A recent retirement and separation had Lake Tyers resident Phil Ripper wanting to make some positive changes.
The free Life! program has helped Phil become more active and eat healthier foods with support from dietitians and exercise physiologists.
He said one of the biggest changes has been knowing what to look for on food labels, to help make better choices.
“I’m on a different path to where I was,” he said.
“I’ve separated from my wife, so I’m doing my own shopping and cooking my own meals.
“The things that have helped me is education about things I thought I knew, motivation to change my habits to live a more healthy lifestyle – to eat better and be more active.”
Life! is a free healthy lifestyle program designed to support you in making positive, lasting changes.
The program is facilitated by Gippsland Lakes Complete Health (GLCH) and held in Lakes Entrance and Bairnsdale.
Dietitian Beth Tuke delivers the program and says it can help you gradually make small changes to your daily habits to achieve long-term goals.
“Life! is an exciting free program that is both accessible and tailored to suit your needs,” she said.
“Improving your health will also help reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.”
Life! runs seven in-person group sessions delivered over a 12-month period with regular check-ins and ongoing support.
It’s funded by the Victorian Government and managed by Diabetes Victoria.
The first step is to see if you’re eligible. Visit the Life! website to fill in a questionnaire about your lifestyle to check eligibility. Or you can call Beth at GLCH.
Phil said the program is a great opportunity for people wanting support to make lifestyle changes.
“It’s about enjoying a better quality of life,” he said.
“It’s very non-judgemental. If people are in fear of being judged – it’s not like that. It’s great being in a group because you’re learning from each other.”
