I’m a senior citizen with health issues and was no longer fit as I would like to be.

Due to suffering various falls and ending up in A&E for treatment I was referred to the Better Balance programme that started in September 2024. This was run by 2 physios called Amada and Jennifer who were very helpful and supportive of every member of the group. This course ran for 12 weeks and involved a mixture of exercises to help improve your balance along with talks from nutritionists and advice on where to het help and other activities that you could do such as the weekly Be Active Health Walk which has enable me to meet a variety of people.

Following on from the better balance programme, I next did Strength & Balance class for 12 weeks with Graham and following those classes I signed up as a bACTIVE member to continue to do one circuit class per week and one gym class per week both being run by Graham.

This has resulted in my fitness levels being improved dramatically and also to meeting a variety of people through both the walks and the classes.

I would whole heartedly recommend getting involved with the Be Active…Live Well programme both as a means to improve your fitness and also to meet other people who are probably in a similar situation to yourself. The coaches running the various courses have been very supportive of the differing abilities of the people attending and ensure that everyone is made welcome.

I worked in various shops and was always too busy working to have time to be active, when I wasn’t working I was too tired to do anything. I did go to aerobics classes with Dorothy in Montrose a long time ago. With being busy bringing up family I never went to the gym and I was not into exercise.

I had a knee replacement op in 2020 and started the Joe Wicks exercises on TV, my daughters also found house work exercises and stretching that I could do which was fun.

My husband was referred to the Be Active…Live Well programme, so I accompanied him to the classes.

I completed the 12 weeks strength and balance Active Start programme with Graham, a Health and Wellbeing Advisor. As well as Graham, Amanda and Jennifer were great and helped us to learn how to get up if we fell. We even sang along to the songs at the classes which was good fun.

I really enjoy the company and we all get on with each other – chatting away in the class. It’s motivational with all ages attending up to the age of 97! I found it was a good support and we help each other to keep going.

I am engaged in the programme and I don’t want to leave my partner alone as his health isn’t good. However, due to depression I want to get out the house and chat to people. For instance, I lost 5 family members in a year but I focus on the good times. I like to look at the flowers around the area at the Health Walks from Montrose Sports Centre and to be out in nature. I also enjoy speaking to people on the walks.

My advice to anyone with a long term health condition would be to come along! Come and have a good laugh and natter. There’s lots of comradery and support on the Health Walks which keep me going and helps me to switch off when I am out on a walk.

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes almost a year ago and I didn’t want to have to go on medication for it.

The gym class is great, I like that there like-minded people as the gym can be very daunting if you don’t know what you’re doing, Susan is a great Coach and very welcoming, all the other members and lovely and friendly – not only do we work hard, we always have a good laugh.

I did a few classes at another gym years ago but life got in the way and I stopped, now since starting with BE ACTIVE …live well I am going to the gym twice a week and have I also started a few circuit classes a week with Finn and Lydia.

I am really enjoying all the classes. I now do 7 classes a week and look forward to leaving sweaty and happy. I have also managed to shed 3 stone and hopefully on my next diabetic review the nurse will tell me am in remission!

If I can do it so can you!