Testimonials

When I couldn’t believe how much I weighed at a routine doctor’s appointment last year, my doctor suggested that I sign up for the Healthy Weight class. That turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made. The class covered a lot of the basics of weight loss, but the real motivator for me was the instructor, Karen Owoc. She went above and beyond the material in our handbook. She brought in her “Portable Pantry” of good food choices and taught us how to use them and where we could buy them. She taught us how to read and evaluate food labels with her unique tips which made it easy to understand and less overwhelming when we shopped on our own. She gave us recipes to try. Karen was our cheerleader. Always upbeat, encouraging us to succeed.

I lost 30 pounds because of this class and Karen’s inspirational teaching! That was eight months ago, and I’m still following what I learned. I realized that if I make good food choices, I am not hungry and no longer crave the sweet foods I used to eat. The big bonus was that the acid reflux I used to suffer with is gone! Thank you, Karen!

On April 2017 (one year after my cardiac event), I saw my cardiologist, Dr. Aman Saw, and he said, “I love the weight loss, I love your EKG. Your blood pressure is excellent. Frankly, I am surprised.” I told him Karen Owoc’s care got me back on my feet.

On April 2016 at age 59, my heart stopped for 7 minutes. I was shocked 3 times and revived. I was 275 lbs. and had one stent put in an artery of my heart — the Widow Maker*. I was out of breath tying my shoes and walking stairs. Then I was “KO’d” (rehabbed by Karen Owoc) and dropped 40 pounds. I’ve greatly improved my aerobic function and flexibility. Went off all medication and just on aspirin therapy now.

Working with Karen could have prevented my massive heart attack that cost over $100,000 in medical bills. After being in her cardiac rehab class and getting advice on nutrition, I dropped 40 lbs. and got in excellent shape. I reduced my risk of stroke and another heart attack by 50%.

Karen really cares. She is motivating, very knowledgeable, and she’s fun. Also, I loved her educational ”whiteboards”!

*The Widow Maker is a blockage at the beginning of the left main artery of the heart — a.k.a. the left anterior descending artery (LAD) — a major pipeline for blood. It is called the Widow Maker because if blood gets 100% blocked at that critical location, the consequences are catastrophic and often result in sudden death.

Short of standing next to Karen in the kitchen while she prepares the different recipes (that would be wonderful!), her classes are the next best option. Karen is so excellent at including important nutritional info in all her classes — it has really helped me to make better choices.

I have had the privilege of being an active continuous participant (generally three days per week) in health related class sessions conducted by Karen since February, 2016 through this date. These include both cardiac rehabilitation after my heart operation and continuing heart-related exercise and education classes. This extensive involvement has been extremely beneficial to me and others from a cardiac improvement standpoint and an overall health improvement and education perspective. All these objectives have been accomplished successfully and in a very professional manner.

Karen’s approach to this rehabilitation and educational process has been conducted in a congenial and seamless manner utilizing both her knowledge and interpersonal skills to tailor each individual’s program to their specific needs and adjust the participant’s program as progress is made or if their physical situation changes, as in my case, since I recently had spine surgery in February. It is also very apparent that she has a wealth of knowledge on many health-related conditions and applies these using a detailed, informative, caring and friendly approach that each participant benefits from and appreciates.

Karen is extremely knowledgeable and works hard to stay current in her profession. She conveys information calmly, is extremely organized, and always works to upgrade each participant’s goals and objective so that they maximize the effort being put forth by each individual. She successfully adapts to dealing with an age group spread from middle age to those of us, including myself, approaching 80 years old. It is readily apparent to all that she is dedicated to her profession and helping each participant live healthier, longer lives and is consequently deeply respected by everyone I have attended classes with.

I don’t have enough words of appreciation for Karen Owoc. As a physician who was hit with a diagnosis which meant a sudden stop in my daily activities, I was so fortunate to be connected with Karen. I understand how an acute or chronic illness can be devastating to patients.

Karen has helped me heal and return to my normal form and way beyond that. She works diligently and cautiously with me. She listens to my body. She improvises a workout if I cannot do it. Her knowledge is impressive! I am always excited about working out with her because I’m excited to see what my body is capable of! She is truly a gifted healer!

Karen Owoc has been working with me since shortly after my heart surgery (triple bypass in 2015 at age 58) and again after my total hip replacement. She has now started me on a healthy modified Pilates routine and easy-to-follow eating plan to lose weight and manage my diabetes.

She is one of the many great humans — docs, nurses, surgeons, and Karen — that I credit for keeping me alive. I just shot the best round in years today! Best my body has felt on the course in a long, long time! I still have weight to lose, but I feel great!

I have just completed a cardiac rehabilitation program that was highly successful and which greatly exceeded my expectations. In addition to accomplishing all of the physical fitness milestones that were intended, the program was educational, motivating and fun. This was clearly due entirely to its exceptional leader, Karen Owoc.

Karen not only designs and leads the program, she “partners” with participants in carrying it out, physically leading the warm-ups herself, personally monitoring and regulating each person’s workouts, and discussing and counseling individual progress. She is very knowledgable and instills confidence. Karen creates an atmosphere that motivates participants to want to succeed, and to enjoy doing so.

Reason for rehab program: age 78, two heart stents.

Profession: retired physicist, Ph.D., Los Alamos National Laboratory, Director (retired), National Nuclear Security Administration, Principal Deputy Administrator (retired), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Deputy Director (retired).