31 March 2020
As people become accustomed to living differently while self-isolating at home, the television series FFIT Cymru will return to share positive and inspirational ideas with the nation.
Over a two-month period, five leaders from all over Wales will be aiming to transform their health by following bespoke fitness and food plans set by the programme's three experts: dietician Sioned Quirke, personal trainer Rae Carpenter and psychologist Dr Ioan Rees.
Using the latest technology, the five leaders and their families will be sharing each step of their journeys with presenter Lisa Gwilym, in the studio, and viewers at home.
The experts will be sharing advice on how to stay fit while isolating at home, how to look after your mental health and wellbeing, and sharing advice on how to eat healthily.
In addition, well-known chef and Great British Bake Off contestant, Becca Lyne-Pirkis, will be contributing to the food plan each week and sharing some easy-to-follow, healthy recipes which can be re-created at home.
During a period of uncertainty for everyone, FFIT Cymru will be here to offer everyday support and invite everyone to take part alongside the leaders, by following the fitness and food plans on the FFIT Cymru website, www.s4c.cymru/ffitcymru and on the @ffitcymru social channels.
Siwan Haf, the series producer, said: "FFIT Cymru is a series that can help people keep healthy, physically and mentally, as people are forced to live apart from their family and friends.
"This is a multi-platform series that can offer guidance and practical advice during a period of social distancing and self-isolating.
"We'll find out how our leaders cope with the new norm, as everyone continues to adapt. Everything has changed so quickly and we'll be seeing how the leaders and their families adjust to leading a new healthy lifestyle, as they receive support along each step of the way from our three experts."
Among the five leaders of this series are a radiographer, a dentist, two teachers and an officer for a volunteer organisation.
The FFIT Cymru 3 leaders: Ruth Evans, Kevin Jones, Elen Rowlands, Iestyn Owen-Hopkins and Rhiannon Harrison.
The five leaders are: Kevin Jones, 53, from Ruthin; Ruth Evans, 45, from Llanllwni; Elen Rowlands, 23, from Ruthin; Iestyn Owen-Hopkins, 27, originally from Caernarfon but who now lives in Llanrumney, and Rhiannon Harrison, 28, from Aberystwyth.
Rae Carpenter said: "It's fantastic that this series will be able to help, not only the five leaders – but the whole of Wales. S4C viewers need a series like his now more than ever."
There will be two different types of FFIT Cymru Couch to 5k podcasts this year. As well as the podcast which was well received last year and is still available to download, Rae Carpenter has narrated a second podcast, made especially for people learning Welsh, available to download from the FFIT Cymru website, www.s4c.cymru/ffitcymru, the Apple Podcast app and other podcast providers. Each leaders' bespoke food and fitness plans will also be available to view and follow on the FFIT Cymru website.
In addition, Rae is hosting a daily family fitness session every weekday morning, at www.youtube.com/ffitcymru . For the latest news and additional content from the series, follow @ffitcymru on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
FFIT Cymru
Tuesday 7 April, 9.00
English subtitles available
On demand: S4C Clic, iPlayer and other platforms
A Cwmni Da production for S4C
Information about the leaders
Kevin Jones, 53, from Ruthin
Kevin is a busy man. He is a father of three children and a stepfather of five, he works as a radiographer and has been a service leader for medical services in Britain and Ireland since 2001. Self-confessed chocaholic Kevin travels a lot with his job and admits to snacking a lot while driving. At the moment, he weighs 20 stone and five pounds and is living with type 2 diabetes. 'Kev Mawr' (Big Kev) as he is known, is determined to show thousands of people who are living with the condition, that it's possible to beat it by living a fit lifestyle.
Ruth Evans, 45, from Llanllwni
A mother to three teenage girls, Ruth works as a Volunteering Officer for Ceredigion Association of Voluntary Organisations (CAVO). Ruth would like to take her daughters on holiday to a hot country one day, but she does not feel comfortable wearing a swimsuit on the beach. Ruth has been single for nine years since her divorce, and her friends and sister keep pushing her to sign up to dating sites to find a partner, but she doesn't feel confident enough to do so, at the moment.
Elen Rowlands, 23, from Ruthin
Elen has been working as a dentist since September, after graduating from the University of Birmingham, and spends long periods siting down as part of her job. Although he she is a vegetarian, Elen admits that she doesn't very healthily and eats too many snacks in her car, where she hides chocolate bars and pringles tubes. At the moment, she says that she feels like the 'fat friend' when she is out with her friends, and that has affected her self-confidence. The aim for Elen is to re-gain that confidence and lot some weight before she moves to Australia at the end of the year, as planned.
Iestyn Owen-Hopkins, 27, originally from Caernarfon but now lives in Llanrumney
Iestyn is a full-time teacher and also runs a candle business. Although he has managed to lose significant amounts of weight in the past, he has not been able to keep the weight off. Previously, he lost eight stone while training for the London Marathon, and he also lost several stone before he got married to husband, Emyr. Now, Iestyn is hoping to find a plan that he will be able to stick to in the long term. What Iestyn wants most from his FFIT Cymru journey, is advice on controlling portion sizes, tips on how to enjoy exercise and psychological help to discover why he overeats and struggles to stick to a diet.
Rhiannon Harrison, 28, o Aberystwyth
A mother to two young children, Rhiannon is currently serving maternity leave from her job as a supply teacher. She also runs her own chocolate brownie business, called Pwdin. Rhiannon is determined to lose weight before she celebrated her 30th birthday next year, and her partner, Gethin, also hopes to lose weight by following the same plans. Rhiannon is hoping to get a job as a full-time teacher in September, and she believes that losing some weight will give her more confidence to do so.
