Meet John!

ExtraCare resident and gym goer John Wheeldon discusses his exercise programme, and how Lark Hill’s gym has helped him keep in shape at 76.

I go to the gym three times a week and work alternately on the upper body and lower body programmes. I take a rest day between each visit. I’ve lived for over 14 years here, moving in the first week Lark Hill Village opened in 2009. I used the old gym a little a few years ago, but I’ve been an active member of the newly refurbished gym since March 2023.

I’m 76 now and I became aware that as we get older we lose muscle tone, which can have significant impact on our wider health issues. I decided to address this and join the gym. Cain Pugh, one of our gym’s fitness instructors, has been great and designed upper and lower body training programmes for me which he reviews every couple of months.

My favourite thing about working out at our gym is the positive outcomes, physically and mentally, that my regular exercising brings. It’s never too late to exercise. I would recommend having a goal and agreeing an exercise programme with the gym’s fitness instructor.  I enjoy using the Vertical Traction machine and recently I have enjoyed doing goblet squats using a dumbbell. 

I’ve been interested in exercising since March 2023 and I’m fitter and more confident as a result of exercising regularly. Pre-Covid I did go to the circuit training class but now I have started my training programme.

I find the prices really reasonable, I have paid for the full year, so I received extra savings.

My wife and I also keep healthy diet wise too. We have two allotments, so they give us plenty of opportunities to work and exercise in the fresh air. Diet wise we don’t eat red meat, we eat lots of vegetarian food and a lot from our allotments too.