Published Monday 14 June 2021 at 14:47
It’s Men’s Health Week 2021 and the Blackburn with Darwen Council Wellbeing team have information to share on a variety of topics every day this week to support you and the men in all our lives.
This week is not a men-only zone! Fathers, brothers, partners, sons, friends and colleagues – whoever the men are in your life is, this week you’ll find something that can help you to support them with their health and fitness.
Meet Ryan
Ryan is a Health Trainer for the Wellbeing Service and has a keen interest in fitness. After leaving university, where he studied Sports Science, he was a full time personal trainer.
When he first joined university, Ryan started to gain weight and started to suffer from depression. In general, his lifestyle was very unhealthy. Ryan managed to turn this around by making small changes. He started having a healthier diet, joined the rugby team and connected with other people through training in the gym. Ryan took control of his habits and routine and concentrated on daily tasks.
Ryan said: “The consistency of effort, together with making small changes over a long period of time, were the keys to my success.”
“I was never interested in lifting weights before, so when I tried it I saw how my body began to change based on these different types of exercises.
“The first lockdown felt like a break. I enjoyed going back to the gym. The next lockdown was when I began to struggle – not being able to socialise, and also because of the inconsistency of rules and regulations implemented during the pandemic.”
Ryan uses exercise as a coping mechanism for stress and learned a valuable life lesson while trying to find different options to deal with lockdown life. He decided to go out and connect with nature.
Ryan continues: “I think we will look back on the lockdowns and see the positives, like the chance to reset and rethink about priorities and find different coping tools.”
“I try and have a moderately healthy balanced lifestyle. Full on dieting doesn’t work for me as I still need that break and won’t feel guilty if I eat a burger!”
Thanks for sharing Ryan!
Residents can reach out to our Health Trainers for advice on setting goals and making small healthy changes: Find out more: The Wellbeing Service and re:fresh | re:fresh (refreshbwd.com)