Fit for Life

Many people see gym machines in leisure centres as the sole preserve of the young, beautiful and fit.  Others may be put off by not properly understanding the complicated gym machines.  'Fit for Life' is a scheme supporting gym fitness - giving help and encouragement to less typical users. 

The scheme has been set up by Western Health and Social Trust in Derry.  A number of local leisure centres are taking part.

People come on the Fit for Life scheme for a variety of reasons.  One man is managing his hypertension at the gym and is rapidly becoming a fitness fanatic, coming three of four times a week.  Another user says the exercise has helped her manage her depression as well as lose a couple of stone.  Sometimes people who might otherwise be considered 'beyond exercise' are helped by the gym.  Keith, the manager at one of the participating leisure centres says 'we had one guy who was unable to walk around Tescos without feeling exhausted because of his obesity'.  For people like these the programme begins very gently - with a minute on each gym machine and a session of 20 minutes or less. Even so, it gives users a level of fitness which they can gradually build from. 

Fit for Life lasts for 15 sessions, but users can continue to use the gym afterwards and speak to staff about their developing programme.

Six GP practices refer to the programme, and patients are increasingly going to their GPs in order to get referrals.  Although the personalised programmes mean that users are exercising alone, in practice many report making friends with others using Fit for Life. 

A 2006 independent evaluation showed significant health improvements for people who attended the sessions.  There are benefits for leisure centre staff too, who receive extra training to deal competently with people who have a range of conditions.