A revitalised resident has described the “remarkable” transformation in his mental and physical health after joining a lifestyle and wellbeing programme that continues to improve lives across North Yorkshire.
Retired granddad Alan Nicholson signed up to the Healthy You scheme in April last year after reaching a point where he felt low in energy and was struggling with both his mental and physical wellbeing.
Delivered by our sport and active wellbeing service, Active North Yorkshire, the free Healthy You programme helps individuals and families to make sustainable, positive changes through enjoyable physical activity, behaviour-change skills and personalised wellbeing support.
After needing to use the lift to reach the gym on his first visit to Active North Yorkshire Selby, 69-year-old Alan has since embarked on an incredible fitness journey – losing more than five stone – which has helped him overcome a series of physical and mental health challenges.
Having completed his own tailored Healthy You programme, Alan is now looking forward to a healthier future – and is encouraging others across North Yorkshire to consider signing up.
“I was struggling with my mental health but also physically,” Alan said. “I was well overweight so needed to change my life, and my doctor recommended that I should look into joining the programme.
“I was fat, lazy and depressed – I couldn’t walk properly. What’s happened since then has been absolutely remarkable.
“I’m now five stone lighter, I can walk further than ever before, I can run up and downstairs and play with the grandkids. Before I joined the programme, I was told that I would probably need two knee replacements – but I don’t need them anymore because of the transformation.
“Quite early on when trying to get fit, I realised that I’m not the sort of person who can motivate myself very well in the gym. But instead, I found I loved the classes where someone stands in front of you and tells you what to do – that was perfect for me.”
Alan explained that regular exercise and changes to his diet proved the key to his health turnaround – with Healthy You offering structured and personalised fitness and health support from qualified practitioners.
After seeing the benefits for himself, he is encouraging others, particularly those in retirement who want to stay active or improve their mental health, to sign up.
He said: “There was a balance to the programme with physical activity – whether it was swimming, gym work or fitness classes – along with informal meetings to help provide some theory about food types, what to eat, and how to better manage your weight.
“My main aim now is to just keep fit, build on the work I’ve done, and keep the weight off. I’d honestly encourage anybody who is thinking about joining up to do so – life is short, so make the most of it.”
The Healthy You service covers the whole of North Yorkshire with dedicated teams in place to support individuals and families to improve their physical and mental health.
Qualified Active Health practitioners offer flexible one-to-one, group, online, telephone and face-to-face support sessions, setting personalised goals and providing specialist coaching to help customers make positive changes.
Executive member for leisure, Cllr Simon Myers, said: “It is fantastic to hear how the Healthy You programme continues to have an incredible and long-lasting impact on customers’ lives.
“Whether the goal is to build confidence through being active, improve wellbeing or simply feel healthier, the scheme has already proven it can be a successful way to support people to find sustainable, enjoyable ways to keep fit and feel well.
“Active North Yorkshire was launched in September 2024 with the aim of creating first-class health and wellbeing hubs that support people at any level of fitness to be more active and live healthier lives.
I look forward to hearing more inspirational stories of people who have signed up for Healthy You and made positive changes in their lives.”
The Healthy You programme is available to adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, or children aged four and over who are at or above the 91st percentile for BMI.