October 28, 2014

Feeling positive about me

The effort that our people put into changing the lives of others is truly amazing and every once in a while, we’ll hear a story or get a thank you that makes us smile and think ‘you know what, we’re making a difference’. That moment came for Jalal Alrakami from our Liverpool Health Trainer team over the Summer.

Dear Jalal,

I know you have all my statistics on your laptop… a 16% drop in my weight, a 600% increase in the amount of veg I’m eating and a 100% drop in my fried food intake, but as a mathematician I know statistics cannot tell the whole story. So, I want to say a HUGE ‘thank you’ for turning my life (or rather lack of it) around. This is an incredible feat in just a few months. When my doctor did my health MOT in late 2012 and diagnosed multiple health issues (including obesity, limited mobility in my neck and shoulders, high cholesterol plus a risk of diabetes) my reaction was that I didn’t really care; I didn’t believe I could do anything positive about it.

Since resigning my job to care for my husband, then my mum, then my dad I hadn’t bothered about myself and after their deaths I just gave up. A typical day was to get up late, eat something friend and watch TV. I hardly moved off the settee and lived on the cheapest food available – ‘value’ microwave meals, BOGOF deals (always sausages, pies, burgers, bacon, crisps, biscuits) and chips from the ‘chippy’ so often even the owner remarked on it. Everything was fried; it’s quick and easy when you’re cooking for one. Also it was quite normal to eat a full packet of biscuits, a kingside/due chocolate bar and cripss as I watched TV for hours. I slept erractically and badly. I was ALWAYS tired, I had no energy and no interest in anything. If a friend suggested a film or coffee I always made excuses. Though I was aware of how I looked I didn’t care. I had no motivation to change at all. Sometimes I did feel I was letting my husband and parents down, they’d lost their lives but I was throwing mine away. Then I saw your leaflet, gave you a call and a miracle began.

You gave me the motivation, the support and encouragement, kept me on track, listened and gave good, realistic advice. You understood my financial constraints and helped me source affordable, healthy food. you arranged a GP referrals so that I could swim, attend AquaRunniny, Tai Chi and the gym (none of which would have been possible without this scheme. You are responsible for transforming me from the hefty, lethargic lump that

shuffled into the surgery earlier this year to someone who cooks meals from scratch, who eats lots of fruit and veg, who never fries anything, who can’t wait for Mondays and AquaRunning or Tuesdays for Tai Chi, who swims three times a week and walks nearly every day, who sleeps much better, gets up at 7am, who goes to events in the park, films and concerts (lots free or much reduced if you search) and hardly stops talking!

Everyone comments on the massive improvement in my physical appearance, health and attitude to life. The latter enables me to improve the former and this is due to you Jalal. You are changing my mental approach to life and health and altering my behaviour. I know there is still a way to go but I actually think, with your continued help and support I can do it. It is the first time in five and a half years I have felt so positive.

Thank you so much Jalal,

Yours, in gratitude.