It is January 2019 and time to focus on new year resolutions. It’s not that you must have a new year resolution, but it is an opportune time to change something you want to change. If you decide on a few new year resolutions you will definitely fail. Try making just one that you will keep. I like to walk for pleasure, to enjoy nature, the fields and the glorious smells of the countryside. That does not provide me with fitness because I don’t do it often enough.

Over the years I’ve had an ongoing battle with the bulge. My conversion rate is absolute and I love chocolate. There’s always a battle after Christmas. A nice meal out is just the thing to celebrate. I like to cook for friends and family. My real failing is that I comfort eat when stressed. It’s a pattern that many will recognise.

I’ve a great friend, Eileen and together we’ve tried everything – walking, Weight Watchers, Slimming World and all sorts of exercise classes. They all work if you stick with them. Our problem has always been consistency. It isn’t all about weight either. It is about keeping fit and healthy and retaining as much muscle as we can. Exercise also guards against osteoporosis and heart disease.

Cartoon by Clyde Delaney.

Competent instructor

Towards the end of 2017, Eileen and I were on one of our campaigns at a ladies gym in Ballincollig. One of the instructors was a young Limerick fella called John. We were attending an exercise class on Wednesday evenings called beginners strength and tone. Quite quickly we realised that it was the best class we’d ever attended. There was no pretence, just hard work.

John’s voice bellows across us: “On my count; down (he means squat) half way up, down, one. Slow it down, half way up, down two.” The backs of our thighs ache. John’s good-humoured banter makes us smile. I get an exercise wrong and I realise I’m on my back while the others are in a sitting position.

“Katherine, you missed three. You have to do them at the end.” John pushes us, but never lets up on the safety. Our positioning is everything and he always explains why. The exercises are carefully designed to avoid any injury. Very quickly we realised that John was an extremely competent instructor.

Around that time I found out that my cholesterol was extraordinarily high, which causes other health issues. Getting fit became a priority. Lots of things happen once you’re over 50. Also around this time John took over the lease of the gym. As mammies, we were thrilled to see a young man taking on a new business with enthusiasm.

Baggage outside

The positive news is that we have stuck with our exercise programme. Somewhere along the line Breda joined us, so now we are three. We attend two classes per week. We use some weights and we work hard. You imagine you will be stiff, but John’s expertise ensures that we don’t have a pain or an ache.

The focus is firmly on the correct posture and the proper way to protect our backs and joints. Then Jer, another bloke, came on the scene. His classes are different but just as enjoyable, with the same focus on posture and safe movement. Trish followed with a different suite of expertise. We laugh about being John’s older bunch of ladies. We feel great. What I really like about Fitz Fitness is the lack of airs and graces. We are a big bunch of ladies young and old.

We all have baggage that we leave outside the door. We enjoy our classes and value the time spent with John, Jer and Trish. We feel better and definitely have more energy. I’m really happy that I can look back on 2018 and know that I stuck at it. My resolution is to keep it up. The only pity is that it took me 30 years to find the right combination of exercise and motivation. There’s something there for everyone. Go for it. It’s never too late to get fit. It’s also time to check that cholesterol level again.