gym dandy

OOps. I had meant to write the rest of my eat-less, exercise more post before now. The second shoe to drop on the whole getting fit program is, of course, exercise.

You can’t just cut back on what you eat. You have to work out. That’s why I joined the Scarborough YMCA a few years ago.

I also threw out the door all the advice people had ever given me about exercise. You know, you have to get up at the crack of duck fart and be there for 6 a.m. The only good exercise happens early in the morning. Or so they would have you believe.

I decided I would just go to the gym when I could. And that is usually late at night. But it works for me. It gets me away from the TV … and those tempting snacks.

At the Y, I found a lovely support group of women just like myself who want to get in shaps. We encourage one another, gove each other helpful tips. It’s such a joy to drop by there at night and have one of your friends notice that you’re looking good. And even if you don’t, they are supportive enough to know that a few words of encouragement can boost anyone’s morale.

They are a pretty broad cross-section of Scarborough society. There’s the lovely Sophia, who is Greek. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her in a bad mood. Even when things are down, she manages to be bubbly – and she makes everyone else feel pleased to be alive.

Then there is the lovely Rose, who keeps us all entertained with stories of her two kids. And there’s BB, who works hard in her restaurant by day. But at night, she always makes time to be there.

That’s what it takes. Perseverance and the idea that you will go to the gym, no matter what. It doesn’t matter what the weather is like. It dosen’t matter what else is going on in the world. I have to go and work out. I aim for four times a week, but it works out to be three. And I feel great – 10 years younger than when I started.