain put him on the steroid prednisone, which led to weight gain.

Eventually, he said, his joint pain was diagnosed as arthritis. But by then, the pain and weight gain had forced him from his passion as a volunteer firefighter.

By the time the photo had arrived, he had already been a TOPS member. When he joined, he lost 15 pounds immediately, but, he said, his focus faded and he wasn't putting what he learned into practice.

His dedication is showing in his weight loss now. He walks 1 1/2 miles, five days a week. He said his eating habits are smarter. In addition, he's been able to eliminate seven different medications and test results from his physical were within normal ranges.

Schell said he's not done.

"I still have some more to lose," he said.

Brenda Sexton can be reached at bsexton@courierhearld.com.