Mary Elliott has made great strides, literally. With a muscle condition which makes walking difficult if not impossible, she's endured operations and is now using Fitbug to take control of her life and live it to the fullest.

Fitbug: How did you find out about Fitbug?

Mary: Through the nurse at the GP. I am overweight. I wanted to start in Jan, but I couldn’t do it because I was going in hospital. After convalesce of six weeks, I started walking in March, I have not been active in about 15 years, but from March I started walking and going to the gym twice a week at 40 minutes each time. I swim and go to the physio twice a week, overall am managing target ever week, I’m gradually getting stronger.

Fitbug: What made you join?
Mary: I wanted to lose weight and get fit again. I’ve really missed being active, it was depressing, and being able to walk again and getting slimmer, and getting back to fitness and health is really important.

Fitbug: What did/do you hope to accomplish?
Mary: In September I’m going to try and see if I can play badminton again (haven’t done that in 15 years either). That would be lovely I would feel really pleased if I could do that.

Fitbug: Who/what was most helpful?
Mary: The most important thing has been the Bug itself. The battery died and I’m not doing as much as much, it really spurs me on.

Fitbug: Why do you think Fitbug works?
Mary: It isn’t the same as a pedometer, because it’s connected to other people and web, and it’s as if someone has an eye on you but not in a bad way, as if you’re being helped can see progress on web. Give you goal, something to do it for.

Fitbug: What do you enjoy most?
Mary: I like the feeling of being able to do more than I could before. I was at the gym and I could only do two minutes on the elliptical, the person next to me was doing 40! I was wondering how could they do that? Now I can do four minutes.
I was thrilled to be able to do The Race for Life. There was a point where I thought I would never be able to walk down the road much less a race.

Fitbug: How has your life changed?
Mary: My mood has changed, I’m much more positive about the future, I was quite depressed. People say I look different. The pain is out of my face, I stand taller and walk better. One of the things it’s done is take the fear away, if someone would mention a walk to town or a museum, but it would be fear that would be my first reaction. That’s gone and it’s a wonderful relief. I just had my 60th Birthday, and my husband bought me a trip to Paris and I’ll be able to walk around and see the sights and that’s marvellous! I can look forward to things instead of being anxious about them. I can start my 60’s being active.

Fitbug: How do you feel?
Mary: I can’t tell you really how wonderful how it feels.

Fitbug: What’s your advice to other FB members?
Mary:Stick at it, it works in the end.

As this month's star member Mary receives a gorgeous Molton Brown gift set. If you'd like to feature as our member of the month - or if you know someone that deserves to -

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