By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

It’s not how fast you lose the weight but how slowly and steadily you lose it.

That is the philosophy Judy Christensen of Marion holds to as she strives to lose excess pounds gained over a period of 30 years.

Turbulent circumstances had caused her to lose control.

Her weight-loss journey started in 2010, when she began attending eating-disorder classes in Augusta. There, she met a young man who weighed in at 400 pounds. During their 18 months as classmates, he lost almost 200 pounds.

Although the weight loss was beneficial, he was left with an extreme amount of loose skin.

“Don’t lose weight fast,” he advised Judy.

So, she decided to lose it gradually.

“That’s what I have done,” she said.

She has lost more than 100 pounds since joining a Marion TOPS chapter in 2011. TOPS stands for “take off pounds sensibly.”

When she joined TOPS, she weighed more than 300 pounds. She has learned how to reduce her portions and eat healthy, low-calorie food. She and her husband, Jim, go to Marion’s Sports and Aquatics Center early every weekday morning to swim.

“I’m almost 82 and may never reach my goal of 180 pounds,” Judy said.

But she’s not planning to quit anytime soon.

“TOPS became a part of my life, and I stuck to it,” she said. “I need accountability.”