Ada Found Her Rhythm and it Started with the GP Clinic

"It’s free, it comes recommended, why not?" she thought.

She was always open to improving her health which is why she was there in the first place. That is why she decided to give it a go.

Starting the journey online

Ada began with an initial phone call before joining online group sessions via Teams.

Talking about health, habits and struggles can feel tough, especially if you’re not familiar to the group. But Ada found it easy to engage, share and reflect.

"I do recommend the group sessions because I think it always helps listening to other people’s experiences."

Listening to others share their experiences reminded her that she wasn’t alone. Many people were facing similar challenges, juggling motivation, routine and life’s inevitable disruptions.

Timing, motivation and reality

For Ada, nothing major had stopped her from making health changes in the past. It was something far more common: life.

Health goals would move to the back of her mind when work, responsibilities or stress took over. Then something would bring them forward again. It might have been a comment, a result, or that quiet inner voice warning her to be careful.

She recognises now that building habits is challenging enough on its own. When life throws in job changes or stress, those habits can be the first thing to slip.

The key, she says, is remembering why you started and pulling yourself back when you drift.

The power of perspective

One of the most memorable parts of the program for Ada was the facilitation.

What stood out wasn’t complicated nutrition science or rigid exercise rules. It was something much simpler: the reminder that change doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.

When we think ‘I need to exercise more, eat better, change everything,’ it can be numbing. The result? We sit down. Instead of everything, we do nothing.

What stuck with Ada was one phrase: 'Five minutes of exercise is better than zero.'

That perspective shift was eye-opening. Five minutes here. Five minutes there. Repeat it a few times across a day and suddenly you’ve reached 30-minutes, without the mental barrier that comes with committing to a solid 30-minute workout.

Breaking goals down made them achievable. And achievable means sustainable.

Smarter choices at the supermarket

One of Ada’s biggest ongoing habits taken from the Life! program is reading food labels.

Before the program, she admits she would buy products without paying much attention to ingredients or nutritional panels. Through the sessions, she became more aware of hidden sugars and excess salt in foods that seemed innocent.

Now, label reading is routine. If she’s unsure, she uses the FoodSwitch app on her phone for a better understanding and some guidance.

Moving for stress, not just fitness

Ada describes herself as someone who gets stressed easily. That hasn’t changed overnight.

What has changed is her response.

Through the Life! program, she realised how powerfully movement affects her stress levels. Even a 10-minute walk outside can shift her mood.

Exercise, she learned, isn’t only about weight or fitness, it’s directly tied to mental wellbeing. That connection has become one of her most valuable takeaways.

When routines get disrupted

At one stage, Ada had built a rhythm she was proud of. She exercised most days of the week. During her lunch break at work, she would walk in the park next door for 20 to 30 minutes.

Then life shifted. She left her job. The park routine disappeared overnight. Job searching followed. Stress crept in. The consistency wavered.

But here’s what changed this time: Ada didn’t feel lost.

She understood what had worked before. She knew what to do. Even though her environment changed, her knowledge hadn’t.

Now in a new job, she’s rebuilding. There may not be a park next door, but she knows alternatives exist.

The value of group support

While Ada largely holds herself accountable day-to-day, she sees real value in the group format.

Hearing others speak openly about their challenges helps to normalise the experience. Someone else’s strategy might spark an idea. She would encourage anyone considering the program to give it a go.

"You have nothing to lose," she says.

The sessions aren’t overwhelming. They’re structured and supportive. And if someone truly wants to make changes, time can be found.

As Ada reflects, if you tackle change little by little, the bigger outcome eventually follows.

And sometimes, all it takes to begin is a simple "Why not?"