Craig Galunas before and after entering the Eat Wise and Exercise program. | Elizabeth Michalka
Weighing In and Weighing Less
Nearly 600,000 minutes logged, 2,300 pounds lost in fitness program
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
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Durham, NC -- For the first time in more than a year, Craig Galunas is pain free. Plus, he’s lost 17 pounds. “I feel so much stronger and my knee feels great,” Galunas said. “I can do things now without getting short of breath, and I don’t dread walking up a flight of stairs.”
In 2006, he had knee surgery and has suffered with chronic knee pain, until recently. He credits his recovery to Eat Wise and Exercise, an initiative led by LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke’s employee wellness program.
Eat Wise and Exercise kicked off in November with an essay contest for a lifestyle makeover with an individual and group winner. Galunas, nurse clinician in Cardiology who’s worked at Duke two years, won the individual contest. The group winner was from Duke’s School of Nursing. In addition, about 1,039 faculty and staff participated in the web-based program from Jan. 15 to March 21.
During the overall program, participants recorded exercising for a combined 573,798 minutes and lost 2,260 pounds.
During the 10-week program, Galunas and 14 faculty and staff from the School of Nursing learned to improve their eating habits and increase exercise with help from LIVE FOR LIFE nutritionists and fitness experts.
“Without a doubt, what I’ve enjoyed the most is working with this great group of people at LIVE FOR LIFE,” Galunas said. “Everyone has been so positive and supportive of me during this program and honestly invested in my success.”
Galunas works out four mornings a week and bikes regularly. He’s also more aware of his diet, paying attention to portion size and eating more fruits and vegetables. Previously, he rarely exercised and suffered from fatigue and knee pain.
He was initially frustrated because he didn’t think he was losing weight fast enough. LIVE FOR LIFE nutritionist Kay Schlegel-Pratt, RD, LDN, said that steady weight loss of 0.5 to 2 pounds per week is ideal because a more rapid weight loss is more difficult to maintain.
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Galunas wants to lose another 24 pounds to reach his target weight. With hopes of biking a 100-mile Century Road Race this year, he plans to maintain his new healthy habits.
“I will not let this hard work go to waste,” Galunas said. “The changes that I’ve made are for good.”
