Cheryl Lomas: The life of an Active Essex Team Member

Cheryl Lomas: The life of an Active Essex Team Member

Active Essex

We wanted you to be able to get to know the team and hear about what physical activity and sport means to us all individually. For those of you who know Cheryl, she is a wonderfully infectious character who always strives to do the best for her community. We caught up with Cheryl to see how working for Active Essex and the Local Delivery Pilot has helped inspire her to get moving herself.

“I’ve never really been into sport and have often found reasons not to be active; I don’t have enough time, I don’t have enough money and I’m too self-conscious with the way I look when I work out…I mean I do turn into a sweaty beetroot with ginger hair – I don’t think people want to see that!

However, like many of us, lockdown and the Coronavirus pandemic changed things and I realised I’d put on over a stone by working from home and sitting down most of the day. I knew I needed to make a change to my lifestyle and do something about it.

I now workout for at least 30 minutes every day! Since the end of June, I’ve only had 3 days where I haven’t done anything. I’ve been using the Active Essex Keep Essex Active YouTube channel to explore what activities I like and don’t like, and I make sure I mix up my workouts to do strength training as well as cardio. I now feel bad if I miss a day, but I feel so much better for it. I don’t weigh myself as I don’t want to become reliant on weight loss, but instead focus on fitness and the positives it brings with improving the way I feel.

I’m finding it fun! I have more time in the day now, as I am based at home, but I also don’t feel self-conscious. I’m trying things I never thought about doing, but also not caring if I get it wrong, because no one is watching me!”

It’s great to hear how Cheryl has used the lockdown period to make a positive change and she has seen first-hand at how beneficial physical activity can be. There are so many resources that have been produced to be able to enjoy movement from the comfort of your own front room!