WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Jean Boatright lives life to the fullest as a mother, grandmother and soon-to-be great-grandmother.
"I am an intelligent person," Boatright says. "I will control my emotions, not let my emotions control me. Every time I am tempted to use food to satisfy my frustrated desires, build up my injured ego, or dull my senses, I will remember — 'I will take off pounds sensibly.'"
She recites her weekly pledge at the First United Church every Thursday night at her local weight loss support group meetings with TOPS, which stands for Take Off Pounds Sensibly.
In 2022, she was named Georgia's TOPS Queen for losing the most weight of any ladies living in the Peach State who participated in the program. Through TOPS, Boatright lost 71.5 pounds.
"It was very humbling," she said. "Especially for my two granddaughters who I took with me. They're the newest members of our TOPS chapter, so I'm excited."
Boatright joined the group in the 1980s after a parent in her daughter's kindergarten class mentioned they were a member.
"It was working for me, so I invited her to come, too!" Judy Daulhaus said.
Daulhaus is one of Boatright's greatest supporters in her wellness journey. They've been besties since the 80s because of their daughters.
"They were in kindergarten when we met," Boatright said. "From there, it's history."
Boatright's daughter died in 2015 after living with muscular dystrophy for decades.
It's a genetic condition mom still deals with today, but she has help keeping it under control through her weight loss support group.
"By the time she would've joined, she just wasn't in a mindset to do it," she said.
"There's a lot of prejudice in being overweight. A lot! A lot of people don't get jobs, or they're looked over, or ridiculed," she said. "I grew up with a very large brother, he was a very big man whose heart matched his size. I know from experience what that cost him."
Now, she's serving as an example for everyone to help them understand lessons others have learned.
Through words of encouragement, reassurance and supporting one another through everything, including the loss of loved ones, Boatright attributes her TOPS support group for her successful wellness journey.
Today, she and her best friend take water aerobics classes at the Cantrell Wellness Center twice every week.
"I miss it when I don't get to go!" Boatright said.
Over 100 million Americans live with obesity. That's 42% of the country's population, according to the National Center for Disease Control.
If you're interested in seeking support in your own wellness journey, you can find all the tips for choosing a local chapter at the TOPS website.