Barry | “COVID Left Me Lethargic and Caused Me To Put on Weight but FIT LATICS Changed Everything.”
For Barry Worthington, signing up to Wigan Athletic Community Trust’s FIT LATICS programme in May has made a real difference to his health.
The initiative, which is backed by the EFL Trust and Sport England, aims to help men and women aged 35-65 enjoy an active lifestyle through exercise and nutrition sessions.
The lifelong Wigan Athletic supporter joined the 12-week programme with the aim of losing weight he put on after contracting COVID-19 last autumn. He said:
“Prior to contracting COVID-19 back in October, I was quite fit and was absolutely flying. I was cycling, running, and feeling really good. But after having long COVID, I felt really lethargic and I gained 11kg in that time. I came out in the spring, stood on the scales, and I wasn’t happy with myself, what I was seeing or how I was feeling. But at the same time I noticed the Community Trust were advertising their FIT LATICS programme, and that was the motivation I needed to do something about it.”
After losing 8% of his bodyweight, Barry, 62, says the programme has had a real positive affect on his health and his heart. Barry adds,
“I can’t speak highly enough about the course. It’s so well structured and we receive information on nutrition, alcohol limits and its great being in a group where everyone has the same aim to lose weight and enjoy themselves, it’s been fantastic. It’s been a real push and I’ve been really successful with the weight that I’ve lost. I was 114.7kg when I started, and now I am 106.4kg so I’ve lost eight kilograms. I was aiming to lose about five-and-a-half so I’ve passed that and I’m really pleased with it. I also have a fitness watch and I like looking at my heart rate. My resting heart rate was 45 beats per minute, so I thought it seemed a bit low, and I checked online and spoke to my GP about it who advised me to come in for an ECG. They did a proper examination and the ECG was spot-on. The doctor said that although its lower, the condition of the heart and how well it is working was excellent and said I was super fit!”
With sessions running weekly at the DW Stadium, Barry adds that taking part in the programme at the home of his club provided him with a much needed boost.
He said:
“It adds everything. Having not been able to come to games for 18 months, the first thing we did was run to the top of the steps to look at the pitch, which brought a tear to the eye. I can see where I sit in the East Stand which is fantastic and it gives you that extra buzz. It’s a big draw and most if not all the guys here are Latics fans and season ticket holders which speaks volumes of the people that have been coming.”
Starting on the back of the success of Fit Latics, the Community Trust are running a new men’s maintenance programme next month with sessions providing participants with physical activities, circuit training and nutritional advice.
For further information on our FIT FANS programme click here
