JC said - "the commitment to exercise is greater when you're part of a group". This is absolutely true. its what makes team sport a wonderful thing. (/glances sideways at 'old boy')

Yes walking is great exercise, even if that means using the stairs instead of the lift or even if it means walking the length of the shopping centre to the place you want to visit. Swimming is good too, another low impact exercise, and if you go to one of the indoor pools you can keep doing it all year round.

Make it a habit. Take it easy for the first 6 months - injuries will stop you. Learn some easy and gentle stretches, and make sure you do the stretches before and after exercising.

I should report that my GP prescribed a new drug Champix which makes smoking a cigarette like smoking a cigarette with no tobacco in it, because the nicotine receptors in your brain are blocked. Within 2 weeks of taking the tablets, as per the directions, I just stopped buying cigarettes because I wasn't smoking them. There are several more weeks of tablets and they stop any cravings. A new drug that works. Exercising is easier when you are not coughing.

Isn't it good that these shopping centres provide nice heated or air conditioned spaces for us to exercise in all year round? Charlestown Square is even more exciting now with all the new areas under construction (safely behind white walls).

Walking is something i need to get into, since my accident on my pushbike, i really haven't been doing anything active. But the cold mornings are really tough to get up early enough for the walk. I need to just get up earlier i guess.

agree with everything mentioned jeff, except boot camp.

I have found in my years that you have to struggle through the hard part to make a routine out of it... The same as brushing your teeth became a routine when you were a kid. Excuses are usually the first thing that will make you stop; Things like 'I'm travelling for work this week' or 'I'm on holidays' or 'We have visitors'... Pffft! Even walking in the brisk cold rain is invigorating if you get your mindset past the negative

The problem with women is they wont go out without make-up on and that takes up time and gives them another excuse not to .So--the solution is wear a burqa when you walk,ladies. Plus none of your so-called girlfriends will know whose juddering bum is being hauled around the block. Simple!

I think taking up exercise as a permanent part of your life is working out how to make the mental change. I calling it flicking the switch. It took me six months after my son was born. I was already doing relatively regular walks up to the shops (10-15 min walk). Plus it was easier to put bub in the pram and walk to Hamilton Station and catch a train into Newcastle city for other shopping, than it was to load the pram and baby in the car, drive in and unload etc. at the other end. But this wasn't enough. So I joined a gym and attend classes 3-4 times a week, plus use the gym. But it needs to be varied and fun for me. It's no good if it's boring. So I try to do different classes throughout the week. I'm really trying to flick the switch to start swimming laps..... but oooooh that will be difficult at first. So my advice to your friend is to really think about what she wants to achieve and what would be the best way. She knows herself the best! And she needs to work out if she can make a commitment to team sports or if independent exercise is best. Maybe she should join your group Jeff? Or is that more of a bloke thing?