Almost as important as devising a good health improvement programme is persuading those individuals who need it to take part – and once enrolled not to quit.

Recognising that exercise programmes run the risk of a very high drop-out rate, a pilot health project in Middlesbrough, called New Life New You, targeted their age group carefully: the idea was to make the combined gentle exercise and healthy eating lessons fun so that they would want to continue.

“We’ve been amazed, the programme has been super successful, with 150 people completing the 10-week course,” project manager Will Smith told Woman’s World. “We have already been approached by nearby regional authorities to see if we could initiate a similar project there.”

Funded by the NHS and Middlesbrough Council, Sport England and Tees Valley Sport, the New Life New You project, with its slogan of ‘Change a little to live a lot’, eventually aims to reverse the poor health and fitness in the North-East as part of a rolling programme. Its success may lead to take-up in other areas of England as part of efforts to make sure the 2012 Olympic Games leave a health and sport legacy.

The team of three – Will Smith, Craig Postgate and Jenny Archer – heading up the project have a background in health, obesity and sport. But it was the decision not to rush into the programme before thoroughly testing it on a small group and carefully revising it that has ultimately led to its success.

They asked women what they would particularly like to have on a course and they said dancing, walking, friendship pairs to aid motivation and cooking healthily on a budget. All these were incorporated into the programme.

New Life New You now includes elements of pilates, tennis, aqua fit, badminton, dancing, walking, ‘bums n tums’, easy line circuit training, boxercise and roller skating.  e aspects of exercise are supported by useful healthier eating sessions where the group gets practical hints and tips about the food they put on their dining tables.  e twice-weekly informal sessions are held in local venues and are open to women and men aged between 45 and 65.

“I think the secret to the success of New Life New You is the element of fun we’ve managed to introduce into each session,” said Craig Postgate. “ e trick to regular activity is to gently introduce your body to a level of fi tness that you can enjoy. It doesn’t always have be full throttle and about over exerting yourself.

“Once people get to grips with the knowledge that a little bit of activity can go a long way, the more signifi cant it becomes in people’s daily or weekly routines. People who implement an element of fi tness can reduce the risk of conditions like diabetes and heart disease – it’s worth a go.”

And Will Smith adds: “It’s wonderful how those individuals involved in New Life New You are realising the benefi ts of mild activity and exercise in their daily routine.  e results and happy faces speak for themselves.”

HEALTHIER LIVING THE DENMAN WAY

Health has always been top of the WI agenda. That’s why making health and fi tness fun and enabling WI members to try out new and different ways to achieve this has always featured on the Denman College programme. The 2010 college programme includes everything from belly dancing, Tai Chi and Yoga and Boogie Wonderland, to a combination course featuring rambles with dancing or swimming. If, after reading the article on page 147, you decide you’d like to take up Nordic walking, there is an introductory course taking place at Denman 15-18 April. To book a place call 01865 391991.You can find the programme for the year to September 2010, at www.theWI.org.uk/college

Case Study:Motivated to lose weight

Over last autumn Derek and Maria Seaman shed an amazing six and a half stone between them by using a combination of healthier eating and physical activity on the New Life New You programme.

“I feel totally motivated – it has really taken off for me,” says Derek Seaman. “I fi nd myself going to the gym three or four times a week – there’s no stopping me now! I wanted to do something to get the weight off. I see myself as an active person who just needs that bit of direction.” A 51-year-old self-employed joiner, Derek lost three and a half stone by following the programme.

Maria has struggled with her weight all of her adult life and suffers from high blood pressure. She has tried fad diets and diet clubs with no real results, putting weight back on as soon as the classes stopped. Motivation has been the key factor for her along with the fun of trying out new things like roller-skating. Now her sister has taken up the challenge, too.

Case Study: Keeping active after knee op

One person currently feeling the benefi ts of the programme is 59-year-old carer Veronica Wilkinson from Hemlington in Middlesbrough. She has two grown-up children and one grandchild. Veronica initially joined up for health reasons: she has arthritis and wanted to fi nd something that would allow her to exercise at her own pace. She was first diagnosed with arthritis over 12 years ago and in that time she’s had a full knee replacement to help ease the pain. She’s been advised to keep active.

She never expected the 10 weeks to be so much fun and has found the cookery lessons particularly interesting: “I do know how to eat healthily but it’s actually putting it into practice that counts.” Also on her favourites list of activities are easy line circuit training and fresh air walks along the North East coast at Saltburn and around Stewart Park in the centre of Middlesbrough. Veronica adds: “New Life New You emphasises having fun with no pressure to exert yourself with anything too strenuous, but I’ve found that I’m actually pushing myself to achieve my goals. I’m surprised at what I’ve managed to accomplish with a bit of persistence and self-confi dence. I’ve also managed to lose a few pounds in weight.” Veronica’s family have given her the gentle support necessary to sign up to the programme. “We’re all very proud of what mum has achieved so far and we’ll continue to encourage her to keep it up, not just as a short-term change, but as a lifetime change,” says daughter Clare.