This year 52 men have completed Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s Try Club men’s health management course, run in partnership with Leeds Public Health, and the graduates celebrated their achievements of losing a combined 22 stone at the recent Leeds Rhinos game against St Helens.
Try Club is a Leeds City Council fully funded project, that aims to inspire men in Leeds to take control of their health and make positive changes in their lives. The twelve-week course is a mix between class room sessions, looking at diet and nutrition followed by physical activity such as circuits.
The joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Leeds outlines the city’s ambition to be the best city for health and wellbeing. Although the overall health of people in Leeds is improving their health is lower than the England average and Leeds Rhinos Foundation, along with their partners are committed to helping change this.
Sports clubs and their facilities offer the opportunity to reach large numbers of people to improve health and reduce health inequalities and given the important place sports clubs and Leeds Rhinos have in the community, the idea for Try Club was born.
Research into the appeal of weight management services which include physical activity has shown that men between 30 – 60 years of age, find sports clubs appealing in engaging them to manage their weight and feedback from Try Club participants has shown that part of the appeal of the programme has been the camaraderie between the members on each course, which has helped them to achieve their goals.
Programme feedback
“The programme has genuinely changed my life! I’ve been on diets for years, mainly shakes. For the first time I’ve lost but actually kept weight off with the bonus of eating real food at every meal which was a big thing for me! My cholesterol reading is down too which has bothered me for a while now.
“I really like coming down each week and seeing the lads, it spurs you on and keeps you motivated, I wouldn’t dream of missing the session because I’d have to face the guys the next week!”
“It has been a great programme to help focus the mind (and body). I really enjoyed the nutrition advice which I didn’t expect and the exercise programme was great at letting everyone push themselves regardless of size or ability! I’ve reduced my weight from 96kg to 87kg and I’m amazed at how simple and fuss free it was, I don’t feel I’m missing out or on a diet at all, I still enjoy everything but just in moderation. I’ve re-found my love of running and am finally in the ‘healthy weight’ category!! The group and the Leeds Rhinos Foundation team make it!”
Michael Dalby: “I started the programme after effectivity being bullied into it by my daughter and wife. Best thing they could have done for me!
“I have suffered a fair few setbacks health wise in the last couple of years with the last involving a motor accident resulting in a loss of movement in my right arm, I have been attending physio and taking a lot of painkillers for the pain so was a little apprehensive (filled with dread) for the exercises part in particular!
“The programme is suitable for all, no reason to worry in the slightest, the group games and particularly the boxercise sessions were great! I am using my inhaler less and able to get my breath back much quicker, I’m walking more with my wife and enjoying getting back into my photography as a result! The improvements in my arm are marvellous, the sessions aided my recovery massively, the staff have given me a home routine which I stick to religiously, I can’t believe my progress and neither can my physio and GP, I have been discharged from my physio 4 weeks early and the range of movement I have now is unbelievable!!
“I’m so impressed! I would like to thank the staff and the backers of this project for honestly one of the biggest changes in my life!”
Dom Hodgson: “Try Club is a great initiative, so good I’ve told all of my friends and got two of them signed up already, I’ve found it really helpful!
“Laura delivers the material in an informative way without being patronising or condescending, and the feeling of ‘we are in this together’ with the other participants goes a long way towards achieving our goals. Personally since starting TryClub I’m close to losing 2stone but more importantly I’m doing it in a sustainable and manageable way rather than a crash diet!”
Eddy Toronczak: “A highlight for me is the exercises sessions within a team structure, we all help encourage each other in and out of theses, I can see the results and feel myself getting fitter. I am 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 have tried dieting on my own over many years and have failed. The secret is working with the team in a group environment.”
If you would like more information on Try Club email laura.buckle@leedsrhinosfoundation.org or click here to register for the next course.