Many of us get up in the dark to exercise. But how many of us question why we’re doing it?

July 9, 2026 — 5:00am

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I have begun walking in the morning – for two reasons. Like many women my age, I’ve put on weight and my clothes don’t fit anymore. I don’t mean jeans so tight you drive home from work with their top button undone. I literally can’t get my pants over my hips. Which makes me quite sad because I like my clothes and I hate shopping.

Secondly, I know that the generally accepted best way to live longer is to move your body every day – and I must admit I do not. Not even every second day. I like to smash out a run here, a Pilates class there, but only when the mood takes me, which these days isn’t often because I’m tired and busy and I’d much rather read a book. I know I should do more, I just don’t really want to.

Luckily, a very fit woman on Insta told me that small goals and consistent exercise is better than sporadic grand gestures, and she lost 20 kilos simply walking 30 minutes every morning. I like the theory. Bite-sized, achievable action. Sounds very normal and healthy, and clearly the pathway to getting back........

© The Sydney Morning Herald