2010 coming to an end, 23 December

The APEx story so far.

With the year coming to an end APEx makes its plans ready to go into 2011 in a strong position.
  
2010 is finally coming to an end and it has been a great time for APEx. It has truly been great to watch the group go from strength to strength with new faces coming down all the time and new activities being added. Everyone has been getting on great and people have really benefited from all the exercise. The relationship we have formed with the Health Action Wirral team has really boosted what we can offer at APEx and I really hope we can develop that going into 2012. 


As for our exercise programs. We have added several new exercise programs this year including a weekly walking and yoga group in addition to piloting a swimming program. Our popular monthly walking group has been given new life and we now go out every month, trains permitting, into Wrexham for some really good walks. I hope everyone has enjoyed these activities and will continue on into next year. We are also planning to get a few new activities of the group including a new program for the over 40s and an orienteering group. This is not to say we are going to limit ourselves. We take suggestions from all our members and will always do our best to set up any activity that people have an interest in. 


Keep watching www.aiw.org.uk and this blog for updates on our activities and feel free to leave a comment. 


Matthew Williams
Activities Coordinator

Christmas Walk, Llangollen and the Dee Valley, 11 December

Christmas in the woods.

Sadly I was not able to get out on this walk, which was really annoying since it was guaranteed to be an excellent walk. However, 11 people met up at Bidston Station and headed out to Wrexham to do what was promised to be the best walk of the year. With Chris, again, leading the way the walk went from Llangollen around an excellent route. Although shorter than the walks before it this one was one of the more grueling ones with several steep sections going through the hills and tough terrain. 

From the responses I got everyone really enjoyed this months walk and I am gutted I missed it. 


By Matthew Williams
Activities Coordinator

Advocacy Physical Exercise

 Why we are here...

  

Its been a busy last couple of weeks, but here is an update on my recent APEx activities.

Last time we talked I told you about the activities I had been doing down at APEx. I have been busy with my soup recipies and been looking forward to the day the health trainers do their healthy eating activity. I have never seen everyone run so fast wanting to get back for their soup, myself included. It was probably the best soup I have ever tasted and for a leak and carrot thats saying something. 

It was a busy day. Right after the run and soup we had a committee meeting, but its always nice to keep busy. 

Still meeting with the Activities Coornidator every Monday for a walk. Even managed to mark out a new route ready for when the cold weather and dark nights close in. Really get to see who the hard people are when it gets cold. Getting out every couple days around the park by myself to. Still going the cinema every other Wednesday with my friend. Saw Paranormal Activity a couple weeks ago, which was really scary. Can't miss the APEx activities every other Wednesday though so still getting down although we missed the 30 minuties exercise presentation since the group is getting smaller now.

Its been 5 weeks since I drunk alcohol so I am doing really well. My bloody pressure is back to normal and my blood test came back with everything being normal. The effects are starting to come through as I have managed to lose a stone in weight over the last month and still following my lead my mother still hasn't smoked so all is going really well. Try and get another health check through APEx and let you all know about that in a couple weeks time.

Walk to Minera, near Wrexham 6 November 2010

Octobers stroll in the woods.

A quick stop to admire the view

After 3 attempts we finally got into Wales. 16 of us piled onto the train heading to Minera. After an hour on the train and a short bus ride we hit the country near Bersham and saw little of the roads since then. With Chris leading the way, map in hand, we saw some beautiful countryside as we walked alongside the fast flowing rivers and over the slopes of the Welsh countryside. As is the tradition in this country the rain came down early on as we navigated some muddy grassland. After a stop at the visitor centre for a coffee and get out the rain it was back out onto the trial passing through some splendid woodland including a beautiful waterfall. 

Stopping for lunch we had a brief last section through the woods including a detour to see the magnificent Yorke manor house. From there is was through a small Welsh village before getting back into Wrexham for a brief stop at the café then back on the train for home. Out for almost 9 hours and getting 8 miles across the country was what we had been waiting for and we finally got our wish. See you all next month.

By Matthew Williams
Activities Coordinator 

Advocacy Physical Exercise

Why we are here...

With so many people coming through APEx we have had so many success stories. This is the story of one such member.

Most days I was drinking 6 cans a day on average, sometimes more. My diet was not the best. I was eating fish on occasion, but very limited on fruit intake and not eating breakfast. This diet coupled with alcohol lead to weight issues that persisted for many years on top of my mental health issues. I was very inactive in my daily life only taking part in exercise on occasion with visits to the day centre. I occasionally went out with Advocacy in Wirral CEO Chris Shaw for a jog. When the day centre stopped its activities, which I really enjoyed, I called Chris and asked if there was anything down in Advocacy. On the spot he invited me out for a run the same day. I was introduced to Advocacy Physical Exercise (APEx) and quickly became a regular member.

The early stages of exercise where difficult with me not being able to do a mile without stopping. After a while I found I got better and managed to get round the mile on a few goes, but saw no weight reduction and did not really alter my lifestyle outside of the exercise. I even started to swim again going out each week with a couple people from Advocacy.

As APEx developed over he last 6 months I started taking part in more activities. Last month a health check system was introduced to APEx where upon I discovered I had high blood pressure. This prompted a trip to the doctors where alcohol was found to be the course. I made a choice to do something about this. Arranging with the APEx activities coordinator to go out 2 or 3 times a week for a walk to really give my exercise a boost. I also made a drastic positive life change and decided to give up drinking on the spot. It has been 4 weeks since I had a drink. I am finding it easier to get round our weekly walks now showing that it has really helped. I had a blood test for liver function, which came back normal giving me a fresh boost of confidence to keep on the right path to make my life better. As a bonus from this my mother decided to follow my example and has not smoked for over a week now, which is really great to see.

I have developed a good relationship with both APEx health trainers. Receiving tips from them I have really started to look at nutrition and I am starting to learn more about the value of eating healthily. Next week we are going to look at making a soup, which is easy to make and very healthy. Although I will be ahead of the game here having already got the recipe.