Torquay Councillor committed to a healthier future
According to a recent survey studying the habits of 3,000 UK citizens; their number one new year’s resolution was to achieve physical and emotional well being. However three quarters of them admitted to faltering with their commitment within 10 days of making them.
Torbay Councillor Alan Faulkner does not believe in New Year’s resolutions, instead he is a firm believer in making lifestyle changes and sticking to them. In June 2012 his GP recommended that he joined a gym to improve his overall health and so placed him on a GP fitness referral scheme. The scheme involves enabling patients to discover the benefits of exercising by following a fitness programme that is supervised by qualified instructors in one of many locations that are based all around the country.
The recommended gym was Lifestyle Health & Fitness Suite located in the Riviera International Centre in Torquay. Lifestyle have been taking part in the GP referral scheme since January 2005 and they are one of 9 centres in Torbay that offer the programme.
Councillor Faulkner was allocated a dedicated Fitness Instructor Darren who put together a tailored fitness programme that involved 3 gym visits a week and a mixture of cardio vascular and toning exercises. Last year Councillor Faulkner made a pledge to the Love Life campaign to lose one stone. He has since achieved this and now pledges to lose a further stone in 2013.
“After completing the GP referral scheme I felt fitter, stronger and I have lost 1 stone and 2 pounds. This has inspired me to join Lifestyle Health & Fitness Suite as a Member to continue with my new healthier lifestyle.
Councillor Faulkner continued “My wife Jenny Faulkner is also an inspiration to me. In 2012 she conquered her fears and learnt how to swim. Her instructor Jacquie Lovett at Waves leisure Pool, also located in the Riviera Centre, was patient and calm, which helped to keep Jenny’s nerves at bay and now she is a competent swimmer.”
“I believe that no matter what your age or your ability there is always a route back to a healthier lifestyle. My wife and I are living proof of this.”
“I now regularly attend the gym in the morning whilst my wife takes a swim during the Pool’s Adult Only sessions. Our reward afterwards is tea and toast in the Riviera Centre’s Coffee Shop.
“Although I do not make New Year’s Resolutions, I do believe having small targets can help motivate people to achieving their healthier lifestyle ambition. Once I achieve losing a further stone I intend to maintain my weight and fitness levels.
To anyone wishing to make a lifestyle change my advice would be to head down to their local GP and ask them about their GP Scheme.”
For more information about the GP referral scheme visit www.torbay.gov.uk/index/yourbay/sports/fitnessintorbay. To find out more about Membership at Lifestyle Health & Fitness Suite here or call 01803 299 992.
