My whole life, I have never really gone to the gym. I started going to the gym a couple of years ago on and off to help my arthritis but never got the personal experience that I was looking for.

When 24/7 fitness opened, I saw they held community gold classes and because of the convenient location I decided to give it a go.

The community classes have been fantastic. They cater for the needs of individuals and have been helpful in working on my flexibility, joints, and mobility. With the one-on-one attention I get in this class, it is a space I feel comfortable and can work at my own pace.

I must mention this, - This is one of the very few gyms where you walk in, and people greet you and they know who you are and that is a real benefit.

In the end, alongside this, it is what we do in the community classes that I enjoy. I must say Cameron is great, he adjusts the classes to our weaknesses. I can tell you there's a couple of things I am terrible at, I am not good with balance, so it gets adjusted according to our needs.

I am incredibly positive about the classes; my flexibility has improved. I could never do aerobics in my life, or Zumba, I have got no rhythm, just one of those people; but my flexibility is much better, and that goes with the balance and mobility bit as well, which has also improved.

There is something else I am immensely proud of, even if I was not focusing on getting skinny, I was a little bit overweight and I've lost over 8kgs, which is good for me at my age, and this was without having any real big effort.

It is never too late to start. That is the main reason why I am here, if I do not come, I will become old and decrepit. We all are going to get older and more mature, but I believe we have an accountability to help prevent that... to look after our bodies as we age that they keep on functioning properly.

"Late last year I finally decided to stop pontificating & retire from work. After the decision was made I was reasonably relaxed about it until all the doomsday people started telling me I would be board, become lethargic & have no challenges. :-( I have always had a busy lifestyle with work, friends, socialising & both watching & participating in sport. Now that the work aspect was gone I had more time to improve my golf but that didn't provide all that I wanted. Its a good 6 or 7 Km walk but can hardly be classed as a strenuous workout & the words "lethargic & challenge" came back to me. I definitely did not want to become like some of the "full of figure" members of the golf club.

So thats when I decided to join the Whitby 24/7 gym. Its local, not to big but still has all the equipment I need. I checked out the website & liked what I saw, especially having assistance in setting up a training program to meet my goals. Once registered & with some trepidation I arranged a gym visit to be shown around & to set up the training program. Not sure what I felt any trepidation as the trainer made me feel at ease & after I explained my goals we set up a program to achieve. It could have been left at that but I was told just to ask if I needed any further help or advise or if I wanted to make changes to the program.

I have set myself specific challenging but achievable targets which I am well on the way to achieving. Then when I achieve these targets it will be time to go to the next level. Its a bit like the carrot & the donkey... just keep it in front of you. Its definitely made easy by the friendly atmosphere in the gym where both trainers & other customers talk to you & this is not always the case in other gyms. Certainly makes the pain more enjoyable :-) Probably what I am most enjoying is that I "want" to go to the gym & missing a day is not what I like. I have set a minimum of 3 days a week but generally go 4 or 5 times, especially when the golf is bad.

I get real enjoyment from setting & achieving goals & am also changing my eating habits so all the gym work is not wasted by poor nutrition. I haven't done anything silly like becoming vegan & giving up drinking but I have made changes & these changes combined with the exercise have me feeling fitter & more energetic than I have for years. I am working harder physically but feeling a lot more energised. After a few muscles got over the shock of being used for the first time in years it has also helped me hit the golf ball straighter, but I still need to find the exercise to hit it straight every time.

My wife & I are about to go on an overseas holiday playing golf & eating local foods but I will be packing my gym gear so that I do not let all the progress I have made become a distant memory. 6 months ago if you had told me that I would be doing that I can assure you it would not have happened. But through my time at the gym it has given me more energy & drive to get the most out of life without taking all the fun away The challenges are good but achieving them is gold.