Active Suffolk - Health and Wellbeing Newsletter October 2020

Hello

Welcome back to the Active Suffolk Health and Wellbeing newsletter.

In this edition of the Health and Wellbeing newsletter we share our Active Wellbeing teams top tips for the months ahead, we provide details of support available during this period as we all deal with a second lockdown and update you on our services.

The Active Wellbeing Teams Top Tips...

The winter months are upon us and after going into lockdown 2.0 you may be finding it difficult to keep yourself motivated to be active. We understand that and our Active Wellbeing team have listed five things you may want to consider during this period.

Prevent falls
Regular movement and activity may help to prevent falls or wobbly moments. We are naturally less active during the winter season, and so it's important now more than ever to purposely introduce more movement into our day. This activity will help to build strength, prevents loss of bone mass and improves balance therefore reducing the risk of falling.

Stay hydrated
Dehydration is associated with a higher risk of ill health. Try to drink 8 to 10 glasses of water daily. The easiest way to drink more fluids is to build on existing habits. For instance, drinking more fluid as part of everyday routines, such as when taking medication or at mealtimes. If you build this up gradually in small steps, eventually it will become part of your routine. A common myth is that you must drink water, but tea, coffee and juices all count.

Connect with others
Involve other people in the activity you are doing. Having a support network is a great to stay motivated, accountable and share the positive impact physical activity can have. This could be going for a walk with another person, joining in with an online exercise class or talking about the activity you are doing with friends and family.

Aim to be active every day
By breaking up sedentary periods, start small and build up, for instance, try walking for 5 mins (if it is safe for you to do so) and aim to increase that time by a small amount each week.

You don't need fancy equipment to keep fit at home
You don't need lots of fancy equipment to exercise at home. If you are wanting to do some low-level weight bearing exercise, you could try using household items such as tins or a water bottle. Water bottles are great as you can vary the weight by gradually adding more water as you gain more strength.

Support whilst dealing with the pandemic

Whilst we continue to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, we have been working to update pages on our website that provide useful links, home workouts, plus support for those working within the sector.

•	Looking for more home workout options, click here
•	Looking for links, advice or services that could offer support for mental health, loneliness or managing long term conditions during this period, click here
•	Looking for some physical activity challenges you and the family could get involved in during the lockdown, click here
•	If you or someone you knows work in the sport and physical activity sector, click here for details on funding opportunities, CPD and learning.

Functional Fitness MOT Testing

Since we are now having to spend more time at home again and whilst we are not delivering large group based functional fitness MOT sessions in the local community, we have created a series of six videos which you can watch and follow from the comfort of your home.

Since we launched these videos we have been really pleased with the response. The test demonstrated by our team aims to help you identify areas of weakness which may be linked to your ability to carry out everyday tasks. With each test, you will be instructed on how you can plot your results against those of the national average.

If you would like to give these tests a go, please contact us to request the series by emailing info@activesuffolk.org

To find out more about the Functional Fitness MOT's log on to: www.activesuffolk.org/fitness-mot

Active Wellbeing Service in Suffolk

The Active Wellbeing Service is now running in four locations across Suffolk; Two Rivers Medical Centre (Ipswich), Eye Medical Centre, Holbrook and Shotley Health Centre and Glemsford Surgery. If you are a patient in any of these surgeries, you can sign up for support by calling the Active Suffolk team on 01394 444605 or by completing an online referral form by clicking HERE

Alternatively, for further information please contact the Physical Activity Advisor for your area using the contact details below.

Mair Potter - Physical Activity Advisor for Eye Health Centre & Two Rivers Medical Centre
07557 633824
mair.potter@activesuffolk.org

Janet Lawrence - Physical Activity Advisor for The Shotley & Holbrook Practice
07557 633724
janet.lawrence@activesuffolk.org

Chris Lawson - Physical Activity Advisor for Glemsford Surgery
07748 181434
chris.lawson@activesuffolk.org

We want to hear your story...

We are aware that the events and changes related to the coronavirus pandemic have had a significant impact on some people's physical activity levels this year.

For many of us, our usual routines have changed significantly and the physical activity we were involved in before the pandemic may have changed due to clubs, leisure centres and gyms closing or through having to adapt to the new rules.

Despite this, we know that many people have worked to overcome these new obstacles to ensure that physical activity is still part of the daily routine. If that's you, we want to hear from you! Your story could help support someone that is feeling uncertain, unmotivated or anxious about participating in physical activity during this time, particularly as we get into the colder, darker months.

Please complete the form at www.activesuffolk.org/covidstory