Josanne Cassar meets one of the success stories of L-Isfida ghall-Kbar Biss, George Pisani, who lost 15 kilos in just six weeks

Claudette Pace’s national weight loss programme, L-Isfida ghall-Kbar Biss, which was launched in April, has taken the public by storm. The kilos are coming off and those who have started the regime are seeing results not only in their appearance but, more importantly, in an overall improvement in their health.

One such success story is that of 45-year-old George Pisani, who until six weeks ago was living a sedentary life, over-eating and steadily gaining weight.

He has always been on the heavy side, even as a child but, as he told me “in those days, they used to enjoy seeing children with a big appetite. Of course, now we know that the type of food we used to eat was not very healthy.”

Like most overweight people, he has tried his share of diets in the past, but has never managed to stick to them. “Except once, 18 years ago. I lost weight through exercise and eating a healthy diet, but then my workload increased so I stopped training – and I gained weight again.”

George’s doctor had long been telling him to shed the extra pounds, so when he saw in an article in the paper that a national weight-loss campaign was being launched, he went to Floriana for the first meeting. What was the final push he needed? “I just knew everyone was right, and that I really needed to lose weight,” he admits.

Finding a packed room of people who were in the same predicament, he was sure he would not be chosen, but in fact, he was.

“I already feel the difference; when I go up the stairs, I no longer huff and puff. Whereas before I could barely walk on the treadmill, now I am jogging.”

We all have our weakness when it comes to over-eating and for George his worst problem has always been snacking – forever opening and closing the fridge and cupboards in search of something to nibble.

“I’ve always known exactly when the worst time of day is for me. I used to sit down at 8pm in front of the TV and just eat whatever I could lay my hands on…”

After joining the national weight-loss programme, George was told that he was extremely overweight and should, in fact, weigh only 80 kilos.

He was placed in a group of ten people who are giving each other vital support. Most of them had the same thing in common: comfort eating. “When you are in a bad mood, the first thing you do is turn to food.”

Every week they have to keep a food diary, so that a nutritionist can keep an eye on their eating patterns and bad habits.

While the first two weeks were hard, it has gradually become easier and his willpower is strengthened by the fact that the group meets every Thursday, as well as at the gym. George is now attending the YADA Fitness Centre four times a week.

There were the obvious changes to his lifestyle, which included changing the type of food he and his wife bought from the supermarket. “Of course, we still have to buy some ‘goodies’ because we have two children, and they shouldn’t have to be deprived because of me, but now when I feel like a snack, I eat fruit.”

The reaction from friends and family has been very positive, “My wife was quite surprised that I’ve kept it up… and when I meet friends whom I haven’t seen for a while, they all notice the difference.”

Last week was a particularly good week, when George realised he had lost another three kilos; in fact, to date, he has lost the most weight out of all the groups.

Does he have any words of encouragement for others?

“First of all, you have to understand that you need to lose weight, and admit it to yourself. Before, I used to say that I don’t care if people say I’m fat, but your health is very important and I think deep down we all know what our weaknesses are.

“For example, we all had to learn how to eat smaller portions. I think to lose weight you have to have a reason – either for your health, or because you want to improve the way you look. I think this programme worked because it caught the attention of people who saw the article and knew that they needed to do something. The idea of sending people to gyms together and to have a support network is very good, because when you go with someone else, it is more enjoyable – you ask each other how you’ve done and so on. When you are on your own, it is easier to give up.”

The groups are going to keep meeting until the end of June, but George is optimistic that he can keep up his new lifestyle on his own.

His success story is indeed an inspiration to anyone who has ever felt that losing weight is an impossible achievement.

George Pisani did it – so can you!

L-Isfida ghall-Kbar Biss is being conducted with the collaboration of the Health Promotion Department and St James Clinic together with the participation of various fitness centres in Malta.