REGINA — For Regina's Tracy Gould, losing weight was never about finding a quick fix.
It was about learning to be patient with herself, making changes she could live with and continuing forward even when the journey became difficult.
After years of watching her weight rise and fall, Gould reached a point where she knew something had to change.
She had been at the heaviest weight of her life when she decided, ten years ago, to take a different approach.
"My journey with TOPS began 10 years ago this past May," Gould explained. "I was introduced to TOPS through my cousin. I was at the heaviest weight that I'd ever been at that point."
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is a non-commercial weight loss, education and support organization that has been fighting obesity since its founding in 1948.
But the journey was anything but perfectly straight.
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced meetings online, Gould continued weighing herself at home and doing what she could to stay focused. When in-person meetings eventually returned, some of the weight began to come back.
"I was frustrated with myself, as everybody is. You wanted to quit," Gould recalled.
There was one thing that kept her moving forward: a dream.
Years earlier, Gould had watched another TOPS member become Saskatchewan's provincial queen, an honour given to the female member who loses the most weight and reaches her goal.
She wanted that moment for herself.
"I had seen a provincial queen from years past and thought to myself, you know what? I want to do that one day," she said. "I want to be the provincial queen."
In the summer of 2024, Gould sat down with her physician and began working toward that goal through smaller, manageable changes.
She focused on changing her eating habits, reducing sugar and increasing protein, while also leaning into something she already loved: walking.
The changes gradually began adding up.
By February 2025, Gould had reached her TOPS goal and achieved her TOPS status after losing 55 pounds. She eventually reached a total weight loss of 50.5 pounds from her starting point and was named the 2025 TOPS Saskatchewan Queen.
Her daughters and cousin Leanne, who originally introduced her to TOPS, were among the people who helped support her along the way.
"It was amazing at first," Gould said of learning she had been chosen as provincial queen. "I got my letter and I broke down in tears. I was absolutely shocked to know that I was going to be named provincial queen."
The accomplishment was about far more than a number on a scale.
Gould says she has been able to maintain the weight loss and has lost another five to ten pounds since reaching her goal. She continues walking, paying attention to what she eats and attending regular meetings with her fellow TOPS members.
Her commitment has also grown within the organization. In June, Gould was elected facilitator of her Regina group.
"I've been able to keep the weight off just by walking and watching what I'm eating, attending my regular meetings with my TOPS pals," she said.
For Gould, some of the biggest changes came from simple adjustments to her everyday routine.
She began walking during her lunch breaks and in the evenings, taking stairs instead of elevators and parking farther away from stores so she could get more steps into her day.
She also started keeping a daily journal of what she ate, giving herself a way to identify what was working and what was not.
But while Gould's story is inspiring, registered dietitian Brooke Bullock says there is an important lesson in it that extends beyond weight loss.
Bullock, the CEO of Food2Fit Nutrition in Regina and Saskatoon, cautions against viewing weight loss as something that can be achieved through a single formula.
"We just have to remember that this is merely one person," Bullock explained. "It might not be if everyone did the exact same thing that she did, that the result would not be the same across the board for everybody."
She says people have different circumstances, access to food and health services and experiences that can all affect their ability to make changes.
Bullock also stresses that health cannot be measured solely by body size or weight.
"Weight loss doesn't always mean health," she said. "Sometimes weight loss is not the healthiest thing."
Instead, she encourages people to look at sustainable habits and overall health, including eating patterns, protein, fibre, fruits and vegetables and other nutritional needs.
For Gould, the key has been finding changes that she can continue living with rather than chasing a short-term result.
She says reducing sugar, paying attention to food labels and making sure she gets enough protein have all played important roles.
And perhaps most importantly, she has learned to give herself time.
"We didn't put the weight on in one day, and you're not going to lose it in one day," Gould said. "And you need to be very patient with yourself."
That patience has transformed what once felt like an overwhelming goal into something she can now look back on with pride.
"It's been a journey," Gould reflected. "It's been a fun 10 years with lots of ups and downs. But it's something I wanted to accomplish and I'm very proud of myself for doing it."
Her message to others is not about perfection.
It is about continuing to move forward, even when progress is slow.
"Your dreams are achievable," Gould said. "When you feel like quitting or giving up, just remember why you started your journey."
And for anyone looking for support, Gould says the same community that helped her through her own highs and lows is there for others too.
"Come and check out one of our meetings," she encouraged. "You're welcome to come as a guest and get a feel for the meetings."
After ten years of persistence, Gould has not only reached the goal she once dreamed about. She has built a way of living that she hopes will continue long after the crown.
"Just be nice to yourself and take it day by day," Gould said. "Anything can happen for you."
