Mother and daughter motivation!

This Green Prescription success story begins with Lyneve, a stoic 73 year old from Nelson with Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and painful knees from arthritis.

Lyneve was tired of feeling breathless, overweight and not sleeping well so when her daughter Tracy grew concerned about her swollen ankles Lyneve decided to take action.

Active in her younger years Lyneve found herself saying “I just need to do something!” Her GP Andy Dawson at Nelson Family Medicine referred her to the local Green Prescription team and here she heard about the ‘KickStart’ programme – and decided to try it.

She met Sue and Bryony at Riverside Pool and braved the pool for the first time in many years, as she had really enjoyed swimming in the past.

Each week she did a 30 minute aqau exercise session, followed by an informal 30 minute education time. Having attended a free Diabetes Education session through Nelson Bays Primary Health, Lyneve was aware of the importance of keeping active – and she started to make her KickStart session a priority, meeting new people each week and finding the 30 Day Challenge a great motivator. She began to feel better and slowly lose weight.

Seeing the positive changes in her mum, Lyneve’s 45 year old daughter Tracy realised ‘I need to do this too’. Tracy felt uncomfortably overweight which affected her night time breathing and while not having any obvious health issues she ‘didn’t want to end up like mum with diabetes, taking medication and needing joint replacements’.

Tracy also found the 30 Day Challenge a great motivational tool, and began attending KickStart each week learning more about eating behaviours, healthy nutrition and sustainable exercise, and together this mum and daughter began to make some real progress.

As part of the weekly group they encouraged and helped others as well and their dedication began to pay off.

Lyneve and Tracy have now graduated from KickStart – and 6 months later Lyneve has lost over 12kgs! Her blood sugar levels have dropped, the swelling in her ankles has diminished and her latest blood tests showed a healthy cholesterol reading. Lyneve is now enjoying aqua exercise not once but 3 times a week and is determined to keep it up with new friends she met along the way.

Tracy is delighted to have lost 10.5kgs, she also got her BP and cholesterol checked and is pleased with the results. She is back on her bike, walking more and feeling healthier generally. She even managed to ‘give up Coke Zero!’ now she has learnt more about what goes on inside her body.

This mother daughter team have supported and encouraged each other each week and want to pass on the message for others to just ‘go for it. Get the encouragement of a group activity, learn from the education handouts and you will get there’. Well done ladies!