My story started with a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat and palpitations) something I’d ignored for too long. It was serious enough for a cardioversion under a general anaesthetic (an electrical way of resetting the heartbeat). 3 days after this I suffered a ‘massive’ stroke. Fortunately, this didn’t affect my speech, swallowing nor walking. 3 days after leaving hospital I broke my leg in a fall.
Fortunately, we are good friends with our long-term family GP (now retired) who recommended Rob Bird and the Lifestyle Medicine Centre in Ware, this, he said, was the best place to help deal with all post-stroke symptoms and any other issues.
So fast forward to a mended leg bone and a visit to Rob’s facility. My immediate impression was that Rob was very knowledgeable and the facility was exceptionally well equipped and a safe space to visit. The Centre has a strict set of rules with regards to numbers of users ( 4 maximum) and appropriateness of those users. There are no body builders nor body shamers. There are other types of facilities for them.
I booked a one-to-one appointment with Rob and at the very first session I discovered that it was a very comfortable environment. We compiled a series of exercises that were designed for my specific needs both physically and neurologically. Initially we spent some time working on my post stroke deficits and made excellent progress almost immediately and that progress has continued. Now, 10 months later, I still have 2 sessions each week with Rob. His patience, empathy, and understanding has enabled me to re-build my confidence, if I find an exercise too challenging or uncomfortable there are always alternatives with the same results. I have never been pushed beyond my comfort levels and everything is clearly explained with reasons and consequences, I always leave much happier than before.
The deficits from the stroke have largely gone so now it is more about ageing as a fit and healthy person and, as I am about to enter my 70’s it is clear to me how important this is for everyone. Rob is always interested in how my life is progressing and is full of encouragement and enthusiasm. My husband has now joined me, and we even feel confident enough to do some of the sessions on our own.
I really cannot recommend the Centre and Rob enough. Whether it is post stroke, heart problems or ageing successfully this is a safe and pleasurable experience that will boost you confidence and improve your health.
MW 2023
I met Rob a few years ago and initially I used to take part in a structured circuit class a couple of times per week. As much as I enjoyed the group setting, I found that as time went on the level was becoming increasingly difficult to sustain with increasing levels of breathlessness and fatigue. I discussed the symptoms with Rob who indicated that I was describing symptoms similar to compromised Thyroid function. I stopped the classes as advised and decided to consult my doctor who carried out some basic blood tests. None of these showed any issues, I was however still experiencing extreme fatigue. After a few more months I decided to consult with the doctor again who though I might have a urinary tract infection and prescribed anti-biotics. This made no difference either. After another 3 months I consulted with a private doctor who performed some more comprehensive tests that showed a significant issue with my thyroid function. I was prescribed Thyroxine which did make a difference, but I noticed that my energy levels were still very low and that I had extreme joint pain most of the time. Further investigations revealed Hashimoto’s disease which certainly explained most of my symptoms. After finding out more about this condition I realised that the right kind of exercise could help, that’s when I decided to get back in touch with Rob. He was familiar with Hashimoto’s and explained that regular activity at a moderate level with some individual tweaks could probably help. So, I began gently and over a period of a few weeks we managed to work out the exercise that was appropriate for me. Now a few months down the line I feel much better than I have in a long time, and I am now committed to regular exercise routine, I really feel that it has made a difference. Rob has helped me understand how important it is to self-monitor and adjust my exercise accordingly , this has allowed me to increase my energy levels and feel so much better. I feel his experience and knowledge have helped me achieve this and i am very grateful for all of his help and support..
KDW 2023
At the age of 15, I suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a rugby game, which resulted in relentless headaches, a significant cognitive decline, and damage to my vestibular system. Over the following six months, I missed a substantial amount of school, lost nearly 10kg in weight, and struggled with insomnia. A path to recovery was unclear in a field where knowledge was still evolving, and I found myself caught in the gap between paediatric care and adult medicine. I bounced between dozens of neurologists, visual and vestibular experts, and even a cardiologist, but to no avail. Despite multiple tests and treatments, including MRIs, CT scans, and various medications, there was no improvement.
About 18 months post-injury, I met Rob. Filled with scepticism due to past disappointments, I had almost given up on a full recovery. However, fast forward two years; I have just completed my A levels and am preparing for a nine-month trip to South America before heading to university to study law. Things that felt entirely unattainable just two years ago. Headaches are now a rarity and I no longer rely on daily medication. I accredit this to Rob and the Lifestyle Medicine Centre.
Robs’ approach centres on re-establishing the fundamental pillars of health: exercise, diet, and sleep. We assessed my physical boundaries and devised a sustainable programme to increase my activity. However, what made the biggest difference was Rob’s all-encompassing approach to health, where we addressed every aspect of my lifestyle to implement gradual changes. Outside the gym, Rob would remind me to prioritise sleep and nudge me to have a healthy breakfast before school. Over time, everything began to fall into place. This holistic, ground-up approach to health is not only refreshingly original but also, immensely effective. It is Rob’s dedication and proficiency that underpin the success of this approach, and I cannot thank him enough.
OHJ
Health is Wealth. I have tried to lose weight so many times, over the last 30 years. From Weight Watchers, to Slimming world, Juice Retreats, Dukan diet, Joe Wicks, Nutritionists, Functional Medicine practitioners and even personal trainers. I have seen every ‘ologist’ under the sun. Any small weight losses were soon regained, leading to a lack of motivation, momentum and a feeling that it was impossible to lose weight. That was until I met Rob! After my first meeting with Rob, he sent me away telling me to come back to him when I was ready to put myself first for a change (something us ladies rarely do!).He could have taken my money there and then. Instead he chose to send me away! It took me one year and I reached out to him again, telling him that I was now ready and it is ’my time.’ Not only has Rob been an incredible inspiration and motivator, he offers solid, well balanced advice, and really cares. For him, it is a vocation. His path is a sustainable one and is a life choice. My food preferences, activity levels and priorities have all changed under his guardianship. My only regret is not working with him ten years earlier. I am over a stone lighter in under six months. We have achieved this by working collaboratively to work towards optimum health and well being. Since seeing my journey of transformation in both energy levels, food choices and zest for life, my husband, daughter, son, Pilates teacher and two friends have all embarked on their own respective journeys with Rob. If you would like to improve your health and well-being in a sustainable way, look no further ….
Wendy HJ
In 2018 I had a bone density scan which showed osteopenia ( the beginning of osteoporosis). Although I was prescribed medication, I decided to explore other ways to prevent a deterioration in the condition. A Pilates instructor that I knew recommended The Lifestyle Medicine Centre saying that they would be able to help me. I started my first exercise routine in 2019 which included resistance and balance training as well as some cardio-vascular work. I noticed improvement in a very short space of time and after 4 years and many programme changes I have seen a significant change in my strength, stability, and well-being . I have also in this time had 2 further bone scans which have showed no further deterioration in my condition, which, according to my doctor is an excellent outcome. I am very grateful to Rob for all of his expertise and support, and I would recommend this facility to anyone looking to improve their health and well-being.
TH April 2023
About 22 years ago I was enjoying life with my two young children, when suddenly, out of nowhere I was losing strength down my right side.
My Doctor did tests and thought I had a virus. Thankfully I had a good friend who could wangle a really quick MRI scan. I was horrified to be told that I had a disc pressing on my spinal cord. I remember his words as though It was yesterday “ Be careful Mandy you could end up being In a wheelchair with no feeling from the neck down”. It all happened very quickly after that, I was sent to a wonderful Neurosurgeon who deemed me urgent. The strange thing was is that I was in denial! What should have been a Ten day stay in Stanmore ended up as 6 weeks, 2 in intensive care, because the operation went wrong. I managed to walk out of that hospital and had the
required amount of physio. My life was never the same but I was so grateful to be walking.
Fast forward to February this year, a great friend asked me how I was doing?
I told her my story and she suggested I should get an appointment with Mr
Rob Bird at The Lifestyle Medicine centre . Hmm I thought, if Queens Square
in London can’t improve me what can he do ?
So I made that call to Rob, immediately I felt at home talking to him, he could relate to every-thing that I have been through. I decided to accept
the appointment he gave me and I am so pleased I did. What a fantastic man, so supportive and encouraging. We worked out a routine together that took
into account all of the issues i had at the time and now after 3 programme changes I am moving and functioning better than I have for most of my adult
life, I now feel my future is looking better. Although it has been very hard work and there has been tears I now know that if you stick with it eventually you will begin to see the results.
Rob thank you
Mandy W. June 2022
After undergoing a Triple Heart bypass in September 2021 and then missing out on Cardiac Rehabilitation due to COVID I was becoming more and more concerned that
I would never recover. That followed by an added complication of a HbA1C blood glucose result of 53 (over 47 is considered diabetic) in January that put me well and truly in the diabetic range. How lucky I feel to have discovered The Lifestyle Medicine Centre and Rob, after only three months , i have made significant progress with my cardiac rehabilitation and put my diabetes into remission before it even really got started. My latest blood result showed a significant improvement at 42 which almost takes me out of the Pre-diabetes zone. Rob’s approach is a complete lifestyle approach, he offers a wealth of advice combined with sensible bespoke exercise programs that are regularly amended as you progress, Conversations about food choices and personal preferences have all helped to produce a sustainable set of lifestyle changes that will hopefully keep me healthy now and into the future.
Thanks Rob, I am truly delighted with how well I have done and I believe that the excellent guidance and advice you have given me has helped me achieve these results
John Doran
I have always had a destructive relationship with food , numerous diets, yo-yo dieting etc this started in my teenage years and was, I think, mainly down to low esteem.
At the age of 55 i yet again joined a slimming club weighing in at 18 st 1½lbs in size 24 clothes. My initial reason for going was to help a family member and to be able to play with my grandchildren. As usual my weight loss was a bit of a roller coaster ride but after gradually chipping away at the pounds, I had lost 6 stone and was at least for the time being, keeping it off.
On a night out an old friend from school congratulated me on my weight loss but asked if I was exercising. I wasn’t, I hated gyms.
That’s when she mentioned The Lifestyle Medicine Centre, which, she said, concentrated on the clinical benefits of exercise, good food and lifestyle change. She convinced me to give it a try as Rob Bird (Clinical Exercise Consultant) was approachable, understanding, and supportive. Well, didn’t believe a word of it but although very sceptical booked my consultation.
She was right he was interested from the start. We talked about exercise and other elements of my lifestyle which, he said, would help me maintain my weight loss and improve my health overall. So, at 57 started to exercise!!!! At first, I struggled dragging my feet to walk could only go to speed level 3 on treadmill, was out of breath after a couple of minutes and no way could lift weights. Rob created an initial workout to follow and asked would I be happy for him to contact me outside of the assigned gym sessions to offer encouragement and advice. Yes of course, I said. That initial support was an important part of my early success and has continued right up to this day (there are times when I really need it).
So, after numerous programme changes and many conversations about me, my self-confidence and my achievements I find I have lost more weight which now stands at 8 stone and at 62 years old I am now in a size 10.
After 7 years I still have my ups and downs (the lockdowns have been particularly challenging) but Rob`s continued support never allows me to spiral completely out of control. I can honestly say I have learnt so much about myself and how my body works. This experience has made a massive change to both my physical and mental well-being and I still can’t quite believe how much I have achieved.
Thank you
Karen H Sept 2021
A conversation with my diabetic nurse in May 2019 indicated that if my condition continued to deteriorate then I would end up on insulin. Not wanting that outcome, I decided to take control of the situation and soon after I found The Lifestyle Medicine Centre. I must admit I was extremely nervous to start with as I have a long-term spinal condition that can be painful, but Rob assured me that my tailor-made programme would take all of that into account. We took great care and started slowly gradually building my confidence. Over the weeks and months, we had many conversations about my lifestyle and how it would have contributed to my diabetes, of particular benefit was the information on how the food I was eating was causing real damage to my health. This has helped me understand how small changes over time can make a real difference long term. Now 20 months later (despite the pandemic) I am exercising 4 times per week and I have lost over 2 stones in weight, my back pain has virtually gone, and I feel so much better. Like many people, i found the pandemic difficult, it bought many of my old lifestyle issues back to the surface, on some days, my mood was low, and I felt demotivated, this started to derail my eating and activity plan. I decided to keep having online sessions with Rob, these always included some exercise but also on many occasions’ conversations about my mood and the decisions I was making. The fact that he understood my situation and kept motivating me really made a difference. I realised that despite the lockdown I still had diabetes and the decisions I made during this time could have either a negative or positive impact on my condition. So, with Rob beside me I managed to increase my exercise programme, maintain a healthy eating plan and have continued to lose weight .Although, like many others, I have not had my usual diabetic check-up recently (my first one after 4 months of lifestyle intervention revealed a significant drop in my Blood Pressure, Cholesterol and Blood sugar levels) I look and feel so much better and I look forward to finding out how I have done at my next appointment. Robs belief in me has been priceless and I now realise that this has to be how I live my life if I want to stay well.
ST April 2021
In 2001, aged 48, I was medically discharged from the Fire service with arthritic knees. I was overweight a heavy drinker and had a poor diet. Soon after I was introduced to Rob Bird .After an initial consultation and a discussion about my specific issues I started exercising twice weekly .The initial sessions were varied and although challenging, at no point did i experience any problems with my knees (which I was obviously concerned about). I was still enjoying life but after many conversations with Rob about the benefits of regular exercise and how important small changes to my lifestyle were, I gradually started to feel much better. As my programme progressed, I began to feel stronger and my original knee issues were practically non-existent. To complement my regular strength sessions, I was introduced to running short distances and cycling. I continued to make progress and eventually I entered various charity bike rides and running events. I completed all of these without any problems, I couldn’t believe how much I could actually do. Over the years i have learnt so much about exercise and nutrition and now at age 68 (20 years later) I continue to exercise with Rob twice a week ( even through a pandemic and various lockdowns) and I can honestly say I feel fitter now than I have ever been. Not only has my journey been an interesting one but I am truly grateful for everything I have learned and the support I have received.
Thankyou
PB 2021
My GP gave me an introduction to the Lifestyle Medicine Centre (LMC) as he believed exercise and diet are a better solution than resorting to medicines to manage my blood glucose level.
I contacted the LMC for a consultation and was impressed with their breadth of knowledge of how to improve my health and keep well. The clinical exercise consultant discussed the importance of a proper eating plan and regular physical activity in reducing and managing blood glucose and blood pressure.
Following our discussion, a physical activity programme was then developed and this has evolved over the years.
When my GP reviewed my next quarterly blood tests results with me, I was surprised to see meaningful reductions in my blood glucose and blood pressure. The following quarterly test results indicated a further fall in the blood glucose level and i discovered they had dropped to pre-diabetes levels.
With the support and guidance from the consultants; the glucose level has remained at this level for more than 5 years and has helped me achieve my health goals.
I would not hesitate to recommend this facility to anyone wishing to improve their health and well-being.
Brian L Ware 2021
A visit to see my GP for an asthma review in 2014 was the day that changed my life forever. He was concerned about the amount/strength of the inhalers I was on and thought exercise might help boost my lung capacity. He had already sent my husband to see Rob at The Lifestyle medicine centre (LMC) and so off I went to see him.
Rob worked out a programme for me and my asthma started to improve, my prescribed inhalers were also starting to be used less often. I was, however, noticing that I was having trouble with my Joints after exercise. The pain I was in after just a light workout seemed very strange to Rob and he became concerned and referred me to the centre’s physiotherapist. The physio examined me and suggested that the joint pain may be related to my skin allergies. She Mentioned Ehlers Danlos Syndrome as a possible cause and recommended I explore the condition further.
I also started fainting for no apparent reason. This would happen during some of my sessions with Rob as well as on my own in the centre and outside of the gym. Rob suggested that I should consult with a cardiologist to rule out any cardiac issues. This i did and after numerous tests it was decided that my heart was OK. The cardiologist then suggested I should see another specialist to get to the bottom of the fainting episodes suggesting that the problem may be autonomic. I was referred to Professor Christopher Mathias who diagnosed me with EDS type 3 and 4 (Postural Tachycardia syndrome and hyper mobile joints), this diagnosis also explained my allergies and skin problems. Although the diagnosis was not the best news I had ever had I was delighted that for the first time in 48 years someone actually understood my condition. The thought of living with this condition was scary at first and sent me into depression with my anxiety levels going off the scale. Once again Rob stepped up and introduced me to Natasha Crowe the psychotherapist that works closely with LMC, she was immediately extremely helpful and continues to help me with my mental health to this day.
The journey I have been on since 2014, which, although precarious at times, would have had a very different outcome if I’d have not met Rob. He has been there at every stage and has guided me in the right direction with a combination of advice, support and encouragement. He has kept me exercising and adapted our routines to accommodate any flare ups in my condition. I know there is no cure for EDS but with Robs help I now understand why exercise ,diet and good mental health are so important to keep me functioning day to day.
I would not hesitate to recommend anyone to the Lifestyle medicine centre as without it I would be living a very different life.
Thank you Rob
Claire … June 2021
