'Exercise has made me more positive and I lost a stone in five weeks'
“The impact on my health has been massive. Exercise has made me much more positive and I lost a stone in five weeks.”
That is the glowing verdict of Kevin Martin after he signed up for an Invigor8 We Are Undefeatable membership through Wirral Council’s Active Wirral service.
The Invigor8 We Are Undefeatable programme is for Wirral residents over 18 who have been given a referral from a Wirral-based GPor health practitioner.
Discounted at £16 per month for up to three months, it gives members access to all six Active Wirral leisure centres and offers help, support and advice on becoming active, to anyone living with a health condition.
Kevin was a regular gym-goer when living in London. But that changed when he returned to Wirral and the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
Lockdowns forced a shift in Kevin's habits, negatively affecting his physical health, confidence and overall wellbeing.
After having a health scare at the start of this year, Kevin visited health coach Callum. It was Callum who recommended an Invigor8 We Are Undefeatable membership.
Kevin took the opportunity and started exercising at Guinea Gap Leisure Centre in Wallasey each morning. The benefits have been significant.
I was overweight, had a fatty liver and pancreas and was anaemic. I wasn’t using my body properly or eating healthily. An Invigor8 We Are Undefeatable membership was a no-brainer because it is the price of a takeaway meal.
The impact on my health has been massive. Exercising has made me so much more positive. I’m driven and waking up ready to seize the day.
It has had a huge impact and I lost a stone in five weeks – I didn’t expect that!
Getting endorphins from exercise and having some structure has helped me get back to who I am.
Wirral Council completed a £1 million investment into Active Wirral Leisure Centres at the beginning of 2026.
An extensive range of new fitness machines and equipment were installed at Guinea Gap, West Kirby Concourse, Leasowe Leisure Centre and The Oval as part of a wider transformation programme for Active Wirral services.
The upgrade included the latest cardio equipment, strength training options and Inclusive Fitness Initiative equipment for users that have mobility issues and/or use wheelchairs.
Kevin has made the most of the “amazing” facilities on offer at Guinea Gap and praised all the welcoming staff.
There are so many bits of equipment, you rarely have to wait for anything, as well as there being lots of classes for different abilities at various times of the day.
If you’re worried about anything – whether that’s using a machine, a locker, class timetables or getting here – the staff are really knowledgeable and will help you.
Another benefit has been the social side of Guinea Gap, with Kevin meeting new people and made friends.
Some might think that gyms are full of people lifting heavy weights and it can be daunting, but this gym is really friendly and has a community feel.
There are people who are genuinely interested in speaking to you. Even if it’s just a five-minute chat with someone, it brightens your day.
Trying to make friends when you’re a bit older can sometimes be difficult, especially if you’re not going to the pub a lot or playing or attending sport.
While Kevin did exercise frequently when he was younger, he still lacked some confidence heading back to the gym.
He eased himself into a routine focusing on exercises and classes that he enjoyed. Kevin’s advice for those who sign up to an Invigor8 We Are Undefeatable membership is to do similar.
If you push yourself too hard at the start, it’s more likely that you won’t come back.
When you get into a good routine of coming to the gym, you'll naturally want to push yourself more. At the start, it's about enjoying yourself and building consistency.
For more information on Invigor8 We Are Undefeatable memberships, click here. View all Invigor8 memberships by clicking here.
