We wanted to have our theory of calorie control tested and obtain a  practical understanding on the best that was in the area, from the NHS.  We believe that if you have an opinion, it is best to have it tested by the Professionals.

So, we invited the Heads of the South West Obesity and Weight Management Departments in the Great Western Hospital in Swindon to meet us at our 24hrgym in Swindon.

As we are calorie teachers we wanted to show these Professionals what we are doing that is, in our opinion, so revolutionary different to other calorie teaching systems.


We were hoping to get a White Paper,  as suggested, to be “recognised” by the
“establishment” as we were informed that this was the correct path to take when establishing a concept. We were also told that we needed to obtain their Seal of approval first and that the first step on our ladder of success was dependent on them.  

So in the presence of:

Mark Banbury - Senior Dietitian, Nutrition Support
Lynda Webb - Nutrition and Dietetic Services Manager S & M NHS Trust
Clair Baber - Chief Dietitian, TGW S & M NHS Trust
Hanna Fishlock - Department Specialist Dietitian in Obesity


The above members attended the meeting some-what late, but they did turn up.
We presented them with a simple concept in calorie understanding. Each member gave their own opinion regarding weight control, all of which we unfortunately dismissed as irrelevant in curing obesity. The only correct way, in our opinion, to attain this objective was to understand calories.

In frustration, we gave them an example of how respected educators were out of  touch with objective nutrition. After some time we did not feel that we were making any head-way so a hypothetical question was put forward for them to answer in order to prove that they had not objectified their opinion from a subjective viewpoint. The hypothetical question was:

We asked each one of them to imagine that  there was an imminent disaster pending and everyone had to move to a place underground in order to survive and remain there  for 3 months  with the following criteria:.
Ventilation, oxygen and hygiene were not a problem.
We could take as much water as we wanted.
Light and heat was not a problem.
Only one food could be chosen to ensure our survival. And depending on the validity of that answer we would be able to evaluate collectively, who was the nutrition expert and consequently would accept their advice.

The  three members thought for a while.

Lynda Webb said “chocolate” (We were surprised I must say).
Clair Baber said “potatoes”.
Mark Banbury the Senior Dietitian declined to answer the question. (?)

I gave them a clue, mentioning that there was a particular food that feeds a third of the world’s population today.  Mr. Banbury still remained silent so I suggested a good food would be rice due to its high storage ability and nutritional content, especially if it was brown rice

We also explained that, in our opinion, dropping down chocolate or potatoes on to starving people would not be appreciated. The members did not seem to be impressed with the fact that we had tested them but they did show an interest in obtaining our Work Book which they said they wanted to “look at and consider”.  We decided to decline their offer.

When we asked Lynda Webb how she works out her calories, she replied
“I do it, like you do” of course.  On reflection it would have been more sensible had I asked her this question prior to showing her how we did do it.  We are calorie teachers so, of course, we know how to work them out and there is only one way this can be done so we had no intention of pretending to do it differently.
 
We later sent them an email asking for an assessment as they had told us previously that we need to obtain this from them.  Especially as Lynda Webb had used the same method as we do ourselves in order to work out her own calories.

Here is the email I sent…


However, since our meeting, we have sent other email and made many telephone calls we have had one limp response from Mark Banbury. We are puzzled why they have avoided and ignored us as, in our opinion, we are only showing other members of the public how to work out calories which is what Lynda Webb claims to do anyway.
Hannah Fishlock did not attend and we have never had any feed back except the following message from Mark Banbury:


Hi Vernon

Thanks for inviting us to your presentation.
Sorry its taken a while to get back to you.
I have passed on feedback to Hannah as she is the department specialist dietitian in obesity.

Mark Banbury
Senior Dietitian - Nutrition Support
The Great Western Hospital
Swindon SN3 6BB


I managed after many unreturned calls to finally speak with Lynda Webb who said quite simply,

“Your mathematics on explaining calories add up.”

Well thank you very much Lynda Webb we have spent 25 years doing this I am sure they do, the funny thing is yours do not. Even If they did she is totally unaware of it.

The best analogy here is the “blind leading the blind”.

Lynda Webb has her own policy on effective weight loss, see if you can understand it, or have the ability to even read it. I stressed our simplistic approach is far superior to her intellectual approach; I will let you decide yourself.

Download the “Swindon and Marlborough Obesity Strategy” (PDF).

——-Original Message——-
From: Vernon Montgomery
Sent: 14 October 2005 17:28
To: Hannah
Cc: vince; Mark; Claire
Subject: Meeting with Fat Research.U.K

Dear Hannah.

Re: Sundiet

It was great to meet yourself, Mark and Claire on Tuesday 11th Oct. in which we discussed our new concept. The purpose of this meeting was for your personal opinion on our system with regards incorporating it with in the NHS. The main reason for our meeting on Tuesday 11th Oct was from a previous telephone conversation with yourself in which you suggested we operate this within Swindon first and our first port of call should be in obtaining a white paper from yourself for us to be recognised. Could you please inform me as to the feasibility of this in view of what you have seen.

As you can appreciate all information is confidential until its official launch on Jan 4th 06. We have put together the program in a format and application in our work book which will be ready next week and would like to book an appointment with you at your earliest convenience to show you the improved format.

We have 3 more meetings planned in the coming months which includes the BBC, and M.P for Swindon.

As part of our research we would very much like to interview you on what’s currently being used within the NHS at the moment. To add momentum to our research we would like a conclusion and forward to our program which we can use as merit in arranging further meetings.

We learned did something new from yourself at the meeting, in the support after the program as you rightly say most fall away after a few months. We have developed something unique in this after care so lacking in other programs. We have also considered a year guarantee to the individual and should the NHS pay for the program the Health government can recoup any fees already paid to us in full on any failures in the program for up to 1 year.

We are also looking for further contacts with other obesity research groups here and in U.S.A if you have any suggestions for us please let us know if you recommend any contacts for us.

We would greatly appreciate a personal opinion from Mark and Claire individually on their personal thoughts regarding the meeting on the sundiet. Positive or negative and any recommendations they may offer. We would also like to mention to them all information on the sundiet is confidential and for their opinion only at this stage and appreciate their non disclosure.

Is this something you would like to see us do within the NHS or we could choose a more commercial route and come back to you in a year as you suggested. We would appreciate consideration in working with a group of obese individuals for free to aid a decision in the future.

We would be more than happy to attend any board meeting which mentions this concept if you could let me know if this is your intention.

In view of what you have seen what do you think should be our next positive move.
I await your reply with interest.

Kind regards.

Good Health
Vern & Vince Montgomery

Sundiet