Tuesday
The first session of the diabetes prevention course was interesting ... I think that's a kind way to describe it, anyway. I'm still not sure how long each session is supposed to last as we were told at different times during the session that it would take 45 minutes, then 1 hour, then 1 hour 15 minutes, and it ended up lasting over 1½ hours. Quite a few people left before the end! It's a group of 24 plus the leader and it took ages to get started properly as people just wouldn't listen to the leader and mute themselves as requested. I'm not sure why she didn't just mute everyone herself and take control but it's going to be very tedious if it happens every time.
I'd received a personal action plan which the email instructed us to take to the meeting but that turned out to be incorrect and what we actually needed was the 'Eating Well' booklet which none of us had received! Anyway, the session takes the form of a slide presentation with the leader stopping regularly to ask questions and/or check that everyone understands what she is talking about. It was all very high level overview in this first session and unfortunately the question slots were dominated by a participant who clearly knows a lot about the subject and who went into so much detail in her answers that the majority of us didn't get a look in. By the end of this session and before the next one on the 15th we have to set ourselves a couple of SMART goals based on what we want to achieve by completing this course.
I'm hoping this was just teething problems and that it'll get better! I've now received the link to the 'Eating Well' booklet but it requires a password to open it so I still can't read it and now need to email again to request that. It's just a bit frustrating and poor service from the company financed by the NHS to run these courses.
The rest of the day was better. I didn't review my meal plan so that still needs to be done, but I did find the time to make a sweet potato and butternut squash bake. The exercise class was more challenging this time but I managed most of it and will sign up for it again next week, and choir was good fun. Our new song was The Winner Takes It All, which I love, so a good end to the day.
Today will be carrot cooking day - thanks for the suggestions - but before I get started on that I am expecting a phone call from the Office of National Statistics to complete their survey, which should take between 15 and 30 minutes. I think the cooking will take most of the morning so the afternoon is set aside to just relax. I'm hoping to phone J and L, or at least arrange a day and time to speak. Apart from that it'll be reading, piano, Italian, and catching up with some TV programmes. I will try to add the links for the WPSH and my monthly photo challenge today as well. Exercise plans include a walk around the marina if the rain holds off or a keep fit video on YouTube.
Oh, dear! I hope the next session of the diabetes prevention class goes better! 24 participants are a lot for an online meeting, but, hopefully, there will be more opportunity to participate in future sessions. Well done on the exercise class!
ReplyDeleteSo do I. 24 people is, in my opinion, too many and it seems that we won't have the continuity of the same leader every time either. I'll see how it goes!
DeleteI can feel I've done some exercise this morning but at least my knee held up and isn't too painful today.
I feel I should look up your course as I am very over weight and failing at losing it, only 0.8 this week, I do admire your determination and how you have taken to the challenge. I've read back on your blog and you take part in do many on line course/activities, were they recommended to you or did you just search for them? Some sound very interesting. Is your choir one you belonged to before lock down?
ReplyDeleteThe course is arranged by the NHS and I was asked to complete it based on the results of my last blood tests. I've only done one session so far so the exercise and the weight loss are things I've chosen to do myself - I know I'm overweight and unfit so anything I can do to sort that out can only benefit me. I don't want to develop diabetes so have a different mindset this time which I hope will keep me going to get the weight off and gain a better level of fitness.
DeleteI just search for all the online things. I find a lot through the 'events' on Facebook . That's where I first heard about Care Visions Healthy Ageing who offer a huge selection of online activities daily, including singing if you are interested in that. My choir is the one I attended before the lockdowns.
There is a lot of people that have yet to learn Zoom etiquette (col), mind you Zoom is such a new, also mandatory skill set in 2021. My weekly bible study class is held via Zoom & our leader gives us a brief reminder each session of mic on/mic off & if we don't, she will take control. Hopefully it will get better as the leader irons out the quirks & wobbles of presenting in Zoom style.
ReplyDeleteThis was on MS Teams but the same etiquette applies. I think she should have taken control and muted everyone as soon as it was clear that some weren't listening. As people logged in to the meeting the slide displayed instructions on how to mute and how to chat etc., all with diagrams and she also explained when she started the meeting but at least a quarter of the participants chose to ignore her requests ... quite rude behaviour really. As you say, hopefully it will get better!
DeleteIt sounds like it has the potential to pass on a lot of information. Hopefully the moderator will take charge of the meeting and address both those problems, so that everyone gets a better experience.
ReplyDeleteThe opportunity to gain a lot of useful information is what I am holding on to.
DeleteAs you say, all very frustrating, especially given that the NHS outsources these services at a cost. Hopefully things will improve but if not, some polite feedback (via your GP?) might be in order. Even if they can't do anything about it, they might at least be able to put you on an alternative course while you are still entitled to it (rather than wait till you have finished this one). Just a thought. It's a shame as I know a lot of people who have done these courses, including my Dad, and have found them very helpful and motivational.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping it will settle down and improve. There's a lot of information to be gained so I will stick with it for now. It wouldn't have been quite so frustrating if they had sent the correct documents. I will speak to my GP if it doesn't improve and see if I can transfer to the specialist diabetes nurse at the surgery.
DeleteSurely they'll have earned from that first session and make changes for the next ones. I mean, surely. The leader/facilitator can't have been happy with it... I know the dietary/food guidelines and meal planning will be helpful. I've always had trouble with that "planning" part lol
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like your exercising is going well. Congrats on moving forward with that :)
I'd feel more confident about an improved session next time if it was the same leader but it isn't, so there is going to be some repitition of introductions, ground rules, how to, etc. It's the food/dietary information I'm interested in so will hold out for that at least.
DeleteExercise is still an effort but am making myself do something every day. I am starting to feel some benefits from doing it though.