A Bridge of Allan pensioner has lost nearly seven stone over the last year by taking part in fitness classes and watching what he eats.
Retired seed technologist Ron Don (68) currently has to lose two further stones to reach his target weight of 10 stone 6Ibs.
For more than 20 years Ron had high blood pressure, but following an annual assessment at Bridge of Allan’s hypertension clinic in June 2018 his GP Niamh Mullins expressed concern with him putting on a stone in weight over the previous year.
Ron, of Cornton Road, however agreed to be referred to the Fit4Life class at Stirling’s Peak Sports Village and he attended his first appointment the following month.
He also changed his diet cutting down on carbohydrates like bread, pasta, pastries and biscuits.
His job had involved travelling and staying in hotels with food and drink laid on. But taking on the Peak fitness classes, he explained, was a turning point.
Ron said: “The GP referral scheme at the Peak gave me the kick-start I needed. I had never been in a gym before and never taken part in organised exercise since my school days more than 50 years ago. Since July last year I have become a gym regular.
“At first I thought it was going to kill me, especially the spin classes, but they demonstrated how unfit I was and convinced me of the need to improve.”
He now grows his own vegetables on an allotment in Bridge of Allan and most days attends the Peak for either the gym or fitness classes.
Ron added: “After a year of attending the Peak, I have plucked up the courage recently to attend cardio dance, yoga and body balance classes.
“This would have been inconceivable earlier in my weight loss journey as I was so self-conscious about my lack of co-ordination, flexibility and weight.”
