One of Northampton Saints’ newest community initiatives, Shred7s, is welcoming a new cohort this month after participants on the first programme lost an incredible 140kgs combined!
Shred7s is a fitness and weight-management programme which was launched last year by Northampton Saints’ Community team in association with Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
With a mandate to help Saints supporters watch their weight, Shred7s focusses on weight loss through education on food and diet, as well as encouraging more physical activity in the form of Rugby 7s.
And after attending Shred7s sessions over the winter months, 31 participants lost a combined total of 140kgs – a larger weight than all of Saints’ heaviest rugby players!
“The real highlight for me was seeing people achieve the outcomes they were looking for when they began the course,” said Jamie Higgins, Inclusion Officer at Northampton Saints.
“We had a number of people sign up because they wanted to lose weight, and of course they managed that, but we also had some others who were more interested in the mental health side of things and meeting new people socially.”
Jamie Higgins, Inclusion Officer
“So even those who didn’t lose weight really benefitted mentally from being a part of the programme.”
The free-to-attend programme is hosted by Saints’ fully-qualified coaches, and also places the emphasis on mental health. Participants are given support from the mental health professionals at IAPT Talking Therapies Northants, to help them understand unhealthy thought patterns, and the areas of mental wellbeing which can affect weight management.
A new 12-week course – aimed at both men and women with a BMI of 28 and above* – began last week, funded once again by Public Health Northampton and their Tier 2 weight-management programme.
Participants will take part in a weekly 7s touch rugby league, alongside the healthy-eating and exercise sessions, on Thursday evenings between 6pm and 8pm.
Higgins added: “We’ve seen a high number of people come back from the first cohort and rejoin the second – both for the physical rugby sessions and the classroom sessions as well.
“That shows just how enjoyable the experience has been for them, and how beneficial the group activities are too.
“Shred7s is different to other weight loss programmes; first and foremost, it’s great fun for the participants and we’re not just focussed on losing weight at any cost.
“It’s most about supporting people in all different areas so they come out happier and in great shape.”
You can book onto the Shred7s programme here, or for more information email [email protected].
NHFT’s IAPT Talking Therapies Northants work with adults over 17.5 years old who are experiencing low mood, anxiety, OCD and other mild to moderate mental health difficulties. The service work with individuals to find the right support for them and put a plan in place. Anyone who is registered with a GP in Northamptonshire can access the service, and can self-refer at any time by visiting www.nhft.nhs.uk/iapt.
* Considerations will be given to people with lower BMIs of 25-28.
