Island residents are championing the health benefits of netball as part of a free programme helping people get active, lose weight and improve wellbeing.
Isle of Wight residents have been highlighting how taking up netball has helped them shed pounds, increase fitness and boost mental health.
Netball forms part of the exercise support element of the Island’s gloji Lose Weight Programme, which offers participants 12 free weekly physical activity sessions at a local leisure centre. Led by qualified coaches, the sessions are designed to support individual weight loss journeys by improving fitness in a friendly, encouraging environment.
Adele Norman from Binstead says her return to the sport has been life-changing.
“Being perimenopausal, I had put on a massive amount of weight, impacted by my poor mental health. I could not see the trees from the woods. I was increasingly finding it difficult to do things I once took for granted,”
“My son saw an advertisement for the gloji netball programme on Facebook. Having played netball six times a week when I was younger and at international level, he knew how much a massive part of my life netball was. This gave me the chance to lose weight doing something I once loved.”
During her 12 weeks on the programme, Adele lost 1.5 stone and significantly increased her fitness levels.
“I have re-ignited my enjoyment for the sport so much so that I have also taken part in a charity netball tournament,” she says.
“The gloji app which runs alongside the netball is a brilliant resource to refer to when I am struggling, whilst the support of the weekly weigh-in was also a motivator to keep on track with my diet. I acknowledge that in 12 weeks I was not going to achieve all my goals, but this programme acted as a catalyst for me to continue my progress made to date. I plan to do this by signing up to the next gloji programme and hope to join a competitive netball team soon.”
Another Islander to benefit from the programme is Lorna Malcolm from East Cowes.
“I was part of a group of women who started the programme in August this year. We didn’t know each other, and it was quite a scary new adventure. Most of us hadn’t played since we left school. I remember the first time we were asked to jog from one end of the court to the other — some of us, me included, could barely make it in one piece!”
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Despite the tough start, the strong sense of community kept Lorna coming back.
“Red faced and breathing in a panic, I thought I’m not coming back! Four-minute-long games felt like an eternity, but we were all in it together and each week we cheered each other and applauded ourselves for how much progress we’d made. When our programme came to an end, we decided to join a league. We loved playing that much we didn’t want it to end.”
The group went on to form a new netball team named Glojis, competing every Thursday evening against seven other teams. Several members also play socially in East Cowes and took part in Beach Netball over the summer.
“We have become fitter, healthier, physically and mentally stronger and lifelong friendships have been built, all thanks to gloji.”
Adam Tolmie, Engagements and Partnership Officer at gloji Isle of Wight, says the programme offers wide-ranging benefits.
“The gloji programme is non-competitive, with participants of varying abilities bringing their own individual skills. The programme enables social networking whilst embracing healthier lifestyle choices.”
Participants also receive free access to a flexible digital weight loss and lifestyle programme, including interactive videos, online articles, healthy recipes, a virtual gym and live online Q&A sessions.
The gloji Lose Weight Programme continues to welcome new participants, supporting Islanders in building healthier, happier lives through sport and community.
