Our Health and Wellbeing Coaches are here to help you get more active and lead a healthier lifestyle. They encourage you to take control of your health and support you in making long term lifestyle changes. They are available through each of our practice reception teams or you can contact them online using the self-referral form.

This is what people say about our Health and Wellbeing Coaches:

"Reassurance about what I'm trying to do to help myself both with exercise and nutrition. Also, reassurance about the diagnosis I had which I didn't fully understand."

There are different ways to build activity and movement into your life, its easier than you think. Here are some ideas for you to try:

• Explore your local area
• Get outside in Somerset
• Get active with a disability
• Visit NHS get active your way
• Get on your bike with let's ride
• Find walks and trails in Somerset
• Explore health walks in Sedgemoor
• Check out Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership
• Look for sports and activities on join the movement
• Download the couch to 5k app from the App Store or Google Play
• Take a look at Somerset Health and Wellbeing app library for tried and tested apps

Babies and children:

• Be active babies and young children

Children and young adults:

• Be active children and young adults

Starting a new activity or movement can seem daunting, but there are things you can do to help:

• Plan activity into your day or week, you're more likely to succeed
• Tell friends or family about your plan, ask them to support and encourage you
• Wear comfortable clothing and suitable footwear
• Warm up before your activity
• Play music to help you focus
• Take things easy to begin with
• Build your strength and stamina over time
• Muscle soreness is part of the changes to your body
• Cool down at the end of your activity
• Drink plenty of water

If you experience unberable pain, severe swelling or your urine becomes dark, seek medical help.

Adults between the ages of 19 to 64 should do some type of physical activity every day. Any type of activity is good for you. The more you do the better.

You should:

• aim to be physically active every day
• do strengthening activities that work all the major muscles (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms) on at least 2 days a week
• do at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity a week
• reduce time spent sitting or lying down and break up long periods of not moving with some activity

It's medically proven that people who do regular physical activity have lower risk of:

• coronary heart disease and stroke
• type 2 diabetes
• bowel cancer
• breast cancer in women
• early death
• osteoarthritis
• hip fracture
• falls (among older adults)
• depression
• dementia