Resolution achieved

Ron Sutton of West Chester feels healthier, more energetic after losing 100 pounds in 2017

MALVERN » Most people make New Year’s resolutions to lose weight. But a West Chester man weighing 350 pounds vowed to lose 100 pounds by year’s end, and he did it – with a little help.

Ron Sutton, 55, began his weight-loss program at the end of April. His job doing computer information technology work has him sedentary most of the day, and he realized he was at risk of having a short life.

Adults with extreme obesity have increased risks of dying at a young age from cancer and many other causes including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and kidney and liver diseases, according to recent results of an analysis of data pooled from 20 large studies of people from three countries.

“I was just tired of feeling bad all of the time and having no energy,” Sutton said. “I wasn’t feeling happy with myself.”

So Sutton teamed up with OPEX Upper Main Line and its owner Cody Loeffler. The fitness center features an individual program focusing on fitness, nutrition and lifestyle, complete with personalized trainers.

“Ron is a really, really unique success story,” Loeffler said. “He came in here at 350, and is losing weight in a healthy way. He significantly dropped his body fat percentage.”

Loeffler said the OPEX Fitness program is unmatched in the fitness industry. Instructors work directly with OPEX gyms, coaches and clients, and tailor the fitness program to the client. This means that people can keep their lifestyle while losing weight for the long term.

A lot of times we see massive success with weight loss, body fat percentage loss and muscle gain,” Loeffler said. “The result is paramount to any fitness program that I have been a part of.”

The program starts off with the client’s body mass index, or BMI. To find a BMI, simply type in BMI in Google, and type in weight and height. A BMI of 30 or greater is obese, while a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is overweight. Normal BMI should be 18.5 to 24.9.

“Ron’s body fat is now in the mid 20s and he is healthier, has more energy, is eating well and in a way that he can maintain and stick with longterm,” Loeffler said. “He is the happiest he can remember being with his lifestyle.”

Loeffler said weight loss plans should be targeted to the individual.

“Anybody can lose weight, but each individual is different, and that’s what we look for,” Loeffler said. “The biggest factor in terms of success is guidance the clients receive from coaches. We take care of every need clients have in fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle.”

For Sutton, the difference was motivation. To have someone motivate and guide him through the process enabled him to meet his goal. Now, he’s looking for more.

“I think I can lose 25 more pounds,” he said. “On the holidays, I eat like I normally do. I eat meats and veggies, and try to stay away from the breads and sweet stuff. But now, I feel like I have more confidence and more energy. I tried other programs but, they didn’t work. I think anybody can do this.”

The OPEX program is unique in that it develops professional coaches who work on and off the gym floor with their clients. Individual design allows individuals the support of a coach but the fun of a community environment. OPEX develops professional coaches through its coaching certificate program and its more than 50 gym licenses throughout the world.

Cost for an OPEX gym with unlimited gym time and a professional coach can range from $100 to $300 per month. Instructors will do an assessment, write a program that addresses movement deficiencies and they will also provide nutrition coaching.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS At left, Ron Sutton of West Chester, before losing 100 pounds; and at right, after dropping the weight. Sutton said he feels much better about himself after losing 100 pounds.