SUCCESS STORIES

The Lifestyle Referral Scheme has really changed some people's lives. Here are some letters/comments we have received.

Following my heart attack in July 2002, I participated in a 3 month exercise programme at Crosshouse Hospital. The hospital made me aware of the CHIP project, which I then joined as I had still a long way to go to fully recover, both my physical health and mental wellbeing.

I have tried to exercise at home, as has my wife, but it does not last whereas the two sessions we attend weekly on Tuesdays at the Galleon Centre and Wednesdays at Onthank Community Centre have only been missed due to illness or other commitments such as doctor appointments and only the one with the commitment misses.

Mixing with others who have needed the programme and seeing them benefit in the early days motivates you and the encouragement of others raises your spirits. The programme staff should also be mentioned in this regard as they are not only supportive and encouraging but a shoulder to lean on when you are mentally down as I was in the months following the heart attack.

I now feel fitter than I have been at any point in my 57 years but would not stop the programme as:

• It stops me from becoming a couch potato
• My wife who has asthma needs the exercise
• You selected exercises to strengthen my back which has worked as I have not pulled a muscle in my back in 18 months yet during the year before you set the programme I was in pain for circa 6 weeks each of four times due to pulled muscles in my back
• Both my wife and I enjoy the company of the groups
• There is a lot of satisfaction in encouraging new attendees who you can see feel the way I once did or to encourage the regulars who may be down for whatever reason, and this is reciprocated
• It has helped us eat more healthily
• Keeps a conscience on us to stay fit and healthy
• The early meetings with you to review progress and set external activity targets such as DIY re-established work ethic which has been retained
• I now have a dog and walk her 3 or 4 times a day which was thanks to your help and encouragement. Talking about her also encouraged another couple to get a dog again which has given them reason to enjoy life again

I could probably list other benefits but it has become obvious writing this that the benefits of the programmes are not only to me but also my family and to others on the programme as the process of meeting, participating and talking as a group helps each other. We all give and receive encouragement from each other and from the staff, who are the facilitators, and I think there would be a lot of lonely people wasting away without the programme, it has brought a lot of people out of their shell that they retracted into after their afflictions.

Lastly I should mention the cost. Personally I feel the costs are very reasonable and paying the gym fees only when using them is good value relative to gyms with up front annual fees. However I did see about 5 people drop out when the Onthank fee went up which is surprising considering how low that one is relative to all the other sessions. The upside however is that there are obviously a lot of people who are attending because of the reduced costs facilitated by the support received from the lottery fund.
Barry Johnson

I was originally referred on to the CHIP scheme by a physiotherapist dealing with a back problem I had over a year ago.

I had an initial interview with my ‘lifestyle coach’ who was very informative about general health discussing blood pressure, cholesterol, body fat, fitness etc in layman terms. This was beneficial to me, making me much more informed and just generally making me think about my lifestyle. Many different ways to improve my fitness were also discussed giving me ideas I had never thought of before, and how to incorporate them into my life, which I certainly needed.

I was also given a free membership to the Galleon Sports Centre. Because I had it – it made me use it. I went along with my coach to the gym which is something I would never normally have had the courage to do. I found that it was this support I needed to get through the door. The feeling of achievement at the end of the session was fantastic! I started to go twice each week which is excellent for someone who had not exercised for nine years. I now do swimming and aerobic sessions as well. I did (and still do sometimes) need the continued support of my coach to encourage me.

The enthusiasm of my coach is fantastic. She has helped me iron out things that may have been massive problems in years to come, something I am sure my GP will be very pleased about! I am now much more aware of what I eat (as she has done a food analysis for me) and of how general fitness improves your life (she’s even had me jogging!). As she has gotten to know me better she keeps literature she knows will interest me, advises me about appropriate training courses and generally gives me an enthusiasm for life again.

I am so happy to have had health and fitness brought back into my life. It makes me much more active with my children and hopefully this will continue with them into adulthood which can only be beneficial all round. This scheme has quite honestly turned my life around and I am delighted that East Ayrshire Council could offer me this tremendous opportunity.
Susan Robertson

If asked, is there any commendable virtue in the project? The answer must be in the affirmative.
Why? For when others are seen exercising, there can be no other thought than, they are believers in self help. It becomes ones purpose to develop their ability, skill, and to have their dedication that self help brings.
There is an illusion to community, that is, a group people who come together for mutual benefit. To have the benefit in self help, that is what the programme gives people.
Wallace Laurie

In the first 6 weeks of joining the scheme Marlene has already reduced her body fat by 4%, even although she has just returned from a Caribbean cruise. She started gong to the gym and discovered she liked it so much that she is now attending the Galleon 3 times per week and walking every day, in addition to working full time. Other health benefits for Marlene are that she feels fitter and her blood pressure, although usually normal anyway, has actually decreased to an optimal level.
Marlene Miller

Mary was originally referred to the LRS with severe arthritis and swelling in her knee and early cervical spondylosis. At that point she was only able to walk about 100 yards with a walking aid before having to stop and hold on to something because of the pain, for which she had been prescribed cocodamol. Subsequently a hamstring injury developed and Mary received physiotherapy and was housebound for about 3 months.

Mary has always been extremely positive, and being determined to improve the muscles surrounding the knee and mobilise the knee and shoulder joints, she started attending the gym and the pool regularly and now swims 1 ¼ hours every day and goes to the gym 2 times per week, as well as walking for up to an hour every day. Mary loves all the exercise and now feels absolutely no pain in her knee or hamstring and does not need to take any kind of painkillers at all, only glucosamine and high strength cod liver oil which she feels has also helped a lot.
Mary McGown