WESTFIELD – Patrick Tallis and Sandy Lucas of Westfield recently discovered that some long-held beliefs about maintaining a healthy weight simply are not true.
After struggling mightily with their obesity issues and feeling frustrated that applying traditional advice about diet and exercise was not working, they decided to take a fresh look at the latest available information.
“As a former runner, weightlifter and personal trainer who had studied healthy eating in depth, I was shocked at just how much I thought I knew was wrong,” said Tallis.
Once the truth is understood it becomes clear to see why there is such an epidemic of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other chronic diseases, said Tallis.
The couple share what they learned in their “Healthy Weight Loss” class. They dispel some commonly held beliefs here:
Many of these beliefs make perfect sense so they are accepted without question, but our bodies tend to defy logic. As an example, a long held belief is that, to lose weight, one must use more calories than one consumes. That makes sense, energy in, plus or minus energy used, equals a net gain or loss. The reality is that our weight is mostly controlled by hormones that seek to keep the body in balance or homeostasis. Those of us that are prone to gaining weight do so because our hormones makes us store more energy as fat then prevent us from accessing it. When we eat, we use some of the energy and store the rest as fat. Because hormonal imbalances inhibit using the stored energy, we are hungry again soon after a meal and the cycle repeats itself as we accumulate more stored energy as fat.
Many people find themselves stuck in a self-defeating cycle of self -blame, the couple observed. For too long the message we received is, if you are fat it is because you are too weak, too lazy or too uninformed to manage your weight effectively. It is easy to blame sloth, gluttony or ignorance, but the reality is that if you are overweight, it is not your fault. The real culprit behind the obesity epidemic is decades of bad dietary advice being repeated over and over until it has become dogma.
Our ‘Healthy Weight Loss’ class dispels the false beliefs that have created the national obesity crisis. Then we show people the real reason they have gained weight. Finally we provide them with a solution that is relatively easy to sustain over the long term. When the truth is understood, the path to reversing obesity and the many associated chronic diseases is clear.”
Since deciding to apply their new found wisdom 12 weeks ago, Lucas has lost 22 pounds and Tallis has lost 33 pounds.
“We did it without feeling hungry, tired or deprived in any way.” said Lucas. Currently classes are held at the Westfield Holiday Inn Express on Wednesdays at 2:00 or 6:30 p.m. Classes are $35 and provide all you need to change your life. Private consultations are also available. For more information, please visit: www.patricktallis.com or call Patrick or Sandy at: 413-642-3500
