Fitness training inspires and motivates CHSS staff to move more 22 November 2022 Before rolling out our Functional Fitness MOT At Home (FFMOT) training offer to our service users, our Services teams joined forces and asked for some of our staff volunteers to try it out, an experience that has been overwhelmingly positive. The training is designed to provide professionals with a fitness toolkit and the skills to educate and discuss aspects of fitness with people aged 50-90 to motivate them to be more active and maintain functional fitness into later life. I’ve seen my fitness levels improve, and I’ve been motivated to do more exercise. Stuart Sherry, Retail Administration Assistant was taken through the program by Frances Tait, our Fitness Specialist: “I play golf, I cycle, and I walk the dog. But I’m a 53-year-old guy. I’ve got a job where I’m sitting in front a computer most of the day. I could always be doing a wee bit more. “So, I came up with my motivational plan. I have a stationary bike at home, too, so I have challenged myself to cycle 1000 miles by the end of October next year. I’ll use the stationary bike until spring when I can get back out on the road because it’s so much more enjoyable to be outside. “The experience has been great. I’ve seen my fitness levels improve, and I’ve been motivated to do more exercise. The Functional Fitness MOT has been a really positive experience from start to finish. And Frances has been a great coach.” Lynsey Duncan, our Stroke Educator (Grampian), also took part in the FFMOT training offer and was led by Frances. Frances has led me on a journey, and I am doing things now I could not have imagined a year ago. She says, “I had worked in the NHS during the pandemic and returned to work for CHSS in the spring of 2021. While I was glad to be out of a ward setting, I knew I needed to move more and not just sit in front of a screen all day. “I have two daughters who do line-dancing. When their teacher said she would start an adult-only class, I surprised everyone by signing up. And I love it! For an hour every Tuesday night, I get to be me. “Frances has led me on a journey, and I am doing things now I could not have imagined a year ago. “I now use a standing desk. I found my back was sore from sitting all day, so now I use the standing desk when I’m delivering training and it’s made a real difference. “One of the biggest changes was that Frances told me to think about functional fitness as more than just whether I could climb the stairs or not and that it’s also about my mental wellbeing, too. “Frances has been a real inspiration and motivation throughout this for me – it’s like having your own personal coach!” It’s not only been physically fulfilling but mentally fulfilling too, to be in nature like this. Here Jackie explains how she has been so inspired by the intervention that she’s joined her local rowing club. “I was very impressed by the presentation the Health Defence Team gave, and when they asked for volunteers, I thought ‘why not?’ I knew I needed to be a bit more active, and it was a good incentive to say yes. “Paula was fantastic. She was so supportive and encouraging from the start. She talked me through the tests that give a kind of snapshot of where your fitness is at. This was things like sit to stand or running around an obstacle in the garden for a set period of time. “I live near Dunbar, and for years, I’ve watched the local rowing club out on the water. I rowed many years ago in the Guides, but I really wanted to do it again. And taking part in the FFMOT gave me both the push and the confidence I needed to try it. “I went along for a taster session at the start of the summer, and that was it! I’m hooked and I signed up to become a member of the Dunbar Coastal Rowing Club. It was hard at first. I had blisters on my hands, and I thought I’d never keep up with the other people in the boat. But I can and I do. Jackie rowing with Dunbar Coastal Rowing Club “All through the summer, until the weather changed recently, I went out every Tuesday night, and it was just a joy to see the area I’ve lived in for so long from a different perspective. We’d row with the Bass Rock in the background and watch the sunset. It’s not only been physically fulfilling but mentally fulfilling too, to be in nature like this. “Rowing makes me happy. If you get the offer of an FFMOT, grab it with both hands.” Motivated to get moving? Our Health Defence team is here to help you make positive changes to your health. We also have lots of tips and advice to help you keep active in our Physical Activity Guide.