How Carl has transformed his health and wellbeing at Active Copley

Associate principal, Carl Heatley, takes his role in managing Copley Academy all in his stride.

However, stepping into Active Copley’s swimming pool and walking into the gym was something that took a fair amount of courage.

And as you’ll find out later, sometimes those two worlds collide!

Carl came to our attention when he started sharing his Active Tameside health and fitness journey on social media, keeping us and his followers up to speed on his progress and motivation.

Like many people, juggling day-to-day life had taken over for the 46-year-old dad of two, and he needed the incentive to get back to exercise and prioritise his health.

Luckily, Active Copley was right there on his work doorstep and since joining he’s been able to fit his workouts around his day job.

So, we were delighted when he agreed to share his story, which we’re sure will resonate and hopefully inspire you to follow in his fitness focussed footsteps!

“I was approaching middle age, and I wasn’t in the best shape,” said Carl.

“I hadn’t really committed to looking after myself, I was more focused on my career and the usual business of life. I also had injuries – bad knees from playing rugby and football when I was younger – so staying active had become a struggle.

“Swimming was a great starting point. I started off in the slow lane, swimming at 6.30am.

“It was a friendly environment, and people were very encouraging. There was a member of Active Copley staff who was really supportive and kept me motivated.

“In the beginning, I was embarrassed about how I looked in the pool or the gym, but once you get over that, you just focus on improving yourself. The gym community has been really supportive, and that helps a lot.”

Carl’s initial goal was to get fitter and lose weight but after a couple of years of swimming – which took him from the slow lane to completing three 5k swims in three days to fundraise for Marie Curie Cancer Care – he decided to seek professional support from an Active Tameside PT to help him stay on track.

“My weight has always fluctuated. I’m not naturally active, so I need to keep moving just to maintain my weight,” said Carl.

“I didn’t have a weight loss target at first but when I joined the gym last September, I booked a PT, and I now have a more structured programme.

“Since starting, I’ve lost about 20 pounds, but weight loss isn’t my main focus anymore; now it’s about consistency and maintaining my fitness.

“Sharing my journey on social media has been really encouraging. I share weekly updates, and I often get people reaching out to ask how I manage to up get at 6am and swim a mile a day and things like that, so it’s great to have that support and also makes me more accountable to keep going.”

It’s no secret that physical activity can do wonderful things for mental health and wellbeing too.

Carl knows the impact of poor mental health only too well after tragically losing a friend who was suffering from mental health and isolation post-Covid.

He’s since set up a local men’s mental health and friendship group called ‘You Alright Chief’ and says he’s discovered just how powerful exercise can be in alleviating life’s stresses and anxieties.

“I always feel healthier and my mind is always a fresher when I’ve been exercising rather than just going straight into work,” said Carl.

“It allows me to switch off and think either before I go to work or at the end of the day when I’ve been at work. You put your music on, and you just crack on what you’re doing, and it gives you that break from the pressures.

“It also gives you that time alone, just to think and have a bit of time and space to yourself which is a great leveller because you’ve got time to breathe and process stuff and you can actually think things through.”

And speaking of work, Carl frequently bumps into his students in the gym!

“At first, I think they’re a bit surprised and naturally 16-year-olds are going to be fitter than the 46-year-old me, but it’s actually created some really good relationships with me and some of the students in school, said Carl.

“They’ll say, oh, will we see you in the gym tonight? and we’ll chat about it. They’ve been really encouraging. I even end up chatting to some of the parents in there too.”

Carl has vowed to continue his new found love of exercise and now swims and gyms five days a week.

Yes, he still has to push himself through tiredness and cold mornings to achieve the morning swim and sometimes drag himself to an after-work gym session after a long day. But he has this advice: “I’m a dad and I want to make sure I reach 50 as fit and healthy as I can be.

“It’s really difficult to start with because you feel a bit embarrassed, but once I got into it, particularly with swimming, I found I was being actively encouraged by others, and you forget about the perception of how you see yourself and you just get on with it.

“Same with the gym. It feels intimidating at first but actually there are so many people in there willing to help you and give you tips that it becomes a bit of a community as well.

“Again, it’s really good for your mental health because you’re able to go in and chat and you get over your inhibitions. I’m not at the peak of physical fitness and I don’t look like a catalogue model but I fit right in and no one is judging. If I can do it, anyone can do it, so don’t be put off!”