NHS backs 'lose a little, keep it off' plans

NICE is asking us to ‘lose a little and keep it off’ (BBC News 28.05.14)

Well that’s just great – we have been saying that for ages!  If you’ve got a little to lose we can help – we have a great weight management programme launching next week, and we can help you to keep it off – we know how to help with diet and activity and we know how to keep you on track.

However if you have a lot to lose this could be viewed as an excuse to hang on to it and just lose a few pounds.  We understand that the government is trying to help us to set goals that we can manage – but we do also need to be aware that being obese is a health risk.

Losing the first 3% is a start on the journey – not the end of the journey.  But breaking weight loss down into small chunks is a good idea – its much less daunting and more manageable.

If you would like help and advice on managing your weight – ask one of our staff – they will be happy to get you started on your journey.

Even the Chief Exec

I just want to let you know that it can happen to anyone.  Any of us can become ill because we take our eye off the ball. 

There’s a great article in yesterday’s Guardian (17.05.14) by David Nicholson who until recently was the Chief Executive of the NHS.  Now you would expect him to be reasonably aware of the hazards of being overweight wouldn’t you? 

He tells us he was fairly busy (job, new baby, new house) and didn’t feel too good.  Maybe just a bit ‘run down’.  He was feeling really tired and was getting up to the loo several times a night.  When he finally got round to going to his GP it was quickly obvious that he had developed Type 2 Diabetes. The realisation that this could have a significant impact on his life expectancy was profound.  His GP told him that the complications of Diabetes are ‘heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and amputation of a limb.’  Of course, David ‘knew’ this, he had told the public accounts committee all this a few months earlier, but as is so often the case, ‘knowing about’ and knowing it could happen to you are not always the same.

We all ‘know’ that being overweight and having a larger waist measurement predisposes us to Type 2 Diabetes but we don’t always believe it will actually happen to us.  Or maybe we pledge that we will ‘do something about it’ if it does happen – that that diagnosis will be the wake up call we need.

Of course, David is doing something about it, weighing in at 17stone 6lb he knew he needed to lose weight. Alongside that he has altered his diet, looking at content and portion control.  (‘Told you so,’ comes to mind – he should have come to Forefront Fitness!)

So, what about you?  Are you waiting to be told or are you going to do what David now advises – take your own health seriously?  We suggest you check your weight, check your waist measurement (we are more than happy to help if you contact us) and adjust your diet accordingly if necessary .  We also suggest you follow the government guidelines and get your heartbeat up for 30 minutes at least 3 times a week, after all – if its good enough for the ex CEO – its good enough for us!