Margaret O'Dea
Age: 42
Diagnosis: High blood pressure, high cholesterol. Weighed 16 stone.
"My GP took my blood pressure last autumn and the reading was off the scale. She suggested this programme but I wasn't keen at the beginning, I felt I'd be mortified with all those young thin ones in leotards. The fact that I would be joining an actual programme with others of all ages, shapes and sizes helped. "I work three 12-hour shifts a week and have four boys aged 19 to eight, so I don't have a lot of time and didn't take exercise. I used to eat a lot of rubbish because you would come home too tired to cook and just want something easy.
Treatment: Visits to gym three or four times a week, either morning alone or evening with family, using treadmill, bicycle, stepper and, lately, weights.
Progress: "My blood pressure is down and my flexibility has improved. I've lost about seven pounds in weight, I'm coming down slowly because what I really want is a change in lifestyle that will last. I love the gym; I love the buzz. We've now taken out family membership, and the fact that my husband and the lads are involved will make a big difference for all of us, I know."
Kay and Jim O'Sullivan
Age: late 50s; early 60s.
Diagnosis: Kay - diabetes, arthritis, raised blood pressure, overweight. Jim - arthritis in lower back from 35-year-old injury, high cholesterol.
"I was slumped on the couch when I saw Nationwide talking about this scheme, but I didn't think it was something I could do," says Kay. "I have had a lot of medical problems in my life. Diabetes was diagnosed about six years ago. I had been to lots of different clubs for my weight, but they had no interest in you. I had a track worn up to the surgery. So when my GP suggested I try this, I was delighted.
"I went the first week but lacked the motivation to go back. The second week the phone rang and it was Johann, the scheme co-ordinator, to say `where are you?' I was so touched that she cared enough to ring, it gave me the encouragement I needed, and I haven't looked back since."
"We have stayed in hotels with a leisure centre and we never availed of it, even though we would have liked to," says Jim. "My back injury means I need exercise, and if I don't walk I stiffen up and get cramps in my legs."
Treatment: Exercise three mornings a week for 45 minutes. Both use the treadmill and exercise bike, Jim uses cross trainer, and does back-strengthening floor exercises.
Progress: "I'm a new person," says Kay "I'm much more confident, people are telling me how wonderful I look, I've more energy for walking, gardening, ironing. I've lost about six pounds but I'm not so concerned about the weight at all now because I know I feel so well. I can cope better. It's so good to feel well and we will definitely continue."
Jim's screening showed more flexibility in lower back, lowered blood pressure and more muscle strength. "I find it much easier to cope. I used to have a nap in the afternoon and I've given it up. I feel I have much more energy and the day isn't long enough," he says.
Mary Murphy
Age: 50
Diagnosis: Osteopenia (forerunner of osteoporosis), family history of heart disease.
"I had a bone density scan earlier this year and discovered I had osteopenia. My GP suggested this programme. I was aware of the benefits of exercise, as I swam during my last pregnancy and it kept my blood pressure down. But I had got lazy about exercise; I have five children aged from 10 to 23 and I spend a lot of my time being a taxi for them.
"It's intimidating to go to a gym with a lot of younger people. I would go into the weights room and realise that person in front of me was using 50 pounds while I was using a five-pound weight. But I told myself I've every right to be here too. Johann has been terrific. We all have a diary, and I opened it one day to find information in it about osteoporosis. Anything she can find to help us she will.
Treatment: Three morning sessions using warming-up equipment, cross trainer, rowing machine and weights, plus one afternoon a week for circuit training.
Progress: "In my last check-up, blood pressure was normal, and flexibility, lung capacity and muscle strength had improved. I won't know about the bone density till next year. I'm sleeping better, I'm getting less dragged into little squabbles at home. The exercises are my safety valve. I'm walking for 55 minutes three or four times a week. You think you've no time, but the time is there. It's about making choices and getting a good balance in your life. I'll be continuing this; another door has opened for me."