Three Colleagues: 254 Pounds Lost!

Discover how they combined dedication with LVHHN benefits to win the weight-loss war

Who hasn't tried to lose weight? Whether trying to shed unwanted pounds to look better or improve your health, the struggle to lose weight and keep it off rages on. Here are the stories of colleagues who successfully won the battle of the bulge, each in a unique way and with the help of LVHHN benefits.

"The convenience of Weight Watchers at Work helped me lose 68 pounds."
After six years of buying new clothes every spring because of weight gain, Aida "Cookie" Lopez had enough. "I was always in good shape. But then my husband got very sick," she says. "It was more important to be there for him than exercising."

When LVHHN offered Weight Watchers at Work classes at LVH-Muhlenberg in 2002, Lopez, a mail clerk at that campus jumped at the opportunity. "If the classes weren't here during lunch, I would never have tried it," she says.

Lopez stopped attending classes last year, but she still tracks her "points" (Weight Watchers system for tracking calories) - except on Friday nights and Saturdays. "My husband and I dine with friends every week, and I reward myself with a cheese steak and fries," she says. On Saturdays, she cooks whatever she craved during the week. "That way I don't feel deprived."

Lopez started exercising again, too. She runs 3-5 miles each day. "Running is my personal time."

Want to learn more about Weight Watchers at Work and other programs reimbursed by Culture of Wellness? Call 610-402-CARE.

"Because of working night shift, I found the LVH fitness club discount the right choice for me."

When Tracy Arthur, R.N., learned her mother had type 2 diabetes eight years ago, she started worrying about her own risk for the disease. "I lived on pizza and Coke and had to change my ways," she says.

Arthur traded in her soda for water and started walking four to five times a week. She also joined Weight Watchers (though not through LVHHN) and lost 40 pounds. But three years ago, Arthur got off course. "I fell in love and started eating out a lot," she says. "I gained 10 pounds." That's when Arthur looked for a solution that would fit into her schedule.

"I work night shift so it's difficult to attend Healthy You classes or join Weight Watchers at Work," she says. "So I joined a health club using my LVHHN discount."

Arthur goes to the gym six days a week, where she takes on the elliptical trainer or stationary bike. She also lifts weights twice a week and started counting points again. The result is a total of 80 pounds lost. She still wears her old photo ID badge as inspiration to keep the pounds off. "Sundays are my free day," she says. "I'll treat myself to something good, like frozen yogurt."

Want a copy of healthy recipes Arthur makes for office parties? Call 610-402-CARE.

"Diets didn't work. So I had surgery, lost more than 100 pounds and saved my life."
Rob Reier tried diets and exercise. "But I never lost more than 10-15 pounds," he says. Then he developed arthritis in his feet and ankles. "That made it too painful to exercise."

At 300 pounds, he had other health concerns, too - high blood pressure, sleep apnea and acid reflux. So he talked to his family physician, Jon Brndjar, D.O. He referred him to surgeon Richard Boorse, M.D., who performs weight-loss surgery. "He talked about my weight-loss goal and believed I could lose 120 pounds," says Reier, a hospital chaplain.

Days before his surgery (covered by Choice Plus), he went to the grocery store and started reading labels. "I learned what foods had sugar, foods you should avoid after surgery," he says.

One year later, Reier is 106 pounds lighter and living a new life. He walks three times a week, does minor repairs around the house (he recently rebuilt a utility trailer), and enjoys better health. He used to take two blood pressure medications; he now needs only one. His sleep apnea has lessened and his acid reflux is no more. "My arthritis is 90 percent better," he adds. "I can go day and night with little pain."

Want to know more about weight loss? Read a story from the July/August Healthy You about weight management and weight-loss surgery, and get information about the NEW You weight management program by calling 610-402-CARE.

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