ALEX SCAPENS
ARETIRED maths teacher has tried a different type of working out to visit the gym 1,000 times since suffering a serious heart attack.
Brian Povey, 70, from Disley, had never previously taken regular exercise and was left badly debilitated after suffering a cardiac arrest in 2009.
Following heart surgery he undertook rehabilitation at Stepping Hill Hospital before taking part in Life Leisure’s Physical Activity Referral Scheme in Stockport (PARiS).
And having decided life in the gym was for him he has been a regular at the Life Leisure centre in Romiley - where he has clocked up the milestone.
Brian, who is married to Elizabeth, said: “My wife was incredibly supportive and in fact came to some sessions with me – although I think partly to check her husband wasn’t getting too carried away.
“When you have a significant health scare, it does make you look at things differently.
“While I was never a fullblown exercise-phobe, I was always very sceptical of gyms and thought they were really only for people who were already pretty fit.”
Brian also had a second operation in 2014 because of a problem with a stent.
But it went according to plan and medical tests showed his heart and cardiovascular fitness levels were excellent.
He now does three 90 minute sessions every week, consisting of time on the treadmill, bikes and rowers, as well as leg extensions, bicep curls, shoulder presses and wall press ups.
Brian wants to share his story to encourage others regardless of current fitness levels - to get active and each of his work outs is meticulously recorded in a diary.
He said: “As well as being useful for showing my GP and cardiologist what I’ve been up to, it is a really good motivator as I can chart the made.
“I remember sitting down with my instructor and we worked out my regime which looked at cardiovascular exercises, stretching and weight work initially. Just a little of each to start with. progress I’ve
“I had a grid to keep track of everything I was doing, and also wore a heart rate monitor so that I could keep an eye on my exercise level.
“I used to say I’d never be seen dead in a gym. Now I’m very happy to be seen alive in one.”