Health Exchange

Two weeks ago, Health Exchange exhibited at ‘Voice 11’, the annual conference of the Social Enterprise Coalition (SEC). As a social enterprise dedicated to promoting health and wellbeing, we wanted to get as many people as possible at Voice 11 to think more carefully about their health, changes they might like to make to their lifestyles, and  specific choices that could improve their lifestyles. To help with this, we organised a ‘Pedometer Challenge’ to find out if collectively all the conference attendees could walk a distance equivalent to New York and back again!

Gathering data

We gave away pedometers to as many people as we could, and asked them to text or tweet us at the end of the day with the number of steps they recorded. We thought walking around all those exhibition stands meant people would walk a lot further than they do on an average day, and we were right! The number of steps taken by all those who texted and tweeted us ranged from (a colossal!) 19,203 steps to 1,212 steps (we assume this pedometer was handed out later in the day!), and the average was 9,725 steps per person. A good average step length (across a large group of people) is 30” (76cm), and from this the average distance walked by conference attendees on the day was 4.6 miles (7.4 Km) per person.

Going the distance

So did we make it? The SEC have told us there were approximately 1500 delegates at Voice 11. Assuming each delegate also walked 4.6 miles, then collectively the conference walked 6,900 miles. According to Google Earth, the straight line distance from Nelson’s Column to Times Square is just under 3,355 miles, which is a 6,710 mile round trip!                                 

So the conference walked to New York and back with 190 miles to spare!!

Answers to some FAQ’s:

How far should I walk each day?

The average of 9,725 steps recorded on the day is pretty close to the 10,000 steps generally accepted as the number that a healthy adult should aim for each day. It is significantly more than the average for a sedentary or office worker, which can be as low as 3,000 steps per day. Many of us could and should make the effort to include more walking in our daily routines, and Health Exchange even organises regular 30-40 minute health walks to enable people to take some gentle exercise and improve their fitness levels.

How can I include more walking in my daily routine?

The best way to start is to ask yourself exactly that question: “How can I do this?” We all have different daily routines but if you want to do it, you will find a way. 

If you use public transport each day, get off one stop earlier and walk the remainder of the way. If you drive to work, use a car park further from work, and finish the journey on foot. See if your company will ‘swap’ car parks with another company a short distance away, or even set up an organised walk at lunchtime. If your daily routine involves a number of short meetings with colleagues, leave the desks and chairs behind and hold your meeting whilst walking around the block together‘ – we call this ‘Walking the Talk’.

At home, get into the habit of a short walk after a meal, or take the dog for a longer walk at least three times a week.

Get yourself a pedometer – They are not expensive, and you will probably be surprised at how much (or how little!) walking you do each day.

How can Health Exchange help me find out more about changing my lifestyle to improve my health?

Talk to Health Exchange. We operate a range of programmes designed to help people improve their health and wellbeing. We want everyone to have the capability and confidence to make their own choices for positive lifestyle changes that will improve their health and the way they feel about themselves.

We work with individuals, often on a one-to-one basis to help them achieve the goals they want to achieve. We also work with organisations of all types to help reach the people they represent, and help them set and achieve their lifestyle goals.

For more information, take a look at our website (www.healthexchange.org.uk), or call our FreePhone number: 0800 158 35 35.

These messages aren’t for ‘someone else’. Each of us has a responsibility, to ourselves and to those around us, to take control of our health and wellbeing, and understand the risks we might face and how to reduce them.

It’s never too early or too late to take your first step towards living a healthier lifestyle.

Denise Walker wins a Wii Fit console, by doing what her name suggests – Walking.

After receiving a pedometer on Erdington high street at our Health and Wellbeing centre, Denise got herself walking and text the number of steps she had achieved. ‘I don’t win anything and to win this is the icing on the cake’.

Not only has she won a games console, she has also earned herself a healthier lifestyle. Since entering she has continued to get use out of her pedometer, adding extra steps wherever she can.

‘I get off the bus (a stop early)… so I can walk a bit more.’

She’s even inspired her family.

‘I use it in the day and my partner uses it at night. He does loads – more than me. We have a little competition but I’d never be able to do as many’.

Before finding us, Denise admits she needed help. ‘I’m so unfit and I don’t know why. I brought a DVD, did the warm up and I was dead.’ ‘I don’t smoke, so why am I so unfit.’

But she got help from our range of offers, including the TXT4U service. It provides personalised and confidential health information direct to your mobile on topics such as keeping fit and exercise.

‘They’re brilliant. Really really interesting.’

Best of all, Health Exchange services are completely free.

With all these new Health Exchange activities and her Wii Fit, Denise is concentrating on looking and feeling great.

‘I cant believe it…(I can) go on holiday now, get fit and look fantastic.’

Click to find out more about our TXT4U service and our Erdington Health and Wellbeing centre

We received this really touching letter from one of our Health Trainer graduates. We hope it inspires you with your goals.

My name is Janet Eaton – aged 63, presently weighing 11 stone 4 pounds. My blood pressure and my cholesterol is 4.2. This is not how it was 6 months ago. Sadly, I had been overweight for the last 30 years, yoyo-ing between 12 to 13 stones.

My weight had not really bothered me all those years – all my family were rather large – after all, we grew up with a 50’s diet of fry-ups and lard sandwiches! Then, tragedy changed my life. 3 sisters and 1 brother all died, each having circulatory problems, then heart attacks. I tried to assure myself it wouldn’t happen to me as I didn’t drink or smoke; they had their entire adult lives. Deep down, I feared a heart attack. It was constantly in my head.

A visit to my GP was to change everything for me. On my first day at my Health Trainer appointment, I was shown the BMI chart and could see I was almost obese on the guidelines. I was given a plan with a really good Health Trainer who explained so much to me. Each visit I learned a new tip or fact (Even at the age of 63!)

I found it was the actual frying process which wasnt good. I thought it was healthy as I only used virgin olive oil. Previously, I drank 9-10 cups of tea. A suggestion of cutting down or trying a naturally de-caff tea was a great idea. I drink rooibos tea now, I love the taste, nutty and satisfying. Exercise was a walk to the shops for me. Regular exercise and how good it was for your body and mind was explained to me – now it is a big part of my lifestyle – I even dance to a favourite CD at home.

All this good advice on healthy food, healthy ways of cooking and exercise has paid dividends – inches off my waist and hips. Today, I am a happier, content 63 year old lady – no longer at home fearing a heart attack.

Thank you, I am so grateful for my Health Trainer, Qudsia Bibi!