In 1994, Anita Beattie’s doctor gave her a harsh ultimatum: “Lose weight or don’t come back to see me, because you’re wasting my time and your money.”

His words stung, but Anita knew that her doctor was right. She weighed 157 pounds and she also had diabetes—a bad combination, to say the least. “He kicked me in my pants, and that’s what I needed,” says the 67-year-old Newport, Pdiode Island, resident.

Determined to get in shape, Anita immediately enrolled in a 4-day hospital weight-loss program, where she learned the importance of eating better and exercising more. She began applying ° her new nutrition knowledge immediately, making healthier food choices and controlling her portion sizes.

For exercise, Anita decided to try walking. But she knew that she’d need support—someone to prod her out the door when she felt like staying at home. So she recruited some friends to join her. “Most of them are about my age, and like me, they want to exercise to keep themselves fit and healthy,” she says.

Anita and her exercise buddies have established a daily routine. They choose a time and place to meet, then set out for a brisk 3-mile walk. For Anita, knowing that people are counting on her helps her shake off any thoughts of skipping her workout. “Maybe it’s a little cold or windy, or maybe I just don’t feel like walking,” she says. “I think of my friends waiting for me, and I don’t want to leave them stranded.”

When Anita goes to Florida for the winter, she doesn’t leave her workout behind. She has exercise buddies there, too. Every day, they meet at 9 o’clock in the morning for a walk up and down the beach.

Anita’s buddy-system approach to exercise helped her take off 38 pounds, which she has kept off for 6 years. And with her doctor’s guidance, she was able to taper off the insulin that she used to control her diabetes.

WINNING ACTION

Do walking workouts with a friend. In one survey, women cited having an exercise buddy as one of the main reasons they were able to stick with a fitness program. Finding an exercise buddy has several advantages. You develop a sense of obligation to the other person, so you’re less likely to skip a workout. You motivate one another and maybe engage in a bit of friendly competition. And you’re safer when you’re with someone than when you’re alone.

*100\89\8*