“Losing It in Altoona” participant and Altoona resident Antoinette Wnek lost 25.75 pounds through her participation this 17-week-long weight-loss program – and gained a healthier out look on life. According to Wnek, losing weight was not just a choice, but a requirement, as she had been experiencing heart problems. Now well on her way to a desired weight of 125 pounds, Wnek looks forward to losing the last 25.

   As the “Losing It in Altoona” program wraps up its first cycle, it is time to take a look at the difference 17 weeks can make in a person’s life.
   When featured participant Sara Hefty began the program, she was 5’7” tall and weighed 216 pounds. She was obese, with 87.1 pounds of fat on her body and a body-mass index of 33.09. Her chronological age was 26 years while her body’s physical age was 45 years.

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Introduction:
Altoona resident Troy Zakrzewski, was born in Nebraska and moved to Wisconsin with his family when he was 5 years old. He grew up in the Cornell/Lake Holcombe area and graduated from Chippewa Valley Technical College’s Machine Tool program. He is currently a custodian in the Fall Creek School District.

The Basics:
Weight: 244 lbs. (down from 278 in January!)
Do you drink? Sometimes.
Do you smoke? No.

Profile:
Describe your job history, what do you currently do, and why are you good at it.
A custodian is a caretaker. Our primary responsibility is the cleanliness of the school. In general, I watch over the health and welfare of the children at the elementary school in Fall Creek. I support the teachers and administration, as they work educating tomorrow’s global workforce. Cleaning is not very stressful and I enjoy interacting with my school “family” as I put a little order in the chaos that the day’s learning created.
Tell us about your current living situation. I am currently going through a divorce and get to enjoy my three sons every other weekend.
How would someone who really knows you describe your best qualities? I enjoy watching someone learn a new skill or gain a new confidence. My sons would say I “over-explain” a process and give too much detail.
How would someone who really knows you describe your worst qualities? I spend too much time worrying about things. I truly do drop things to help someone who asks for help.
Give us a brief synopsis of your dieting history: When I was younger, I was very competitive and enjoyed outside activities. I would live on or in the water if I could. As I grew older, my activity dropped and I used food to cope with the stresses I couldn’t work through. I have been to Weight Watchers at least three times. I tried karate by myself and with my oldest son to help get in shape. I purchased Tae Bo, P90X, and free weights to get in shape.
 What motivates you to lose weight? I usually start strong and backslide to my inactive self, but I can really watch sports on TV. I have entered Highland Fitness’ weight-loss contests three other times, and am currently a member and have worked with a trainer. Can anyone say, “less TV?” I recently went from 200-plus channels of TV to just three.
Why do you want to lose weight? It’s sad that I always thought I had time to get my life together. Sometimes it takes true loss (divorce) to combat weight gain. I am concentrating on the happiness that I am finding with my new self. I walk taller and deal with choices and decisions instead of putting them off. I am changing my lifestyle, not competing in a weight loss contest. I am also interested in finding a new partner who wants to work out, work on life’s problems, build each other’s confidence, and take up ballroom dancing.
  How much weight do you want to lose? 40 more pounds.

Introduction:
Altoona resident Tanya Doney, 27, was born in Altoona but grew up in Eau Claire. After graduating from Eau Claire North High School, she attended the University of Wisconsin-Stout. She moved back to Altoona six years ago, and is currently a stay-at-home mother to her 5-year-old Madison and 2-year-old Tyler.   
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Clear your calendar for Sunday, September 7 – the city of Altoona is joining the Altoona School District to encourage
the whole community to get active. Organized by Active and Alive in Altoona, a group that encourages healthy lifestyles in Altoona, the wellness fair will be an opportunity for Chippewa Valley clubs, hobbyists, and other nonprofit organizations to promote their activities.

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   I have been working on being more active as I grow older, and I’m here to say: it certainly takes time and commitment! My husband is a natural athlete and his idea of a fun afternoon is to hop on a bike and ride 30 miles. I’m more inclined to sit back and visit with friends – but visiting doesn’t burn many calories.

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   According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 80 million American adults (one in three) have cardiovascular disease (CVD). What most people don’t realize, however, is that heart disease is highly preventable (up to 85 percent preventable by most sources). The key to prevention is obtaining knowledge of those factors that place an individual at risk, then following up with a healthcare team to develop a personalized prevention plan. It is essential that every individual knows their current risk factor “numbers” in order to markedly reduce their risk of developing CVD.

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      Although many may feel that sunny summer afternoons should be spent relaxing in a hammock with a glass of lemonade – the quintessential picture of a perfect summer day for a reason – one former Altoona resident feels otherwise. On Wednesday, June 18, Altoona High School alumnas Carl Wick and wife Ann left their home in Arlington, Va., and biked all the way to his parents’ Altoona home. By biking for five to seven hours and covering 70-90 miles per day, the couple traveled roughly 1,300 miles in about two weeks. 

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   So, you are outside riding your bike or taking a walk or even taking a nice, slow jog. Cardiovascular training is a very important part of exercising, but too often people forget about strength training. Strength training is just as important as cardio training and in some instances more important. 

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   If you think taking a couple inches off your waist would feel good, just imagine how great you would feel about taking a couple years off your body age. Well, you can do it, and the Polar BodyAge System can help.

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