Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

The Actif Holiday Club has a wide range of activities at local leisure centres to keep youngsters occupied during half term in Carmarthenshire. The club is aimed at children aged 8-12 years and offers a chance to take part in a wide range of fun activities including snorkelling, kayaking, netball, den building, arts and crafts plus much more. The fun packed programme, delivered by highly trained leaders takes place from next Monday to Friday (February 20–24) at Carmarthen, Llanelli, Amman Valley and Newcastle Emlyn Leisure Centres. Holiday activities at St Clears Leisure Centre takes place on Tuesday and Thursday only. For a full timetable of activities and to book visit www.actifsirgar.co.uk/children Bookings can also be made directly by contacting the local Leisure Centre. Carmarthen Leisure Centre – 01267 224700; Llanelli Leisure Centre – 01554 774757; Amman Valley Leisure Centre – 01269 594517; St Clears Leisure Centre – 01267 224; and Newcastle Emlyn – 01267 224731. Carmarthen...

Members of the G.I. Joe Personal Training ‘fitness-family’ from Llanelli are taking on the Welsh Three Peaks Challenge this weekend (June 6). And they are doing it all for charity – to raise cash for the Llanelli-based autism campaign Week On The Street. “Last year we raised more than £1,500 for Week On The Street with our log run from Sandy Water Park to Burry Port harbour - and back,” said Joe Williams, head instructor at G.I. Joe Personal Training. “That was no mean feat as we were carrying logs – and each log weighed in excess of 50kg. “This year our aim is to raise even more money for Week On The Street by doing something a bit more challenging!” The Welsh Three Peaks Challenge will involve walking up (and back down!) Cadair Idris, Snowdon and Pen y Fan in 12 hours or less. The cumulative totals of distances for the challenge are mind-boggling - 2864m (9397 ft.) of ascent and descent and about 35km (20miles) of walking plus 180 miles of driving . . . all in some of the mo...

Communities First are running a Free Family Fitness Day in Llanelli Leisure Centre on Saturday February 14 between 10-4pm. There will be sessions for children and parents to come along and take part - these will include a free swimming session, free fitness taster sessions – for all ages, organised walks and arts & crafts. All are welcome to come on down and join in with the activities. All children attending this event must be accompanied by an adult at all times. To guarantee a place in the fitness sessions contact Communities First to sign up or get your timetable and sign up by 10am on the day. Call 01554 784847 or email communitiesfirst@carmarthenshire.gov.uk

The keep fit technique of Pilates is coming soon to Ammanford Leisure Centre. Pilates is a complete exercise method developed to improve physical and mental health. It focuses on building the body's core strength and improving posture through a series of low repetition and impact stretching as well as conditioning exercises. Pilates also helps to develop the core muscles without adding bulk, increases flexibility and agility, and at the same time tones the stomach and thigh muscles. It’s a complete body workout which works muscles you didn't even know you had! For further info call 01269 594517

The race is on in Carmarthenshire for young sporting ambassadors. Carmarthenshire council’s sport and leisure team are looking for inspirational and dedicated young people to become Gold Young Ambassadors. You need to be aged 16-21 and in sixth form, college or university. At gold level, ambassadors will assist the county co-ordinator in providing overall leadership of the Young Ambassador  programme in Carmarthenshire. The programme develops young leaders and volunteers further by providing them with responsibility of being an ambassador for PE, school sport and sport within the community. There are three stages – bronze, silver and gold – that start at primary school age right through to university level. The idea is for each school, college or university to have good sporting role models that encourage pupils to take part in sporting activities. Carmarthenshire student Nia Jones has just landed a role on the national steering group. The Platinum Young Ambassadors have their v...

Whether you’re on a mission to fit into that little black dress or tux for Christmas or just want to start keeping fit, Actif Fitness is the place for you. In a relaxed atmosphere, expert instructors at Carmarthenshire leisure centres are on hand to help you get into shape, lose a few pounds, improve your heart rate or stay fit. Actif Fitness has been designed and equipped to provide a balanced health and fitness programme for all types of people regardless of age, gender or fitness level. Actif Fitness also offers an extensive range of modern gym equipment and a range of classes from Zumba and Spinning to Kettlebells that will help improve stamina and promote weight loss. The £1 a day family membership for two adults and up to four children also remains on offer, giving unlimited gym use, swimming and fitness classes at any of the four leisure centres. You can take up a membership online using the Join at Home service or by visiting one of our leisure centres in Ammanford, Carmart...

A 0-5k running class has just been launched at St Clears Leisure Centre. The women only class is a first for our centres and is aimed at beginners who are put through a 12-week programme. Week one starts with a light run, progressing through the weeks until they reach week 12 and are able to run five kilometres comfortably. This is the latest in a line of classes delivered from the centre since it benefited from a new gym in June. A junior programme providing squash, badminton, tiny tots netball, multi-skills and tennis has also been launched, as well as an adult yoga class. The council’s area manager Gary Price said: “Since the new gym opened we have seen an increase in customers coming through our doors and using our facilities. This has enabled us to us put on new classes which will benefit all our users and attract more people into the centre. The health and wellbeing of our customers and the wider community is so important to us so it’s great to be in a position to offer them a ...

Schoolchildren are using the latest screen technology to get active. Rhydygors School has just taken delivery of 12 top of the range iPads thanks to funding secured by Carmarthenshire County Council’s sport and leisure team. The dozen tablets and docking station will offer pupils who don’t often have access to online technology at home a chance to keep fit and healthy through online applications programmes. The ‘apps’ make available structured physical activities which will allow the eight to 16 year-olds to map their runs, see how far they can go and how many calories they’ve burned. Pupils will also be able to log diet plans, choose their own workouts and interact with each other. Rhydygors PE and ICT teacher Ryan James said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the Ipads and to have such a facility available during our PE lessons and extracurricular activities. These tablets will enable the children to not only develop healthy lifestyles, but vital communication skills.” T...

Youngsters have been enjoying the start of their summer holidays by keeping active. Actif leisure centres are playing host to the ever popular playschemes across the county throughout the holiday break. Come rain or shine children are taking part in a range of exciting sporting activities including table tennis, archery, trampolining, football, squash and karate. The fun all day schemes at Carmarthen, Llanelli, Ammanford and St Clears provide eight to 12-year-olds the opportunity to experience a wide range of activities such as multi skills, circuit sessions, swimming, snorkelling, netball, canoeing and hockey. The active camps run mid week until August 29 (except Bank Holiday) and are delivered by Carmarthenshire County Council’s sports and leisure team. Executive board member for regeneration and leisure, Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “These activity programmes provide an ideal opportunity for children to keep themselves fit and healthy over the summer holidays and also to experience a...

A new Indian dance craze is sweeping through Carmarthenshire. Just Jhoom taster sessions have proved so popular that a regular class is now being delivered from Carmarthen Leisure Centre. Inspired by the glitz and the glamour of Bollywood films, the class is believed to be the first of its kind in Carmarthenshire. Just Jhoom – Just dance - draws on a range of dance styles from classical Indian to bhangra with dashes of hip-hop, jive and jazz. The one hour adult session starts on Friday at 7pm and is suitable for all ages, abilities and fitness levels. Instructor Ffion James, who has a degree in dance, said a recent trip to India inspired her to learn the dance and bring it back to her hometown. She said: “The class is a combination of Indian dance moves, Bollywood music and strengthening exercises inspired by yoga. It’s energetic, fun and helps keep you fit. Just Jhoom is quite different to your usual dance in terms of using hand gestures and dancing to Indian music.” Just Jhoom is t...

Carmarthenshire residents are being invited to benefit from a wide range of free fitness classes. An energetic new programme of events has been launched by the Carmarthenshire Communities First team in partnership with Actif, urging people to rethink their lifestyle and get moving. The aim is to encourage more people to try different activities to keep fit and active. In turn these free fitness classes will offer a good introduction to exercise and will help keep people interest in the long-term fitness. People who are interested in attending are advised to wear loose clothing andappropriate footwear. For classes dates, times and locations please follow the link Timetable . Communities First Health Promotion Worker Llyr Lloyd said: “There are many great reasons why we should all take part in more exercise. Keeping active can help with our mood, sharpen our minds and improve our health. We’re pleased to be working with Actif to bring these free fitness classes to the community.” Execu...

Family classes are being launched in Llanelli Leisure Centre. Whilst youngsters try their hand at racket sports, parents will have the opportunity to take part in yoga and zumba fitness classes. Saturday morning Actif Racket Club sessions will incorporate a number of racket sports such as table tennis, badminton, short tennis, multi skills and squash. The fitness classes will run alongside giving parents the opportunity to keep fit whilst their children are being coached. Actif Racket club is aimed at five to 11 year olds and runs from 9.30am- noon followed by a free swim. Steve Owens, Llanelli Leisure Centre co-ordinator said: “This is a great opportunity for the whole family to become more active at the same time. Children will be able to try a variety of rackets sport, sports which are not easily accessible to young people whilst their parents take part in Yoga or Zumba classes.’’ Children attending from the ages of five to seven years will need to be accompanied by an adult for ...

Healthy Wednesday advice from the Hywel Dda Health Board - This Healthy Wednesday get to know fat facts to help you eat a healthy diet. Healthy eating is not about cutting out foods or following a special ‘diet’, all foods can be included in a healthy diet, we just need to ensure we get the right balance. We all need a bit of fat in our diets, to help our bodies absorb certain vitamins and stay healthy, however you shouldn’t have too much of it because our bodies find it hard to process. Carrying extra fat on your body can also increase the risk of developing diseases like some cancers, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Some types of fat are better than others. Saturated fat is the one which we need to really watch how much of we have in our diets, however unfortunately it is found in lots of foods we like eating. Some foods high in saturated fat are: Processed meat like burgers and sausages  Butter, ghee and lard  Cream and ice-cream  Cheese  Pastry  C...

At the age of 84 most pensioners would be taking it easy but this one refuses, instead she works up a sweat in the gym three times a week. Gwynedd Baker enjoys nothing more than pounding the treadmill, cycling, working the cross trainer and wave machine and taking part in fitness classes at Carmarthen Leisure Centre. Although the former midwife and college lecturer suffers with high blood pressure, osteoporosis and arrhythmia, the sprightly pensioner shows no signs of letting up. Mrs Baker, from Carmarthen said: “I love keeping fit and also enjoy the social element to it. “It’s easy to sit back, watch television and do nothing but that’s not me, I like to keep active.” The fitness enthusiast also takes part in the balance and strengthening class and is one of the oldest members at the leisure centre. She was referred by her GP under the National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS) and works to a tailored fitness programme delivered by the centre’s qualified instructors. She said: “The st...

A former weightlifting Olympian and twice commonwealth bronze medalist is hitting the treadmill to learn to walk again. Peter Arthur, was left unable to take more than a few steps after suffering a stroke more than a year ago. For the last 12 months the 76-year-old has been working the treadmill four days a week at Carmarthenshire leisure centres and is now able to walk a mile and a half. The dad of one says determination, a tailored fitness package, plenty of water and his wife’s support has been key to his recovery. He said: “After suffering the stroke I was in total shock and couldn’t understand why it had happened to me because I had always been so fit. I was frustrated at being in a wheelchair and I couldn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. “I was paralysed down the right side of my body and was unable to do simple things like tying my shoe lace or eating with my right hand. “I was at a low point before I was referred to the leisure centre and put on a fitness programme t...

A Gwendraeth Valley woman has lost three and a half stone in weight thanks to a Carmarthenshire Actif Fitness programme and healthy eating. Ruth Lloyd was forced to rethink her lifestyle after suffering a heart attack two years ago. She was just 50 years old. The thought of not being around to see her sons again spurred the mum of two into action and turn her life around. She gave up her full time job in the bank, changed her diet and joined Carmarthen Leisure Centre gym after her weight ballooned to 13 stone. Now Ruth from Pontyberem is more active more often and fits neatly into a size 10 dress size. She also eats healthily, walks her dog and works part-time from home. Ruth said: “At the time of my heart attack I had been under quite a lot of stress and my weight had escalated to a dress size 18. “One Saturday morning I woke, got out of bed, and started getting ready for work. I bent down to put my socks on and had the most excruciating pain in my chest. My husband was in bed...

This 76-year-old Emphysema sufferer has proven age has no barrier for keeping fit. Twice weekly, Des Jones attends Carmarthen Leisure Centre for his workout session hooked up to an oxygen bottle and nose tubes. The grandfather works the treadmill, hand bikes and does standing push ups as part of his hourly sessions at the centre. He also does twenty minutes of gently exercise three times a week from home. Before he joined the gym the pensioner was unable to walk around a supermarket without his oxygen bottle and had to take rest stops. Now he is able to walk unaided. Des said: “With my condition I was rapidly getting out of breath and found it difficult to even get out of the car. Since I’ve been exercising, tasks which I found very difficult before are now a lot easier and I’m much stronger. “Before going to the gym I enjoyed cooking in the kitchen but had to stop as I was constantly attached to the oxygen bottle and it couldn’t be exposed to heat. But now it’s a thing of the p...

Carmarthenshire residents are being urged to get fit and healthy for 2014. For just a £1 a day families are given unlimited gym use, swimming and fitness classes at any of Carmarthenshire County Council’s four leisure centres. Centres across the county are having a bright new look as part of the Actif launch. The move is part of the campaign to get more people, more active, more often, and includes a revamp of the fitness clubs, formerly known as Fusion. The new Actif brand will soon be seen at Llanelli, Carmarthen, Newcastle Emlyn and Ammanford leisure centres. The website has been refreshed and new online services have been introduced including Join at Home and booking classes and activities in advance to make it easier for people to access and link services. Executive board member for Regeneration and Leisure, Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “We play a significant role in helping the population to be fit and healthy, our rebranding to ‘Actif’ is part of raising that profile and en...

A new exercise class in Newcastle Emlyn will get the kettle out to get more women and girls moving. Carmarthenshire Council is offering a new session at Newcastle Emlyn Leisure Centre in a bid to get more females into regular exercise. The class will focus on gym circuits, kettle bells and weight training for women – particularly those who have not been in the fitness habit or starting out for the first time. A mixture of the training methods will be used educate women on the importance of strength training for women and the overall benefits, and to show that it doesn’t have to boring or dominated by males. The female-only session will be held at the centre on Tuesdays between 4pm and 5pm. Newcastle Emlyn Fusion Gym fitness instructor Chrissie Appleby said: “It can be very daunting going into a gym or fitness class for the first time without the knowledge of how to use weights or what aspects will help the individual the most. “Everyone is different and it’s often about gett...

New ‘exercise in disguise’ opportunities are being run at Carmarthen Leisure Centre as part of a campaign to get women and girls back into fitness. Two new weekly classes are being put on, aimed at females new to exercise or wanting to get back into the fitness habit. A new fun-based class incorporating trampolines, hula-hoops, skipping ropes, punch bags, bikes and weights will be held on Mondays between 4pm and 4.45pm. The session will be run at a lower intensity in an attempt to get over the psychological fitness hurdle that usually stops people giving classes a try. On Wednesdays between 4pm and 4.45pm, an additional introductory Zumba class will be held at the centre’s fusion gym to take advantage of the popular exercise craze. Carmarthen Fusion Gym fitness instructor Gaynor Jones said: “It’s important that we have sessions at appropriate levels for as many people as possible. When someone hasn’t exercised for a while you can’t be thrown into high intensity training because your bo...