It's Me, Darlings! From the Future!

OK, fine it's not me.

But in this article me-of-the-future is played by 64-year-old fashion icon and blogger Lyn Slater, who incidentally, only became a household name in the world of fashion a few short years ago. Proof you can do anything, at any point in life.

If me and me from the future could have a conversation, I was hoping it might go something like this:

Me of the Past: Hey, Channah, do you have any regrets in life?

Me of the Future: I dunno.

M.O.T.P: OK... Well I'm just trying to get some insight here.

M.O.T.F: Yeah, but I'm kinda busy...

M.O.T.P: Oh, so this impatience thing is here to stay...

M.O.T.F: Smartass. What do you really wanna know?

M.O.T.P: I mean you look great, happy, fulfilled. What I should do more of? Less of?

M.O.T.F: OK fine, I was just messing with you. Maybe a little less worrying about what others think, and a bit more fun.

Stop watching the Housewives of Potomac, there is nothing to gain.

Try to fill your life with more things you really love.

This is my imagination's long-winded way of saying if I could talk to myself in the future, what will I think about what I look like and who I am?

In my experience fitness is never just about fitness, it is mainly about psychology. This is because the state of our health plays a huge role in our lives and that of others.

Are we managing, coping? Are we supportive or do we need supporting? Do we have issues that need to be worked on? Are we holding on to a bad job, a toxic relationship? Do we have too little control? Too much?

The questions go on, and border on the philosophical. What are fair sacrifices for our future selves? How should we fill our time?

From the perspective of "future us", how disciplined should we be? What should we "make" ourselves do in the interest of longevity?

Has anyone been to gym lately (little fitness professional humour!)? If you are not a fitness professional, I would hardly be surprised if you felt afraid to go, especially if you have been out of the fitness game. And you don't even need to go to get "the fear". One glance at Instagram is all sculpted-bums this and complicated-equipment that. A who's who in spandex.

While I can list all the reasons that gyms are the most efficient places to get fit, I'm very aware it isn't the latest touch-screen spin bikes that gets people coming back. It is the energy, the atmosphere, the social contact and, hopefully, the fun. The gym has become the ideal place for a little Friday night flirtation, especially if you don't drink. People who love the gym genuinely get joy from being there.

But if the thought fills you with dread, don't fight it. Work out what you love to do instead and get out and do it!

I still believe there is a fitness solution for everyone in this vast, weird, stranger-than-fiction existence.You love cake? Then set a distance and walk to your chocolate-y reward. Want to feel sexier? Get Belly Dancing, take up Brazilian booty-pop classes, learn to Tango, take up Pole Fitness.

Bored? Maybe it is because you haven't tried underwater weight-lifting yet? What? You are a mermaid? OK, then go be a mermaid. Get creative - someone invented synchronised swimming and mermaid workouts, and both of those are no things.

Love to dance? Turn the bloody music up, sweep the floor vigorously, create a broom-routine, scare the kids. Bloody Mary? Cycle to the bar, you've earned it!

You were once an active kid and then a young adult. What did you love or maybe didn't get a chance to try? Were you a clubber before life got in the way? Did you want to be a disco dancer? Did you skate? Did you fancy yourself in the ring? Basketball, football? Baseball? Whatever connects with the kid inside, go check it out today.

Most importantly, make fitness a joyful part of your life, not a drag. I'm not saying don't put the work in, you need to in order to get the results you want. But it doesn't feel such a sacrifice if you actually enjoy what you are doing. Fitness training can help you cover the training and technique part of getting in shape but the rest is a state of mind, and that is up to you.

Life is a balance sheet of precious time and experiences. Fill yours with as many joyful things you can. Future Me promises you won't regret it. And she is fabulous.