Busy mom says exercise is the key to success

By ELLEN MORTENSEN
Chief Editor

    CALLAWAY – - Many of us know all too well what it is like to battle with our weight.
    Not only does it raise body image and self esteem issues, but there are also many health risks that come with being overweight. It was a combination of all of these factors that prompted Liana Hrupek of Callaway to make some drastic changes in her life.
    Liana says she had tried just about every diet and weight loss plan out there – Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, and on and on. But she continued to struggle.
    After the birth of her first child in July 2001, she was the heaviest she had ever been. Liana suffered from gestacianal diabetes during her pregnancy, and at the age of 22 had a cholesterol level of 260. There is also a family history of heart disease on both sides of her family. With a new baby that she knew needed a healthy mommy, Liana came to the conclusion to change her life.
   

A college friend had a similar health and weight issue and had resorted to lap-band surgery. She recommended the surgery to Liana.
    After lengthy discussions with her husband, Jeff, Liana decided to have the surgery also.
    “He never made me feel like I needed to lose weight,” Liana says of her husband. “But he was willing to support me now matter what I chose to do. He loved me then, and he loves me now.”
    She met with the surgeons to discuss the procedure, had a number of informational meetings, and met with a dietician to discuss a plan for after the surgery. In November 2003, Liana had the lap-band surgery.
    “Of all times to have it done, right before Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Liana laughs.
    The morning after her surgery the nurse brought in her first meal – jello and broth, in medicine cups. Liana says at that point she was wondering “what have I done!”
    She admits the first few weeks were rough, but it got easier. Liana says she was worried about the holidays, especially with two of the best cooks around – her mom and grandma.
    “I was still able to enjoy all the flavors I love, just in smaller portions. I had a little bit of turkey, and a little bit of dressing. It’s not about depriving yourself, it’s about portion control.”
    Liana lost 50 pounds in the months following her surgery. Then in 2005, she gave birth to her second son, Grant, and a year later she had daughter, Greeley. After those two pregnancies she gained back about 20 of the pounds she had lost.
    Concerned about falling into old familiar patterns Liana knew what she had to do – exercise! She utilized the buddy system, and she and her best friend began walking every morning at 5 a.m. That began an exercise regimen she continues nearly a year later.
    Liana says she made sure and do some type of physical activity six or seven days a week. Sometimes it was walking, sometimes it was working out with DVDs, but always something.
    When she would get home from work she would immediately change from her work clothes into her jogging suit. The two youngest kids would be placed in the jogging stroller and Garrett would hop on his bike, as mom and the kids went for their evening run.
    “Joining a gym just doesn’t fit my life,” Liana explains. “I’m already away from my kids nine hours a day and couldn’t really justify paying a babysitter for an extra hour to work out, not to mention the cost of gym membership.”
    Instead she works out at home, and includes the children. This gives them all the best of both worlds – time together and a healthier lifestyle too.
    Last June the new, trimmer Liana did something she had only ever dreamed of accomplishing – she ran a 5K race. She has also taken up swimming and volleyball, and says the kids think she is a more fun mom now.
    “It has been a whole mindset change,” Liana says. “And I feel so much better!”
    Besides controlling her portion sizes, she has also given up pop – something she says is very important. Another important element, she says, is a strong support system.
    Liana’s mom, Pat Smith, was also doing her own weight loss plan at the same time as her daughter. She, too, has successfully lost weight and maintained that loss.
    “My mom was a huge motivation for me,” Liana says.
    Since April 2009, Liana has lost more than 70 pounds. While she says the lap-band helped with her initial weight loss, it is not a quick fix.
    “The weight loss I have had this past year had nothing to do with my surgery,” explains Liana. “Had I not started exercising I would have just lost that 50 pounds and stayed there.”
    Liana says she wants people to understand there is no quick fix when it comes to weight loss – it really is a complete lifestyle change and takes work. Since losing weight she no longer has any diabetic issues and her cholesterol is good.
    When it comes to eating, Liana, like many of us, enjoys food. But now she says she has learned the healthy way to enjoy food.
    “If I want to have a piece of dessert with my meal, I just don’t eat the potatoes with that meal. It’s just about learning how to still enjoy the things you love,” Liana says. “It used to be that a pan of brownies was not safe in the room with me. Now I know I can eat A brownie, and it will be fine.”
    Liana says she is right where she wants to be in life, though she does have a goal this year – she plans to run a triathlon.

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Pastor O’Hair was, without a doubt, the one person who, more than any other, was … more

Saturday, February 27, 2010 13:00 IST
San Diego

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc announced that its New Drug Application (NDA) for lorcaserin, Arena’s internally discovered and developed drug candidate for weight management, including weight loss and maintenance of weight loss, has been accepted for filing by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Arena submitted the lorcaserin NDA on December 22, 2009, and expects to learn the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date in the next few weeks. The PDUFA date is the target date for the US FDA to complete its review of an NDA.

“The US FDA’s acceptance of the lorcaserin NDA is a significant milestone towards our goal of providing physicians and their patients with a new mechanistic approach to achieve sustainable weight loss in a well-tolerated manner,” said Jack Lief, Arena’s president and chief executive officer. “We look forward to working with the FDA to facilitate a thoughtful and efficient review of the lorcaserin NDA.”

The NDA is based on a data package from lorcaserin’s development program that includes 18 clinical trials totalling 8,576 patients. The pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial program, BLOOM (Behavioral modification and Lorcaserin for Overweight and Obesity Management) and BLOSSOM (Behavioral modification and LOrcaserin Second Study for Obesity Management), evaluated nearly 7,200 patients treated for up to two years. In both trials, lorcaserin produced statistically significant weight loss with excellent safety and tolerability.

Lorcaserin is a novel single agent that represents the first in a new class of selective serotonin 2C receptor agonists.

Arena is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing oral drugs that target G protein-coupled receptors, an important class of validated drug targets, in four major therapeutic areas: cardiovascular, central nervous system, inflammatory and metabolic diseases.

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Saturday – Sunday – Monday, February 27, March 28, 1, 2010

News

Phoebe Head, who recently won a weight loss challenge at the Ozark Mountain Family YMCA, works out Monday afternoon at the Y.

Mindy Honey | Branson Tri-Lakes News

By Mindy Honey

Society Editor

Originally published Feb. 27, 2010

Phoebe Head recently had a great laugh trying on her old wedding dress for her husband.

Head, who dropped 65 pounds last summer, and most recently 15 more during a weight loss challenge at the Ozark Mountain Family YMCA, had lots of wiggle room in the old dress.

It was huge, she said.

Around the holidays, Head said she started to pack on some weight and around New Years she was telling a co-worker how much she loves The Biggest Loser. It was at that time, she was told she should look into the Ys new challenge.

I figured it would help if I had something to hold myself accountable to, she said.

Before long, Head was hitting the gym daily, even on days the roads were so slick shed park across the street and walk to the Y.

I took a lot of dance, yoga, aerobic and (abdominal) classes, she said.

And, a certain machine in the gym, the Arc trainer, became what she called her best friend.

Id always go two to three hours a day, she said.

I just realized I had to make this a priority. Work yes. Family yes. And, groceries and laundry yes, she said. But, somewhere in there, you have to make yourself a priority. You have to do it.

And, while the challenge at the Y is over and she won, losing more than 8.6 percent body fat between Jan. 4 and Feb. 15, she still has goals to work toward.

I have 25 pounds until I hit my goal, she said. My overall goal, Id like to be 140.

The last time I was at 140, I was probably in junior high.

She said now that she is on the path to getting fit and healthy, she wonders why she waited so long.

I kick myself for sitting around so long, she said. Once I got off my butt, it wasnt as hard as I thought it would be.

Monica Morris, fitness director, said she knew Head was committed.

Id see her here always working out, Morris said. She worked hard.

Head won approximately $200, a T-shirt and water bottle.

Morris said plans are in the works for another weight loss challenge and kids challenge.

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