Mental Health Awareness Week at Kensington Leisure Centre

There are many reasons why physical activity is good for your body but, did you know that physical activity is also beneficial for your mental health and wellbeing?

Gary is a 51 year old who lives on one of the social housing estates which are not traditionally associated with the affluent Kensington & Chelsea area. Excessive drinking was, in part, a consequence of the depression he was suffering with.

Many agencies had been involved in helping Gary, including the medical profession but as is so often conveyed to us, the support he received was never sustained and it was difficult for him to adjust his lifestyle.

Gary started to exercise which he now loves to such an extent that he now refers himself as an ‘addict’ to exercise.

At one stage as he was attending 7 days a week! In the first 7 months he lost 4 stone and was feeling completely rejuvenated.

By his own admission, Gary was literally close to death, both mentally and physically. Now, he no longer suffers suicidal tendencies and feels fitter and healthier than ever before. The following questions were simply headlines behind Gary’s success story which he was happy to discuss and for me share.

Do you feel that you have met your goals?

I have improved the way I am feeling but in some ways, they are ongoing – exercise helps my sciatica and helps me with my mind. I now feel that I am at the right weight. I had lost more but friends were saying that I looked too gaunt. I’ve put a little bit back on and feel fine.

What would you like to achieve in the future?

For me, it’s now about maintenance – staying the way I’m feeling. Exercise is the main thing that helps me with that.

What daily activities did you find difficult to begin with? What can you do now?

Apart from the obvious physical restrictions of my weight and condition, the main improvement I feel is confidence. This is 100% above where I was and I feel a different person because of it. My energy levels are also on a different scale.

There are so many ways to keep active and improve your social wellbeing. At Kensington Leisure Centre we offer a variety of classes, activities & group sessions for all ages and abilities. To find out more, visit www.better.org.uk/kensington laugh and have fun!