Ex MP Tom Watson joins health programme with David Lloyd Clubs

The UK’s leading health and fitness group David Lloyd Clubs, alongside psychologist Dr Jessamy Hibbard and nutritionist Jenna Hope, have today launched Team PB – a six-week programme to motivate, encourage and support people to realise their health goals, specifically with the Coronavirus pandemic and its physical and mental effects in mind.

Six volunteers from across the country, including former leading politician, author and trainee Personal Trainer Tom Watson, will take part in the programme and will share their stories, challenges and achievements via David Lloyd Clubs Instagram channel, Facebook and website. Members of Team PB have all bee n significantly impacted by the pandemic in some way and are all dealing with various mental well-being, nutritional and physical challenges brought on by the crisis.

Meet the members:

Tom, 54 from Bewdley, who over the last few years famously lost 7 stone and reversed his diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, hit a brick wall when it came to his health in the third lockdown. He wants to get back to his health journey with the help of Team PB.
John, 41 from Manchester feels completely burnt out as a result of the pandemic and hopes that Team PB will help put him back on track to leading a healthy lifestyle so his physical and mental health can improve.
Eva, 59 from North London has found that the lockdowns had a huge impact on her activity levels and with a big birthday approaching wants to improve her physical wellbeing
Michelle, 32 from Southampton is a mother of three and had Covid in December 2020. She is still recovering and experiences a lot of post-exercise exhaustion despite being a healthy and fit person. She’s joined Team PB so she can reach her potential.
Rachael, 44 from Derby has found she has struggled with anxiety over the past year and hope being part of Team PB will help her get back into exercising to improve her mental and physical health
Jack, 27 from North London was an asymptomatic sufferer of COVID-19 during the early stages of the pandemic, and after finding it incredibly hard to breathe during exercise, gave up exercising altogether. With Team PB’s help, he wants to work towards building a stronger and healthier physique and growing my confidence.

Expert support comes in the form of David Lloyd Clubs fitness trainers, plus Psychologist Dr Jessamy Hibbard and nutritionist Jenna Hope.

Tom Watson, commenting on his inclusion in Team PB, said: “I have been on a life-changing health journey these last four years. Learning about the importance of good physical and mental health and putting what I’ve learnt into practice has been quite literally life-saving for me. When the pandemic hit, like so many, I tried my best to keep active and keep positive and found exercise helped with this. I took regular runs with the DL Run Club and completed online classes at home.

“By the time the country reached the third lockdown, I had hit a brick wall, and my health took a bit of a nosedive. I know this has been a common occurrence for so many – not having access to a gym and the motivation that comes with access to good facilities and trainers like those at David Lloyd Clubs has impacted my physical and mental health.

“I’m delighted to be part of the David Lloyd Clubs Team PB project. I’ve already noticed a difference in working with Sophie Lammas, my trainer at the club in Bromsgrove, over these past couple of weeks and feel excited to be part of such a positive initiative. I hope that as a team, we can share our experiences to give others the confidence to reset their health journeys after the pandemic lockdown.”

Commenting on the role that diet plays in positive physical and mental wellbeing and her role as the Team PB nutritionist, Jenna Hope says: “It’s no secret that so many of us have struggled with our diet during lockdown, reaching for unhealthy snacks and drinks to combat feelings of boredom, anxiety and loneliness meaning we’ve piled on the pounds. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of optimising nutrition to support our wellbeing, but many don’t realise the significant link between nutrition and mental health as well. I am looking forward to showing how an improve diet will boost the wellbeing of everyone, not just those affected by weight gain.”

Taking a ‘360’ approach to health and fitness, the six-week programme will start with an assessment with Dr Jessamy and nutritionist Jenna Hope to understand how members have been affected by the pandemic, to understand what has been holding them back in the past and to identify any barriers or bad habits which will. Alongside a session with one of David Lloyd Personal Trainers, an in-depth and tailored support package will be created. They will have three one to one PT sessions a week for six weeks with regular Zoom meetings with Dr Jessamy and Jenna Hope to ensure they are equipped with the tools and support to help create healthy life-long habits.