The gym for Jim

[jimmyq]

Just thought I would share this with you guys.

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.

[Zena166]

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

[Hidden]

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!

[jimmyq in reply to Hidden]

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.

[Mary_Janet]

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.

[jimmyq in reply to Mary_Janet]

In BwD we can self-refer, presumably because doctors are not aware of the scheme.

[Mary_Janet in reply to jimmyq]

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 .

[stevejb1810]

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 😉

[jimmyq]

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.