Fit Cobblers returns to Sixfields Stadium on 5th May 2022. Fit Cobblers is a FREE 12- week lifestyle behaviour change programme designed to help participants instil positive lifestyle behaviours by looking at topics such as nutrition, exercise, shopping, eating out, food labelling whilst incorporating different types of physical activity.
Over the course of the programme, participants will complete a two-hour session at the stadium where in the first hour they will engage in classroom-based group activities and in the second hour take part in a form of physical activity.
Continuing our ongoing partnership since 2019 with Public Health Northamptonshire, we have been able to create numerous referral pathways outside of our media channels and create links with local authorities and organisations.
Since our first block back in 2019 we have engaged with over 150 participants, with 100% of completers losing weight and benefitting greatly from the course. Some of the participants have also gone on to take part in climbing Mount Snowdon as part of a charity fundraiser, an activity they couldn’t do before due to their poor lifestyle and inactivity levels.
More importantly the programme has also helped some participants to have better life chances as David Nash a former participant gives us an account of his experience.
“The previous September I had been made redundant from a job where I was a big fish in a small pool. My job was very sedentary; desk based, working from home since Dec 2016 due to a problem with my legs. Wearing tracksuit trousers (due to the number of bandages on my legs) meant I could ignore the increasing waistline.
From that September through to Christmas, I was ok but not in great health and getting more depressed by the day. I had no reason to get up or go out. I would spend days in my room, eating, exercising, personal hygiene etc went to the wall.
I had seen an advert for a fitness club, at the football stadium in Sixfields, and applied. I sent a few emails to Akshay stating I was not suitable, but he said I was and he'll see me at the first meeting. He refused to allow me to withdraw! How thankful I am for that now!
The first meeting was amazing! From the moment I first stepped through the door Akshay, his team and all the other participants were very friendly, very supportive and encouraging. I was blown away!
Throughout the course not only did my physical health improve but my mental health did too. I was shown I could do more than I thought possible. I applied for a job as a Customer Delivery Driver at Tesco, delivering shopping bought online. It was challenging physically, it still is some days, but I believe without the improvements gained from the course the job would have been impossible for me. I still have the job and it has increased from 5 evenings a week to 5 days (afternoons and evenings), some weeks its 6 days.”
Since being able to find full-time work David’s health has greatly improved with his legs now back to normal size despite the long-term health condition he has. He is now eating healthier and walking more steps in a day than he used to in a week prior to joining the programme.
Next course details:
Start Date: Thursday 5th May 2022
Time: 19:00-21:00
Venue: Education Centre, Sixfields Stadium, NN5 5QA
Requirements: Men aged 35-65 with a BMI over 27.5 and 38 inch waist