Dierdre
Dierdre conquers her fear of gyms!
Three years ago, after 40 years of teaching, Dierdre retired. With retirement, however, came a gradual decline in her levels of physical activity and the corresponding gradual increase in weight. Then, two years ago, she was diagnosed with diabetes and her doctor recommended that she increase her physical activity levels and lose some weight to help treat the condition.
Dierdre began regular walking again. 'I've always enjoyed walking. When I started walking again after the diabetes diagnosis, it helped me to lose around 15 kilograms and I certainly felt better,' she said.
'But I’ve always had terrible feet and the walking was taking its toll on them. I'd seen a few adverts for the Green Prescription programme so I discussed this with my doctor, to see if that could help.'
Dierdre was enrolled in the EOP programme, which is a more intensive, 10-week personalised extension of the standard GRx initiative. Anthony McGrath is a fitness professional employed to help personalise the programme according to each participant's needs. Dierdre's programme included regular visits to the gym.
Dierdre admits that she was very nervous of the idea of going to a gym. 'For a person who had never been inside a gym before, I was pleasantly surprised at how friendly and helpful Anthony and all the other people in the gym were,' she said. 'I was encouraged to do things at my own pace, and Anthony kept a close eye on my progress.'
She now spends around an hour and a quarter at the gym three or four times a week, using a wide range of equipment. To alternate the gym sessions, Dierdre was encouraged to try aqua jogging. 'It took a few more sessions for me to get the hang of it, but now I do it as a change from walking and the gym.'
Dierdre says that all this is definitely worth the effort. 'I feel much better within myself, and I'm more flexible and stronger than I was before. Because I've strengthened the muscles in my legs and my back, I find it much easier to get up and down from the floor. I've also maintained my weight, which was a goal.'
Now that she has completed the EOP programme, Dierdre has continued to go to the pool and the gym. She regularly takes walks 'for the fresh air and because I love it.'
'I would recommend the programme to anyone,' she said.
Updated | 06 Jul 2006.
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