Fit To Tackle Virtual Lockdown Programme sees men unite to lose total of 38kg

LIVEWIRE’S latest weightloss programme Fit To Tackle was delivered virtually due to the national lockdown – but that didn’t stop participants losing over 38kg ​between them.

The latest bootcamp programme was the first held in partnership with MoveMEnt, a collaboration between LiveWire, Directions for Men and the Warrington Wolves Foundation in tackling male suicide prevention in Warrington. However the programme was unable to proceed in person as planned due to the national lockdown restrictions that came into place last month.
Instead, the programme was delivered virtually by LiveWire’s Lifestyles team, offering support via a dedicated Facebook group and Zoom sessions. It included nutrition advice, home workouts and walking route ideas.
The virtual programme was a great success with the group achieving a combined weight loss of 38.6kg (6st 1lbs) over a 3 week period.
Those taking part also registered their steps for the duration of the programme, counting over 2 million between them.
Tom Kearney, LiveWire Lifestyles Advisor and Fit To Tackle Coach, said: “As lockdown led to the postponement of our next Fit To Tackle programme – which was due to be a men-only group – we invited those booked onto the programme to join a private Lifestyles Facebook support group.
“Via this platform we supported the participants with exercise and nutritional advice and as well as facilitating a peer support group between the men to interact with each other.
“The virtual programme proved to be a big success with the group losing over 6 stone combined and completing almost 2 million steps between themselves.
“The biggest positive has been how supportive the group has been of each other and they have all commented on how helpful they find it having the support from the group and being made accountable for what they are doing by posting their steps and weights each week.”
The men will be invited to take part in a full Fit To Tackle programme in the New Year if restrictions allow.
One participant, Martin, said: “The support, advice and information given during the programme was great. The support from the other guys in the group was awesome – despite us being strangers – and we are now friends for life I am sure.”
The virtual Fit To Tackle programme was just the latest way LiveWire’s Lifestyles service has adapted to the challenges of delivering services remotely during a pandemic. The team has worked throughout offering support via telephone or the web to those who need it, in particular delivering over 4,000 ‘Safe & Well’ calls to existing/new clients who were classed as vulnerable or at high risk during COVID-19.
For more information on LiveWire’s Lifestyles service, which include stop smoking help, weight management, health walks, cardiac and cancer rehabilitation support, please visit: www.livewirewarrington.co.uk/lifestyles