A Central Coast grandmother of five has hailed the support that she received from a personal healthy lifestyle coach, offered as part of a free online service.
Dianne Swinnerton, 70, signed up for the Healthy and Active for Life Online program to kick-start her into exercising again and to adopt healthy eating habits.
“I hadn’t exercised for years and wanted to get motivated and begin eating healthier,” Swinnerton said.
“I saw that the program offered support over the phone from a personal coach, and I knew that would be the push I needed.”
Healthy and Active for Life is a free 10-week online program for people aged 60 and above, or 45 and above for people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
It aims to support older people to live independently by increasing their knowledge, skills and confidence in how to lead active and healthy lives, while also helping to prevent falls.
As well as a personal telephone coach, participants receive self paced interactive healthy eating and lifestyle modules, as well as exercise videos to do in their home each week.
Swinnerton’s Coach was Lisa Buechel, and the two met for the first time to reflect on the impact that the program has made.
“After speaking to Di regularly over the past 10 weeks, it was great to put a face to the voice on the other end of the line,” Buechel said.
“Working with someone over 10 weeks, you really get to know the person and see their progress.
“I like helping people get their health back and I’ve always found that if you give people support, they will succeed.”
Swinnerton believes that the program could benefit many others on the Coast who need the motivation and support from a personal coach, especially with the winter months ahead.
“It was really beneficial to receive that consistent, one to one support,” she said.
“Lisa was so friendly and professional, she really knew her stuff and helped me so much with my confidence.
“The program has also been great for my mental health too.
“I came away from each session feeling happy and energised.
“To anyone thinking about getting healthier and signing up for the program, take the courage to turn on the computer and give it a go.”
Healthy and Active for Life is a NSW Health state wide program run on the Central Coast by the Local Health District’s Health Promotion Service.
The online programs run four times a year, with the next program starting on Monday, July 12 and registrations close on Friday, June 25.
Source:
Media release, June 21
Central Coast Local Health District