New Year’s Day is a day when many resolve to better themselves. One of the most common resolutions is losing weight.

After a month or more of holiday parties — and holiday eating — it’s easy to see how people lose track of their eating habits. What’s not easy is shedding those pounds.

That’s where Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) clubs come in.

Members of the non-profit organization work together to make positive changes, meeting once a week to check their progress and make new goals.

Silvana Reed, a volunteer advocate for local chapters, explained, “Everyone that is on the weight loss journey, tend to follow their own paths. However, we all deal with many of the same issues so having others to support you tends to keep one on their journey.”

Through her service, Reed answers any questions and addresses concerns for chapters in two chapters each in Bradford and Warren, along with chapters in Smethport, Mount Jewett, Johnsonburg and more.

Having so many chapters makes it more convenient for people who don’t want to travel far to find a support system.

Reed talked about what newcomers can expect at each meeting.

“Each member weighs in weekly and a roll call is held allowing everyone a moment to share about their week if they would like,” she said. “A program for weight loss support is held.”

Reed agreed it is common to see new members at the start of the year.

“Unfortunately this year our numbers went down with some chapters unable to reopen in their areas,” she noted.

Reed suggests that potential members shop by any chapter to see what works for them as far as meeting time and location. She said the first visit is free, or people can join that night.

This is where an when some of the local clubs meet:

• Chapter #1704 Bradford, 6:15 p.m. Monday nights, Gleason Building, 90 Boylston St., second floor

• Chapter #623 Smethport, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday nights, 101 W. Main St., Chico’s Restaurant (They have met at a local church in the past.)

• Chapter #16 Bradford, 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays, First Presbyterian Church, 54 E. Corydon St.

The TOPS organization formed in 1948, which has provided decades for the group to learn about healthy, sustainable weight loss.

With that in mind, Reed shared information from TOPS Inc. on “five reasons to forgo fad diets.”

For one, many fad diets offer an initial weight loss that is just water weight. Water weight comes back quickly.

Second, TOPS recommends continuing to eat healthy sources of carbohydrates — a food group that has a bad rap as of late. Healthy sources of carbs include fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Third, weight loss is easier to sustain when it is 1-2 pounds a week — rather than 5 or more as in some fad diets. People losing weight that quickly are more likely to regain it.

Fourth, TOPS discourages diets that become “a barrier to living a full life.” This includes diets that make it impossible to eat at a restaurant or social event.

Finally, the goal of changing one’s diet and exercise habits shouldn’t just be to lose weight; changes should help a person be healthier, too, offering benefits such as improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.

Learn more about the TOPS organization at www.tops.org. TOPS is on YouTube and Facebook, too.