LOSING FOR A CAUSE

A FEW POUNDS LIGHTER: Larry "Red" Wnorowski weighs in last Friday as Liz Meyer does recording honors. The two are raising money for Mt. Emily Safe Center by shedding pounds. Wnorowski took off about nine in his first week of dieting. (The Observer/CHRIS BAXTER).

- Bill Rautenstrauch

The Observer

Fat times are coming to an end for Liz Meyer and Larry "Red" Wnorowski. And if the two have anything to say about it, the times will be a little less lean for the Mount Emily Safe Center.

Meyer, owner of Weight, Mind and Body Management in La Grande, and Wnorowski, a disc jockey for radio station Q98, are looking to parley their resolutions to be slimmer and trimmer into money for the center, which operates as a haven for abused children.

"I've been in radio 10 years, and everywhere I've gone I've found you need a way to reach the community and help it out," Wnorowski said. "I want to do all I can to help these kids."

It all started when Wnorowski, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound former semi-pro football player, happened upon Weight, Mind and Body Management, Meyer's La Grande weight loss clinic.

The disc jockey was looking to slim down. And Meyer, as it happened, wanted to trim a few pounds off her 136-pound frame.

They cooked up the idea of having a public weigh-in once a week and getting local people to pledge money for pounds lost to the Mount Emily Safe Center.

"People can pledge by the pound or just give a flat dollar amount," Meyer said. "We're stepping up to the mark and doing something for the kids."

Meyer is a formerly hefty lady who developed her weight loss program first for her own benefit. Having been there, done that, she began offering the program to clients.

She teaches people how to lose weight in a "sensible, healthy" way. Her program includes a carefully designed eating plan and once-weekly motivational classes.

Though she's pleased with her own success, she never got down to her target weight of 125 pounds. The fundraiser for the safe center is extra motivation to drop the final 11 pounds, she said.

At the opening weigh-in last Friday, Meyer tipped the scale at 132 1/2. Wnorowski racked up a huge success, registering a 9-pound drop, down to 236.

Wronowski is using Meyer's method. She said she wasn't surprised at his success the first week.

She said a rapid initial drop isn't unusual. His weight loss will become more gradual as he continues with the program.

"In the first week a person will lose quite a large amount through water loss. You won't see that every week," she said.

The Mount Emily Safe Center provides a secure environment where children can be interviewed in any matters concerning child abuse.

People there interview and examine children after a report of abuse is made to authorities.

They also coordinate the child's legal and treatment needs through community resources, help enable effective investigations, risk assessments and prosecutions, and provide information and support to non-offending members of the family.

Those wishing to support Meyer and Wnorowski in their efforts can do so by going to the website www.bobbydradio.com and clicking on the "Weight for Kids" link.

For more information, contact Meyer at 786-3868, or Q98 at 963-4121.