Introduction post: Hi everyone, it is... - My EXI Community

My EXI Community

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Introduction post

Dr_Lou_EXI profile image
Dr_Lou_EXIAdministratorEXI Staff
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Hi everyone,

it is great to see this community really thriving, with members supporting each other. You might have seen me reply to a few posts so I wanted to briefly introduce myself. I am the Head of Research at EXI, which means I am responsible for collecting and using evidence about everything we do, to make sure EXI is the best possible platform to support people with long term health conditions to increase their physical activity.

My background is as a behavioural scientist. Before joining EXI I worked as an applied health researcher and lecturer at a couple of Universities for nearly 15 years. My work has always been focused on understanding what influences whether someone engages in positive health behaviours, such as physical activity, eating a healthy diet, following health advice, etc. and using this knowledge to develop and evaluate healthy lifestyle services.

I have also worked in delivering 121 and group health and fitness services for 25 years. This has included health coaching, personal training, group exercise classes and facilitating weight management sessions, as well as training fitness and health professionals.

I am really enjoying hearing your stories, and looking forward to hearing more in the future.

Lou

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Pinkieponytail profile image
Pinkieponytail

Hi, Dr Lou

Just starting out on this journey. I’ve been lucky to have been supported by an amazing specialist physio at Addenbrooke’s but now I’m taking the leap towards a new chapter.

My hope is to be able to start exercising again, and enjoying it from where I am now - not where I was 10years ago. I know i have been working against myself and I’m now trying to turn that negative psychology around. For example only last wk I said to my physio, (phone consult ), “ I only managed less than 5 mins on my bike and it was too painful”. I didn’t realise what I was even saying!

Perhaps, a kinder version … I tried 5 mins, I really enjoyed it, but it sparked some pain, I think I’ll try 2 mins next time even though I know that will be difficult for me to do, because I love cycling and I miss it.

Maybe that’s not a very good example but I’m sure there must be a lot of others in the same boat that yo-yo and get in the cycle of boom and bust. It’s really hard to control the need, the want, the wish to do more!

best wishes, Pinkieponytail