I'm in my 5th week at it and so glad that I requested my doctor for the referral. The course runs 12 weeks and I get time at the gym at a slightly reduced rate, plus the gym instructor has worked out a regime for me. That way I am only using equipment which he thinks will help and not do anymore damage to me!

As I find walking very painful I do not go out for walks as I'm worried that I might go so far and then not be able to get home ( and I'm not talking about long distances!), but at the gym I can get on the treadmill and when I've had enough I just get of. It means that the first week I managed to only do 7 minutes at a slow pace and with no resistance....5 weeks on and I am on the treadmill for 15 mins at 4.6km which is a good average speed for my age and disability and I have the resistance at 2.5, I do that twice in the hour at the gym...I also use the exercise cycle although only as a warm up as I have now got my own cycle at home.
What is also helpful is being able to use the weights. I'm getting stronger and fitter. At first I could only pull 5kg x8 using the chest pull but now I'm pulling 27.5kg x 12 reps for 3 sets. If you want to benefit from it though you do need to go every week at least once, more if possible and under supervision push yourself..believe me you will be so pleased at what you will manage...I certainly intend to carry on after the 12 weeks are up ...good luck

Yep my Dr did the same to me ,great idea as it got me moving and thinking about exercise and food again ! That was just after Xmas this year .