At 68, Richard decided it was time to lose weight and improve his overall fitness. A series of recent health issues made him realise he needed to rethink his lifestyle. His first step in the New Year of 2026 was committing to Dry January – which then continued into February, and again into March.
“When I heard about Livewell from my doctor, I decided to give it a go and honestly haven’t looked back.”
Six months on – a healthier, lighter Richard
Six months later, with support from Livewell, Richard has kept the promise he made to himself – losing three and a half stone (15% of his body weight). His BMI has dropped from 41.8 to 33.2 and, at the time of writing, is still going down.
He’s transformed his eating and drinking habits, swapping:
- Weekend fry-ups, 6–8 pints and late-night kebabsfor occasional gin and tonics and fish salads
- Chinese, Indian and pizza takeaways for home-cooked soups, salads and heart-healthy salmon and mackerel
Support without shame
Richard says the men’s only activation group at St Martin’s Church in Allenton, led by advisors Andy and Joe, has been key to changing his habits.
“I was pleasantly surprised to discover the group wasn’t like diet clubs that shame people if the scales aren’t going in the right direction. The support from the advisors and the other chaps really helps spur you on.
“At first, I enjoyed the exercise part of the session far more than the healthy eating education. Like most people, I thought I already knew how to eat well. But as the weeks rolled by, I picked up on things I had no idea about – like how many calories are in pints of beer and what a portion of pasta actually looks like (I was eating treble). The sessions opened my eyes to ultra-processed food, and I’ve not had any junk or convenience meals since. I’ve also not had a pint all year, drastically reducing my alcohol consumption.”
Moving more with restricted mobility
Richard is keen to show that it is possible to exercise safely with restricted mobility and experience the rehabilitation benefits of movement, including easing joint pain rather than making it worse.
Despite having two arthritic knees and limited mobility, he is making the most of Livewell’s free exercise opportunities:
- Taking part in weekly circuits classes, where advisors Andy and Joe adapt exercises to suit him
- Discovering a love of the rowing machine at Moorways Sports Village gym – now rowing for 30 minutes, three times a week
- Investing in equipment such as dumbbells, kettlebells and resistance bands for his garage so he can work out at home
“Once you change your mindset to ‘I will try’ instead of ‘I can’t’, it’s amazing what your body can do. I’m always careful, follow the advisors’ guidance and understand my own restrictions, but it’s great to feel fitter, have more energy and not be out of breath. I know I’m doing my heart a lot of good and putting less pressure on my joints as a lighter man. I use resistance bands often.”
Inspiring others
Richard’s healthier lifestyle has also influenced his fishing friends. On a recent trip away, some of his friends changed to healthier options from pub menus or asked for a salad, just like him.
The only downside he has noticed?
“In my journey so far, there has only been one downside – the cost of forking out for new clothes, having dropped from a 4XL to XL.
“My wife is happy she has a healthier husband but says I’m spending a fortune on fishing clobber – but if that’s the only penalty, I’ll take it!”
Livewell advisor, Andy Varney said: