Our local council (Blackburn with Darwen) run a scheme for people with long-term illnesses, to get them fit. For 12 weeks we get access to their gyms for £1 a session and they are supervised by trained staff. There are loads of other activities like walks, cycling, Tai Chi, gardening classes, cookery classes, all sorts of things.
I went to the gym this morning for my 2nd session and did 1/2 hour on the exercise bike and 1/2 hour rowing. Thoroughly enjoyed it. When I got home I started making lunch. When I bent down to the fridge I went a bit dizzy. So I sat down for 5 minutes then took my BP: 105/73. Wow! I have never measured it so low.
That does it! It's the gym for Jim from now on, 3 times a week with a good walk on in between days. I want to get the Tai Chi going again too. I did it for over 20 years, It was the only exercise I could do when I was at my worst, just before the CABGs. I will have to check out what the cost is after the 12 weeks is up.
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jimmyq
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That’s a good system. We have something similar in Newcastle but costs are standard £3.30 and build upon the cardiac rehab programme. I think councils are working in better partnerships with health care to provide health and well-being services. Brilliant about your BP as well. Keep it going. Cheers. Zena
We used to have something like that it was called the Be Active program and you had to be referred by a Doctor or Nurse. It was pulled I assume because of the cuts which is sad!
This was started recently by BwD council. I am amazed at how many newbies there have been on my visits. BwDC are doing it because of the high mortality rate in the area.
I once had a prescription for gym membership but they wouldn't let me in the gym to lower my blood pressure because my blood pressure was too high.
Here in West Lothian there is a scheme where you can be referred by the GP for a three month period of free gym membership ,there is a named instructor who helps set a programme suited to your needs and two follow-upreviews. I found the programme really helpful and have now got a membership and aim to go twice a week.
My referral came via cardiac rehab as they can access the scheme. My GP was very interested when I told her about the referral. She inferred that she knew about it but should refer more people to it .
Way to Blackburn and Derwent council, what a brilliant scheme. We have some free things here- health walks as far as I can discover, but will ask my GP if there is anything else. I’m quite self motivated but haven’t taken the plunge and gone to a gym yet - cheap sessions might be just the nudge I need.
Good result for you too Jim. Just watch that light headed ness. - you don’t want a healthy heart and a cracked skull 😉
The quicker I get my BP down the sooner I get off the meds. I asked the question on nutrition.org about how I would know if the diet and exercise had cleared out my arteries. A doctor responded and said that if I get my BP, pulse and cholesterol down to "normal" levels when not on any meds it would be an indication that my arteries are unblocking or unblocked.
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