Leeds Rhinos Foundation are helping to inspire local men to make positive healthy lifestyle choices through their men’s fitness programme ‘Try Club’.
The charity runs a free weekly fitness group, which offers a unique mix of nutritional advice and physical exercise at Headingley Carnegie Stadium and later this month will take the programme out into the community for the first time, with a new course starting at East Leeds ARLFC on March 21.
The results from the latest group, who are half way through the course shows the programme is striking the right chord with men, with 85 per cent reducing their BMI, 88 per cent improving their fitness levels and 92 per cent reducing their waist measurement.
Speaking about why the course has been a success for them, one participant said: “The programme has genuinely changed my life! I’ve been on diets for years, mainly shakes. For the first time I’ve lost weight and actually kept weight off with the bonus of eating real food at every meal which was a big thing for me!”
Over the twelve week course the group will learn more about healthy food choices and recently welcomed Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food, Leeds, to demonstrate how to make healthy stir fried and dips. Alongside these the classroom activities the men also get a chance to do some circuit training around the Leeds Rhinos stadium.
Another Try Club member, Eddy Toronczak, said the course has transformed his fitness. “I’m a type 2 diabetic and my nurse at my last health check was really impressed with my progress. I have seen my weight, blood sugar level, cholesterol and blood pressure drop. She said, and I fully agree, that the programme is much better than medication, I would recommend all men to take up the offer.
"I’ve learnt it’s important to set individual targets in relationship to your weight, a lot of people expect too much and set themselves up to fail. The leaders, Laura and Adam, are a credit to the Foundation in the way the group is presented. Laura motivates us all in her enlightening nutrition presentations about food choices and Adam motivates you as an individual to be the best you can be and improve your weekly targets."
If you would like more information on future Try Club groups contact laura.buckle@leedsrhinosfoundation.org