Shedding pounds, gaining power.

Before Goodnick

Before Goodnick, Sandra was struggling after COVID. "I was very unfit, very unhealthy. COVID was hard for me, I ate too much, couldn't exercise very much, and I put on a lot of weight." Her biggest fear about ageing was losing independence. "Having had my mother and then my husband dependent on me since the pandemic, I was concerned that I had to be as fit and healthy as I possibly could, so my daughter who lives around the corner didn't have the same problem in a few years. I want to be independent as long as possible."

Fitting fitness in had always been the problem. "Many years ago I belonged to a gym, but having to get the car out and drive there, work out and drive back again, it's very time consuming."

Goodnick's focus appealed. "It's geared for women over 60 rather than the whole range of ages, so I thought that was more appropriate." It was her first time trying something online. "I haven't tried any online plans before, it's the first one I tried."

Getting started

Getting going was simple, with one small hitch. "Very easy," she said, "the only problem I have is I have to have my glasses on to see what's going on, and then sometimes they fall off while I'm doing it." The four-times-a-week, 20-minute format is flexible. "Most of the time it's fine. I can do it on the prescribed days, and if I have to miss any for any reason I'll catch up."

The at-home aspect made it stick. "Oh, it's great. It's very much easier just to switch the laptop on." And staying with it has been no bother. "No, it's not hard at all."

The results came early. "Fairly early on it became easier, so I've started using heavier weights, heavier bands." Everyday life got easier too. "I've got more energy, so I can keep going with the garden for longer than I did before."

What changed

The headline change was significant. "I've lost two and a half stone, which I kept off as well." She's proud of the whole picture. "Just the general improvement in everything. I think the weight loss is probably the most." Her confidence grew with it. "I'm probably more confident in myself now." And others noticed. "One of my friends actually contacted Goodnick, she's 10 years younger than I am, and she said I'm 10 times fitter."

What she'd say to someone thinking about it

To anyone who thinks they've left it too late, Sandra has a ready answer. "Never too late, no. And my mother, who was 100 at the time, joined in with some exercises with me." The impact, for her, is simple. "Just fitness. And it's improved my fitness level, no end."