During my life my weight has fluctuated like a yo yo. In my twenties I was at my best weight for my height. In my thirties I started to pile on the pounds. I realized that if I exercised consistently I could maintain my weight even if I did not actually lose any weight. I also realized if I wanted to eat sweets or indulge in high calorie meals exercise was a necessity.

Walking was my exercise of choice but recently I joined a gym. Originally I had this preconceived notion that only skinny women worked out at gyms. Imagine my surprise when  I found real people of all shapes and sizes concentrating on their health rather than finding people who looked as if they did not need to work on their bodies. I found myself enjoying the treadmill and the exercise bicycle. Soon I was a regular. What I thought was a chore became a labor of love.

Now I look forward to my time at the gym. I put my headphones on and watched the evening news as I walked on the treadmill. I may not be a size one but I am getting more fit and healthy by the day. I have modified my diet incorporating more fruits and vegetables. I may not be on the cover of a Fitness magazine anytime soon but I might have added a few years to my life.