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by Nedra Vittachi

Though the doctors say that exercise is vital for your good health I didn't care two hoots. I sauntered through life leaving my well-being in the hands of the powers that be.

I was lethargic, fat and ungainly. Then my dear friend Thisula decided to start walking. With undeterred compulsion she tried to persuade me to join her in an evening walk. It must have been a daunting task.

" You're fat, " she grumbled.

"I like being fat," I lied. It was not entirely untrue because I was not one for decorative appearance or cosmetic imagery.

But I did have a conflict with my clothes - they did not fit and I had to buy a new array of attire when I expanded more. Heaving my gross weight around was not entirely pleasant. Yet, I resisted.

"You're lethargic," she said cautiously.

"I enjoy doing nothing, with my mind a blank, " I replied. But I wasn't feeling fit and healthy. I got tired easily and sometimes short of breath. I had scoliosis -a curvature of the spine and diabetes.

My doctor advised me to run.

"I will only run if someone is chasing me," there was no chance of that either. I just wasn't lucky enough.

" Just try it for a week, and if you don't like it, I will not bother you again," she cajoled.

"If that is a promise I will try it, not for a week but three days.

I went- with trepidation. I huffed and puffed and managed one round at the Gymkhana grounds. I walked with compulsion. It was a chore. Four rounds of the grounds was one mile but I achieved only one round and got fed up in the process. I didn't go the next day.

I felt guilty and wretched, so in two days I walked again.

Much to my delight, I did two rounds. That night I didn't have a spine ache.

I was discouraged and disappointed with myself for not having an intense desire to continue the walks.

Yet, I went ,this time with more vim and vigour. But I was still on round two. As I was pleased with myself I lapsed into a bout of lethargy and missed the walk the next three days.

My spine played up again.

This time round it was health reasons and the guilt that spurred me on. I wanted desperately to be "fit".

Then I got to three rounds. I felt on top of the world but in the back of mind a small voice told me I had to do one mile which was four rounds.

After one month I got onto four rounds. My back problem eased off and my old energy returned. The bonus was a slight loss of weight -my pants kept slipping off.

Then, due to a sore foot I didn't walk for one week. All hell broke loose -my scoliosis returned with wrath, I felt like a lump of lard and began to look like one as well.

My pants started getting tight once more.

Once I started walking once more it was a do or die situation - I just had to master four rounds and hey presto I achieved it again.

After a week of four rounds I was fired with a ferocious urge to keep it up. If I missed one day I was miserable and in a bad mood.

I sulked at home and snapped at everyone.

In the meanwhile a friend told me to try jogging. Apart from the fact that my spinal condition may play up again, I was too heavy to run.

When I resumed my walks, I was elated. I recalled the Ventures belting out 'Walk Don't Run'.

I did just that.

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