Sometimes all you need is a helping hand! We caught up with Debbie, a participant of Inspire Fitness, run by Find Your Active ambassador Leila Hobart to hear about her journey into physical activity.
Debbie is pre-diabetic, has osteoarthritis and high blood pressure. She wanted to change her lifestyle and after seeing a gym open up in her local village, she decided to contact Leila.
Debbie said; “I’m a little overweight, living with some long-term health conditions and I had no idea where to start. I asked Leila whether she thought she would be able to help get me active and she said she could. At first I was apprehensive, it had been a long time since I’d done any form of exercise and I’ve never been to a gym. Since working with Leila, my confidence has grown and I’ve been able to do so much more than I thought I could. She has encouraged me to push myself harder whilst always being supportive and aware of my limitations. I would urge everyone to find something they enjoy when it comes to moving more. I have never looked back and will continue to work on being active my way!”
Leila has been a great advocate for encourage residents to get active their way. Not only is she a Find Your Active ambassador, she is a part of the This Girl Can Essex community too. Contributing to many online workout sessions for the Find Your Active YouTube channel, she is enthusiastic about sharing her love for positive movement, helping others and making it fun at the same time.
Leila said; “I’ve always been passionate about helping people regardless of their age or abilities. Movement is for everyone. I love the trust that Debbie and many of my other clients have allowed me to have with regards to their active journey. It’s allowed me to show them what they are able to do and empower them to realise they CAN do anything they put their minds to. I urge anyone who is nervous or worried about joining a group or wanting to go to a personal trainer to just do it – you won’t regret it. This is why I love Active Essex and the Find Your Active campaign, as it allows you to explore the many opportunities that are suitable for you.”
Our Find Your Active ambassadors and cohort of Community Connectors are here to support all residents across the county, to find the activity that’s right for them. There’s no one size fits all, so come and find your active with us!
