The ITFC Charitable Trust is launching Fit Fans at the end of this month, a completely free 12-week health programme offering practical advice on diet and exercise, aimed at helping to shed the extra pounds and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Fit Fans courses are held on the practice pitch at Portman Road in Ipswich on Thursday lunchtimes beginning on Thursday 28th February from 12noon - 1.30pm. The Trust also have Fit Fans evening sessions held elsewhere around the county in Felixstowe, Bury St Edmunds, Sudbury and Haverhill.
The courses are open to both men and women and you don’t have to be a fan of the football either, just someone with a real desire to get fitter and hopefully lighter too.
James Colchester, the Fit Fans co-ordinator for the ITFC Charitable Trust, said. "Most of our participants can expect to lose between one to two pounds a week which might not seem huge initially, but you have to remember that you’ll also be improving muscle tone and muscle is heavier than fat.”
Over the past two years the Fit Fans courses, which started in 2008 at Hull City working with their football team, have been a huge success with over 71% of participants reducing their BMI (Body Mass Index) in year one, increasing to 72.5% of participants reducing theirs last year.
Colchester added: "We begin by working out your BMI and explaining how the 12 weeks will cover not just regular movement but also a change in lifestyle and eating habits too.”
The Fit Fans programme is free of charge for those taking part and you can either contact the Trust to enquire about a place or be referred by your doctor. Each of the 12 sessions is followed up by an hour’s personal training.
For more details about all these courses contact the Trust’s Fit Fans co-ordinator (bookings via Livewell Suffolk) on 01473 229295 or emailjames.colchester@livewellsuffolk.org.uk.