Monday 24th December 2018 - Work to complete before 2019

Posted 10:55am

First of all, to anyone who reads this, HMHB wishes you a very merry christmas. It is a time to enjoy yourself, whether you are around family or friends, or even just on your own (Lazza - me - will be happily doing just that). Find some great telly (sing along to the Sound of Music or The Greatest Showman), tuck into the chocolates (if I'm going on a weight management course I may as well make it worth my while), and chill and relax.

But also, HMHBis going to use the next week to catch up on paperwork, filing, and general preparation for what hopefully will be a brilliant 2019.

That means several things:

1 - working on the website updates - getting it ready for corporate approach, as well as our "added value" - such as the exercise sessions

2 - getting the accounts up to date - we listed last years at companies house recently, but need to ensure we know what we have in the account with insurance coming up.

3 - clearing up the emails - already started on this - removing any we do not need - as well as updating the contacts list before we delete

4 - organising the photos into proper folders - at the moment they are all over the place - this is very important. we will also be updating the website gallery page to introduce a new 2019 page - which links automatically with our Instagram account.

5 - getting a proper "to-do" list prepared - with timelines too - and then creating a weekly list of the most important

6 - getting ready to blitz corporate responsibility managers - our best chance of seed funding

7 - following up on hackney and haringey contacts for programmes in February/March

8 - getting our sessions down on paper - so if there is illness anyone can still run them professionally and with confidence

9 - finally, and just as importantly, getting myself ready (Lazza). Personally, I need to lose weight (3 stone),, look after myself better, stop procrastinating, treat every week day as if it is a proper work day, and 100% focus on making 2019 the year HMHB succeeds (for Luke and Dean too). That is all in my own hands - my choices - my proactrvity.

PLEASE keep following us in 2019.

If you do not already follow us on Twitter  ( @hmhb2016 ) ;please click, follow and share

If you do not already follow us on Instagram ( healthymindshealthybods2016 ) please click

If you do not already follow us on Facebook ( healthymindshealthybods) please click, follow, like and share

It is possible to like and follow our blog - we would love you to. There is a new exciting blog starting in 2019 - so look our for that.

And Youtube will be heavily involved next year - more news to follow

Friday 21st December 2018 - Walk to be healthy

Posted 1:45pm

I was reminded yesterday, as we walked through Clissold Park on our weekly health walk, just why we organise this event. The day was sunny, dry, and not too cold - considering it was just five days before Christmas.. We were a smaller group, but that is to be expected with family gatherings and trips away.

However, we chatted about lots of subjects, as per normal, one of which was the benefits of walking - especially in an organised group. We natural;y encourage people to walk every day - and this should be easy for people to do. But very often I hear the excuses of "I don't have the time" or "It's boring" or "I'm too busy". All of which are rubbish.

Walking is free and mostly outdoors (I guess you can use a treadmill in the gym - as long as you put it on a slope and do it at a pace that gets you out of your comfort zone).  But walking has so many benefits - linking it with a healthier lifestyle (including nutrition and routine)

These are just a few:

it can help control cholesterol

it can help control blood pressure

reduces risk of stroke or heart attack

builds cardiovascular endurance

burns calories - so helps with weight management

better oxygen circulation 

better blood circulation

stimulates digestion

can help insulin work better - part of controlling type 2 diabetes

can help prevent some cancers

can help people stay fitter as they get older, improving independence

can help reduce anxiety and depression - releasing various hormones through activity

can help improve self-confidence and esteem

strengthens muscles and loosens joints - also improves balance

boosts energy levels and fights fatigue

Obviously we could continue listing more and more. This, though, is why we started Izzwalkz, and why we want to expand it around the borough of Islington. Hopefully, 2019 will bring us the funds to do this.

Wednesday 19th December 2018 - Getting ourselves known and partnerships

Posted 1:00pm

So many people seem to have heard of HMHB. I attend many meetings, and I often hear that we have been spoken about, favourably I hasten to add. But this has not helped us with funding as yet.

Social Media is an obvious opportunity to spread word about HMHB. And of course we use Blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at the moment - and from the new year we will blitz our Youtube Channel too. Building Followers is important. We have some ideas on that. I am proud of our Website - which we are constantly looking to improve too.

I do wonder how some Youtube channels get so many people watching their videos.

But being a newbie, in a field that is competitive, we feel we have several unique skills, as well as a passionate delivery of our message and values.

We are still examining closely the Corporate field - and I would very much like to attack it from a couple of angles, including a joint venture with Mellow Parenting (managed by our friend, and Board member, Rosemary. Big companies, with lots of staff, are always looking at ways to keep their staff happy and focused. We have the mental health/fitness angle, and believe we can make an indent into this field. MP can come from their angle, and it isn't an obvious intervention bigger companies have looked at in the past.  If we can find the right angle, I think we can not only help ourselves financially with sponsorship, but also plug a gap in the employee health market.

Partnerships can be fantastic - but also be fraught with difficulty.. Funding is split, and you have to ensure you are both looking for the same values and outcomes. When it comes to the nitty gritty, you want to make sure you get the best deal possible. For us, we worry that other companies will take our ideas and delivery, disregard us,, and then try and do it themselves. Of course they will not have the passion we have. It's a difficult equation.

Tuesday 18th December 2018 - Learning from "failure"

Posted 1:50pm

“Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.” - Denis Waitley

“Failure is so important. We speak about success all the time. It is the ability to resist failure or use failure that often leads to greater success. I've met people who don't want to try for fear of failing.” - J.K. Rowling

I am not sure I like the word "failure" - for me, things can work out as you want, or they may not. And if that happens, it is then our strength and belief to continue that makes us stronger.

HMHB has gone through some amazing progression over the last couple of years, but we have also had our downs to accompany the ups. When we ran our first ever Ajani, despite its undoubted success, we realised we needed to make changes to the length of the course as well as the content. We adapted this for our second Ajani, and learnt even more about ourselves and or service users. The fact we have only run four programmes in two years has not been down to any lack of effort. Many may have given up. We have persevered, and we believe that 2019 will really bring us forward. Feedback is extraordinary. We feel we will be given the opportunity to show what we can do.

However, there have been quite a few "what's the point?" moments in that time. Great meetings, followed by weeks of silence. Incredible preparation undermined by a lack of effort from some organisations to assist us. But we have not given up.

This crosses over into personal life too. This whole venture has been developed following mental health issues suffered by others, and this will occasionally rear its ugly head again. Lack of funds can also lead to stress and anxiety.

But, like we explain re a growth mind-set, we embraced many of these obstacles as a challenge. That is what we all need to do around "failure". See it as just a step back, and instead of giving up, we look to see how we can make two steps forward to counteract.

We are all human. We will all make mistakes. We all have feelings and dreams. But we can also all do amazing things, reach targets and goals, and achieve greatness. Failure is just a part of that journey.

Monday 17th December 2018 - Why is maintaining so difficult?? Motivation?

This is me - or how i feel. But why?

Posted 2:00pm

I read a very interesting online statement, written by a fantastic guy in the US who we follow. A lot of it is based around fitness, but in reality it can also be a take on life in general.  It was about why we keep failing on our targets; why it is so hard to keep going.

It's a fascinating, and thought provoking, question - and one I have been struggling with myself of late. Ironically, I was talking to one of my friends about it just before I saw the online status. Maybe it is fate!!!!

We all know what is healthy. Better nutrition, more exercise, a confident routine, a growth mind-set. But we can struggle with these. And why is that?

HMHB believes the biggest hurdle is ourselves. Our confidence. Our belief that we can succeed. We appear to trust that everything will go wrong anyway. We will fail. So why put the effort in?

And maybe here is why. Because we live in a world where we are all in a rush. We expect instant communication and results. We are no longer used to being patient, waiting for things to improve gradually, and allow ourselves the comfort of things not always going to plan.

So how do we get around this?

The best way is to set small goals. Be realistic and achievable. A small win can lift confidence. By following that with another and another, and not allowing the odd failure to overwhelm us, we can build and build until winning is the routine.

With our HMHB project, certainly over the last few months, we have hit many obstacles. Naturally, funding is the biggest, but also the opportunity to work with service users, and demonstrate our strengths, is included. This can lead to frustration, disappointment and weariness. I know I can work harder, and we can accomplish some terrific outcomes and succeed, but we also need to know that we can realistically be given that chance. Knowing people trust us is vital.

The same goes with my personal life. I am wanting to lose weight - probably 45lbs. I can do it - I have in the past. But I struggle because part of me thinks I will just fail again and put it on. Silly I know. I look at myself in photos and hate it. So why don't I make the necessary and obvious changes? Only I can do it.

So what is the overall answer for this subject and for us. Using HMHB and myself as an example;

One - Give 100% effort. Push hard. Do all that is possible. If things do not work, then at least we can know we gave everything for it to happen.

Two - Set weekly targets - realistic, but also ones that mean we have to focus and put the time in.

Three - Be accountable to others - so everyone knows what we are doing

Four - Believe - probably the most important - as with that comes energy, determination and fight. We know where we want to be. So let's push.

That is great advice for all - regardless of the target or goal. Push hard. It wont happen if you don't put the time and effort in.

Thursday 13th December 2018 - Better Blogging after months of struggle

Posted 3:55pm

I was surprised to find that we have made more blog entries this month (which is just thirteen days old) than we did in the last four months combined.

An online presence is crucial to growing our project and brand. Even so, I am struggling to work out just why we have been so lax.

Then it came to me - we preach so much about the Growth Mindset, the challenge of dealing with frustrating and difficult situations, but have then allowed the overwhelming problems of finance and business set up to affect our own behaviour.

The last few months have been troublesome to say the least. Cancelled programmes, companies taking ages to communicate, and preparation of paperwork has all added to a delay in the project. Added to that, we have had personal illness (Lazza having surgery), and personal finance problems with the benefit people mucking up UC payments - all of which affect mental health.. Ironic, considering HMHB values and outcomes.

But again, it is being proactive that is getting things done. A new focus and resolve to overcome these problems, with action and positivity. Hence, the desire to make daily blog entries, and the plans being formed for a further increase in social media interaction, and we will be contacting corporate re hopeful sponsorship.

Thursday 13th December 2018 - Thoughts on Exercise on Referral partnership

Posted 3:45pm

When Lazza had a crippling depression around twelve years ago, one of the major factors in his recovery was using the Exercise on Referral (EOR) Scheme in Islington, which at that time was run through Aquaterra, using Islington gyms. especially the Sobell Centre.

It actually helped the original concept of HMHB - but we wanted to try and help people before they got so ill they needed medical referral, on which Exercise On Referral is based. A doctor can refer his patient onto the scheme - but that can take four to eight weeks of waiting.

While we were talking to the Council recently about expanding our Izzwalkz initiative from one walk to five, they mentioned that there were weekly walks on the EOR scheme. This was the first I knew of this, and in fact there is nothing online re this part of the project.

We managed to get a contact. Finally, after eleven weeks of effort we are meeting a representative from the EOR scheme next week.

We would like to see if we can team up on the walks - which can only benefit more and more residents. Also we would like to promote out weekly Saturday Gym session to all EOR service users. It is the sort of collaboration that can get us more noticed.

Wednesday 12th December 2018 - Icope contact and possibilities

Posted 3:45pm

Icope were the first service Lazza used several years ago to help him revover from his mental health issues, and are therefore part of the HMHB journey.  They were the first port of call, referred through his Doctor. They assess your situation and then determine the best help possible for you using local amenities.

Therefore, they are a group we have been trying to partner along, especially with our active groups.

This afternoon, Lazza met with a member of the South Islingto team, Shona, who has a mandate about getting people more physically active. We spoke about our walk, as well as the Saturday fitness session at the Sobell, and they have agreed to promote these within their service, and hopefully we can get some new members.  I will be sending them a couple of promotional posters they can print off.

We also talked about the Ajani programme and how we can do some future sessions that could benefit people in Islington.  All positive.

Wednesday 12th December 2018 - Walking in Islington news shocks HMHB

Posted 12:45pm

As many are aware, we launched our Izzwalkz project just over two years ago. In partnership with Highbury Grange Medical Centre, we started Izzwalkz CP (Clissold Park), and it was meant to be the first of several around Islington.

The benefits of group walking are numerous. Not only is there the exercise part (and we have introduced stretches, gentle exercise, boxercise, yoga poses, etc into our walks) - all these accesible to people of any age and ability, but there is the social inclusion. The walks are fully inclusive, full of chat and laughter (a lot at my expense. lol), and the feedback has been wonderfiul.

Islington Mayor (Una) with us on our 1st Izzwalkz birthday

November 2017

"It was my favourite event as Mayor" she told us this year.

We have been speaking to the council for around a year about how we can expand. I would like to be running at least five a week around the borough - but that comes with a cost. Insurance, First Aid, volunteer costs (it is important it is organised and managed with a walk leader), marketing, etc. But we were told on several occasions that there was Zero money available - zilch. And I understand re cuts etc., but surely this ticks all the boxes on mental health, loneliness, awareness of getting outdoors, etc.

You can therefore imagine my surprise to see Healthwatch Islington issuing a notice re an upcoming workshop being run by Islington Council for people to come forward  to be part of their Ground Force to lead walking tours in the North of Islington in the New Year. I am guessing these would be money raising walks - not healthy ones for residents - with volunteers doing it for nothing??? It isn;t clear.

So it appears, and I have asked for clarification of what is happening, that there is no budget to help with a healthy walk initiative for people living in Islington, but there has to be a budget for this other scheme. I am honestly shocked.

Islington Mayor (Dave) leads our 2nd Izzwalkz bi shocrthday

November 2018

I contacted Healthwatch Islington, who passed me the contact from the Council. I have emailed and rang with no response as yet. Further news on this to follow.

Tuesday 11th December 2018 - Update on GoFundMe

Posted 1:45pm

HMHB is definitely approaching a crossroads. After years of development, creating a terrific foundation, and approaching business set up with professionalism and vigour, like many things in life it now comes down to the money.

Salaries (2) need covering. General business expenses will come up. If we do not find funding in the next six months I fear all our good work will come to nothing.

I find it extraordinary that we can show we have a good product, producing excellent feedback, and therefore we should be able to access suitable funding, that public sector is almost impossible. Grants tend to not cover any salary, and even "core" funding can be frowned upon.

Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson tweeted our GoFundMe page, which was a fantastic thing for her to do. She has been wonderfully supportive. However, no retweets, and no money. How do some people generate their funds?  I will review the wording on the site later, but even so we have videos and feedback on there.

The site is:   www.gofundme.com/hmhb2016

We have tweeted it, facebooked it, and it is on out website. Yes, we are approaching corporate - and I am just waiting for clearance on the email message and proposal we will be sending out. But the whole system is frustrating for start ups like ourselves.

I still hope one day we can get commissioned locally. We are happy to sit down and chat with anyone re out outcomes, and outcomes they are demanding themselves. We can tailor our work to courses, day events, for corrective and preventive results.  We just need a chance - and I think it is becoming harder and harder to see when that will happen.

Monday 10th December 2018 - Peabody update

Posted 2:20pm

I have been in my flat for over nineteen years. Over that period, it has gone through the hands of various Housing Associations. I am now Peabody, after their merger with Family Mosaic recently.

Ironically, I approached FM several times around seven, six, and five years ago with my project. Each time I was told that it looked really good, but they would not have funding for it. Then, after the third time, they took my idea and tried to introduce it themselves. I was not happy.

However, we feel we have now grown the delivery and adapted the programme to such an extent it would be beneficial to tenants of all Housing Associations, so I re-approached Peabody around five weeks ago. Like most HA, they manage an Employability Course for tenants, and we feel we can enhance their work with our own programme. I do hope we will get a chance, especially as FM stole my idea. I know companies can be protective of their work, we are like that too. But networking and partnerships can bring even better outcomes.

Peabody is a huge HA, with thousands of tenants, and it is clearly in their best interests to have tenants with a positive mindset, good health and fitness, and awareness of a healthy lifestyle. I am sure they run projects on this, but our unique delivery, and incredible passion, might give us am opportunity to be involved.  We can wait and see.

Monday 10th December 2018 - Saturday Fitness Success

Posted 1:40pm

We are enjoying our Saturday sessions at the Sobell Centre, just off Hornsey Road in Islington. That is despite the early start of 9am!!!

We have now had six sessions, and PT Dean does alternate Saturdays, with Lazza running the other weeks. We believe it will gradually build numbers, but we are delighted at the support of the Health Centre, who have given us their largest studio for free.

We do an hour - normally starting with a good stretch before entering into various exercises, fully accessible to people of all ages, abilities, and fitness levels. We try and ensure we use all our muscles, concentrating on Core, Legs, and Upper Body and Arms.

No weeks are the same. I like that fact we mix it up.  It is good to introduce different types of fitness and exercise. And we ensure that if people are older, or less mobile, they are included, as well as making it fun.

The feedback has been very good. We opened it up to both Ajani and Izzwalkz users - as well as outside groups such as Eagle Project, Single Homeless Project, Haringey Mind, Better Lives, and Islington Mind. I have to say, from a personal point of view, that after attending every session it can be a pull getting to the venue on time, but actually once I am up and out I really enjoy the chance to get moving and participate. And we normally have a laugh.

We have the studio till the end of January at the moment, and I hope this can build into something useful for the mental health community.

Friday 7th December 2018 - Haringey Update

Posted 1:45pm

Had a really solid meeting this morning at the offices of Mind In Haringey - in Stapleton Rd, near to Crouch Hill station, on the border of Islington and Haringey.

I met with Pritty Rana, the Service Manager for Haringey Wellbeing Network/Employers In Mind, and we chatted about HMHB and our Ajani programme, with its added value. IIt was important tlo show we aren't duplicating current intervention, but instead enhancing what they already provide.

There was a lot of interest, and we discussed doing at least two programmes, lookinng at different outcomes - one being more corrective, and the other preventive. There was also discussion about residential homes and other services.

Lazza suggested running a one-off two hour session for staff, so that Haringey could get a taster of our delivery, and the passion we have for what we are doing, and that went down well. I would hope we can get that in January, and look to do course in February.

We were very encouraged and I would think we can run a couple of good courses, also based around the outcomes of MIH as well as ourselves

Thursday 6th December 2018 - networking advantages yoga:: izzwalkz

Lazza and Marie with the Yoga teacher

Eagle Project - Wed 5th December

Posted 3:00pm

Another one of our "added value" opportunities is the way we can network with other organisations in a different. I have been on courses myself where they have mentioned other intervention options, but then admit that they have not seen them first hand.

HMHB believes in promoting as many programs and events as possible - as long as they can help service users get back into life quicker, with more confidence, and is relevant to our own values.

The Eagle Project in Islington is one such project. It is set up for people who have come through various recovery programmes, and is there to try and keep people motivated and inspired to continue pushing forward, offering a variety of sessions.

One of these is a Yoga session on a Wednesday afternoon. Lazza felt this is something we would like to promote, and therefore needed to experience the hour long class for himself. Accompanied by our service user Marie, we did that firstly three weeks ago, But they changed venue that week, and it is now out of 28B King Henry Walk - off Balls Pond Road near to Mildmay.  We went back yesterday afternoon.

It was a really good experience. The teacher is fantastic - calmly leading the group through various poses of stretching and balance, concentrating on breathing and calmness. It is not easy. For example, we were doing a "warrior" pose, which involved a standing balance, breathing control, and muscle work. I have to say we enjoyed the session very much, and aim to come as many Wednesdays as possible. We even stayed for some nibbles and a difficult quiz (many guesses).

We encouraged Eagle users to use our Saturday fitness sessions, and I hope some do turn up. The time of 9am was mentioned, but if people were going on holiday with early flights, or had an important operation booked for a morning, they would manage that time for those events, so why should it be different for a gym session? It's all about how badly people want to improve their health.

Finally, we had another lovely walk today. Seven of us went round Clissold Park. A small wind, with a threat of rain, but we banned all talk of Brexit, and just enjoyed the company.  Lazza admits he is still the only person this year who has managed to put on weight doing these walks, but that will change soon. Lol.

Wednesday 5th December 2018 - Instagram, Website Gallery

Posted 2:00pm

Social Media is very important to us - especially getting us noticed.

Our very clever website guru, university student Kacper, has linked our Instagram account to our website, so any pictures we upload to our account automatically appears on our gallery pages. How this works is beyond me - but is great.

With that in mind, it is therefore important for us to keep up to date with our photographs, as we are encouraging corporate people to view our website, as well as ask service users to follow us on Instagram, and hopefully promote us themselves.#

Our account is:

healthymindshealthybods2016

We realise it is quite long, but if we had called it hmhb2016 it would negate anyone searching for "healthy" on the site.

Lazza spent a few hours yesterday adding 36 pictures to those already uploaded, adding suitable descriptions and dates, and we are delighted with the result. You can check them on Instagram or on the Gallery page on our website: www.hmhb2016.org.uk

The photos cover HMHB general, our Ajani project, various Izzwalkz, our added value fitness sessions and excursions, as well as additional material.  And we will look to take more next year.  The faces of our service users demonstrate why we are doing all we can to launch this project.

Tuesday 4th December 2018 - How my own progress is a good example of HMHB

Posted 2:15pm

I can tell you that we have had the most fun, the best experiences, and the greatest satisfaction when we have been able to work with our service users -both om Ajani and Izzwalkz.  Seeing our passion invigorate people, our delivery motivate people, and receiving incredible feedback, makes everything worthwhile.

But it all starts from believing ourselves - and I am sure I am referring to many of us when I say we need to practice what we preach. How many of us offer advice to others that we then ignore in our own lives? We promote a growth mindset, but then allow situations to overwhelm. We encourage a healthy routine, but then ignore the opportunities to introduce that into our days. Guide people to eat better, and then buy no fruit or veg, overdo the trans fats, and not get the right nutrition balance. Even demonstrating exercises people can easily do on a daily basis, and then sitting back and being lazy. It is easy to fall into those traps.

I like to see myself - Lazza - as a prime example of how HMHB can deliver. Whenever I am more active, that is when results happen. I have suffered with various mental health issues over the last ten to fifteen years, and I hate when the "self pity" rears its ugly head, and situations appear difficult.

But when I have faced them head on, actively looking for solutions, that is when things happen. I am a walking/;talking example of the benefits of HMHB's values. It does not mean everything works out the way I would like - far from it. But success only comes from putting myself in a position where it can happen.

This also is true, not just in my personal life, but with the set-up of the company itself, and our projects. We have energetically approached organisations and companies, reaching out to the top people, promoting HMHB in a field where it is difficult to get a foothold. It can be extremely frustrating, but the only way forward is to find solutions, keep persevering and believing in us and our product.

Both HMHB, and myself, have adapted over the last four years. We have come across many obstacles, lots of disappointments, been patronised, misrepresented, and made mistakes. But I firmly trust that 2019 is going to be the year we finally get core seed funding, salaries for Luke and myself, and the opportunity to show that even though we are a small dot in a very large landscape, by being proactive, persistent, and energised, we can start forging a great future.

Stick with us!!!