Move More, Feel Better and Reach a Healthier Weight

Yes, it is completely free! Live Well is here to help local people get more active and reach a healthier weight, so there is no charge for the coaching, the plan or the support. There is nothing to pay and no catch.

The service is for adults (aged 18 and over) who live in, or are registered with a GP in, Reading or West Berkshire. If you want to become more active, and reach a healthy weight we are here to help.

You will be matched with your own healthy lifestyle coach and start a personalised 12-week programme. Your coach gets to know your goals, your starting point and your daily routine, then helps you set realistic targets and build activity into your life step by step. You can have your sessions face-to-face, by phone or online, whatever suits you.

The NHS recommends that adults aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, that is about 30 minutes on five days or 75 minutes of more vigorous activity, plus activities that strengthen your muscles on at least two days. Moderate activity means you are working hard enough to raise your heart rate and feel warmer, but you can still talk (like a brisk walk or cycling). If that feels like a lot right now, do not worry, any movement counts, and your coach will help you build up to it.

Research shows real health benefits are well below the typical 10,000 steps a day target. Adding more steps than you do now makes can make a big difference. A first step would be to find your current daily average and aim to add around 1,000–2,000 steps to it, then build from there. Walking is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to become more active.

Being more active is a powerful part of managing your weight, alongside what you eat. Activity burns energy, which helps protect your muscle as you lose fat, and makes it easier to keep weight off long term. On its own, movement usually leads to gradual change, which is exactly the kind that lasts. Your coach will support with your weight management and activity sits under this, so the two work together.

Yes, physical activity is one of the most effective things you can do for your mental wellbeing. It releases feel-good chemicals, eases stress and anxiety, lifts low mood and helps many people sleep better. You do not need to do much to feel the difference, even a short daily walk can help. For a lot of our service users, feeling better in themselves is the benefit they notice first.

You are not alone, most people who decide to start a weight loss journey have setbacks. What makes the difference is support, and that is exactly what Live Well gives you. With a coach guiding you step by step, you are far more likely to make a change that lasts than by going it alone. We focus on small, realistic habits built around your life, so being active becomes something you keep doing, not another thing you drop.