TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly℠), a nonprofit weight-loss support organization, has announced its 2024 “royalty” — members who have achieved the largest officially recorded weight loss from their highest weight and reached their goal weight by the end of the year.
Among this year’s honorees is Debra James-Nielsen of Minto, who lost an impressive 110 pounds and has been named the 2024 Manitoba Queen. She was recognized during the Manitoba celebration event held this past May 9–10th at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall in Brandon.
Nielsen lives with her husband, Wayne, on a hobby-farm just outside of Minto. They moved out of Brandon to the country to be in a healthier environment, grow their own food, enjoy their animals and country living. Both Deb and her husband struggled with their weight. Both have been involved in the TOPS program for years, first with the Brandon program, then with the Minto program, and when that got downsized, they moved to the Boissevain program that is held at the civic centre each week.
A candidate for knee-surgery, but she turned that around
"I joined TOPS because I knew I needed to make a life change. A close friend of mine, who was morbidly obese, joined and really liked it. She came to me and said, “I think this could help you.” But I’ve learned that until you make up your mind to do it, you won’t. I chose to never give up," she explains.
Deb joined in 1998, just shy of 300 pounds. She says it's taken a lot of work, but with the support of her local TOPS team in Boissevain and her husband, she stuck with the program. "Through TOPS, I’ve made a lot of friends and found the support I needed. It’s been life changing!"
"It's been a long journey for me, and I watched some of my friends come and go, like both in the fact that they came to TOPS and stayed and they left, and they also didn't make it because their obesity took their life. And I was doing this to myself. I just had to come to realize that I needed to do it for myself and no one else."
"I was a candidate for knee surgery and dealing with serious health problems. My husband was getting worried because there were so many things I couldn’t do—I was constantly out of breath. Now, I feel amazing. Honestly, I could run the Terry Fox Run if I had to. That’s how good I feel!"
Losing this much weight—it’s like losing a whole other person. It’s truly incredible. My goal is to reach half of my original body weight, and I know it’s doable while still staying healthy," adds Nielsen.
In 2013 Deb's son convinced her to join him on a trip to Cuba, "and it was so crushing that I didn't fit really well in an airplane seat. And I swore to myself that year that I was going to do it... and it took me a while. But you know what? You can't do it fast because it's not going to stay off."
What's the key to keeping off the weight?
"Well, if you're ready, TOPS has the tools and sometimes it takes a while to absorb it. But you have to be ready," says Nielsen.
A notable highlight in her weight loss journey was attending the retreats that TOPS offers their members.
"That is probably one of the best learning experiences that I got out of TOPS. I attended three of them and they really teach you how to make a life change. You aren't allowed to take any food in. You are on a certain diet that that meets your weight at the time, and you really learn that, you know, you're not going to starve if you eat the right stuff. It's that's hard to believe, but it's true!"
"You just have to make those food changes. One thing I did was I cut out bread," she adds. "I lived without it. It was hard to live without it. It was kind of, you know, I see my husband eat a sandwich, but he's also in TOPS. And he has done his part as well. So, we do it together now and TOPS is our background, and I can't see life without it."
Debra is the second Manitoba Queen for TOPS who's come from the Boissevain chapter. And Wayne was TOPS King back in 2004. Now, both of them co-lead the program in Boissevain, as a way of giving back to the community that has supported them all these years.
For Debra, it's been 27 years and 110 pounds lighter! She began her journey when she was 43 years old. Now at 70, this woman continues to stay active and eat healthy and encourage others to do the same.
Nielsen says she still has a way to go to reach her target weight of 147.5 pounds. "But I can do it, I'm not giving up," she says. "This is very do-able!"
"It is easy to stay motivated when I walk by a mirror ..."
"It is easy to stay motivated when I walk by a mirror, seeing only half the person that was there a few years ago, makes it much easier to walk by the fridge. I feel I have a whole new life, and I have many health benefits. I am currently the leader of my chapter, finishing my second year by setting an example and reaching my goal."
"I can now go up and down stairs much easier, and I can sit and cross my legs. Many of these “little things” have changed in my life that make a difference. I have people who walk by me because they don’t recognize me. I feel amazing, and I’m now confident I will be able to keep this weight off. I have an amazing and supportive husband who has been my encouragement and my shining star."
Please listen to more with Debra James-Nielsen below!
Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) offers a personalized approach to weight loss and wellness
TOPS offers a personalized approach to weight loss and wellness through consistent group support, health education, and recognition. In Manitoba, where the adult obesity rate is 30.8%, TOPS members collectively lost 1,850 pounds in 2024.
“We are incredibly proud of our members’ accomplishments,” said Rick Danforth, President of TOPS. “Their success reflects the power of peer support and commitment to lifestyle changes—core elements of the TOPS program.”
Weekly meetings, held either in person or online, are the heart of the TOPS experience. In-person meetings begin with an optional weigh-in, followed by group sharing and a brief health-focused program. Online meetings, conducted via Zoom, are offered multiple times weekly and include expert-led sessions on fitness, nutrition, and wellness.
About TOPS®
TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is the original nonprofit organization dedicated to weight-loss support and wellness education. Since its founding in 1948, TOPS has remained unique as a noncommercial group focused on helping people achieve lasting weight management through its “Real People. Real Weight Loss.®” philosophy.
TOPS supports members with weekly chapter meetings that offer encouragement, practical advice, and accountability. The program emphasizes healthy eating, regular physical activity, and access to reliable wellness information.
Today, TOPS has around 65,000 members—including men, women, and international participants—who connect through thousands of chapters across all 50 U.S. states and Canada. For those who prefer a virtual experience or live far from a chapter, TOPS also offers a comprehensive online program. Digital resources include health news, motivational content, meal planning tips, workouts, and tools for chapter leaders.
Newcomers are invited to attend their first meeting free of charge. Membership is budget-friendly, starting at just $70 USD per year, plus small local chapter fees. Long-term members benefit from discounted renewal rates.
To learn more or find a local chapter, visit www.tops.org or call 800-932-8677.