I was on the tennis team in middle school (5th to 8th grade). I was fit during high school and it was college that hit me hard. I was so focused on my studies that I neglected my health and really got out of shape. It wasn't until this past winter that I told myself that I was going to get committed again.

I had a gym rat boyfriend in high school. I can still remember going to a gym for the first time and going on my "tour" of the machines and being like, what? It's about 10 years later (whoa), I can say that I feel like an old pro now and I'm glad I started when I did. I'll definitely encourage my kids to go some day.

i had a bad break up in college, and got in super awesome shape to make him realize he was a fool! which he was but it's been about 8 years now, so it was the best thing that ever happened to me!

I hit the gym as soon as I was about to have to go up a size.

during highschool I started belly dancing and running

After college, but I didn't start taking it seriously till my husband influenced me and now it's a part of my life and not just something I do if I have the time.

Part of our gym glass every year in highschool had a gym portion. We would go in there with all the football guys and pretend we knew what we were doing.

I didn't take fitness in middle school cause I was embarrassed for some reason. I ate crappy food and felt awful all the time. I had this constant headache and I was a little chunky and thick when I was 15.
I went to the doctors and she told me I needed water so I did. Then I started buying yoga dvds and I liked doing that. I started powerwalking around my block and I liked the adrenaline rush I got from exercise. I was about 17-18 at this time. I lost about 15-20 lbs.
I'm not athletic and I'm not about to take up any sports so I just run and do my at home dvds.

I had some jock friends in school. They introduced me to the idea of exercise as something one enjoys. Looking back, I can't thank them enough. Moving feels great. Trying new activities makes you feel alive. The body can do amazing things besides sit in a chair or lay on a couch. I do have my days when I'm a bit grumpy about working out, but I never come back from a session ever regretting it.

My mom used to take us to the gym with her when we were younger, like 10 or 11. I had (and still have) bad knees, so I would use machines to strengthen them.

During high school, I played tennis year-round, so I didn't do too much outside of that.

During college, I did aerobics and worked out on and off during my 5 years.

Post-college, I've had periods of slacking and working out -- right now I'm in a working out phase -- which is a good thing!

I have been working out consistently since I was about 13...I'm in my 20's now

I started swimming competitively in third grade, running competitively in 6th grade and it went on from there. I was in physical therapy in middle school so got introduced to a lot of gym equipment at that point and then in High School hitting the gym with the team's strength coach was part of our daily track practices. It was definitely nice to have an introduction to all of the equipment/exercises/knowledge from the start to facilitate maximizing working out at the gym by myself after college.

I was a dancer and a gymnast from grade school on, adding more classes a week of each every year. My sports/abilities have changed over time but I've always been active.

i started to swim competitively and cheer in middle school. i was in swimming and water polo all four years of high school, did gymnastics my freshman year and then cheerleading the other three. in the summer i swam competitively; i also was a lifeguard and usually worked out in the fitness center after work. lifeguards got free access to keep in shape for life saving (ha), plus my mom worked there. i live in illinois, and we have to have gym every day, so every day i'd be getting a workout because at my school, one day you are with your class (dance for me) and the other day, is a "card day" where you pick between swimming, running, aerobics or the fitness center, and at each, you need to have a heart rate of 150 or better...and usually we wore heart rate monitors. my mother works at a fitness center, so i went a lot in the past year. recently, i joined an all-woman gym with one of my best friends and TRY to work out a few days a week. i try to get some movement in every day.

i played soccer from age 4-23 and combine that with track in high school I never had to work out until I was about 22 or 23. I'm 27 now and working out whenever i can because my how my body has changed since those days!

I used to be a good runner and swimmer back in High school (but wasn't on a track team or swimming team). These were sort of hobbies.
At the end of my freshman year in College I started running and swimming again and after that I discovered Pilates, which is my greatest addiction.

I started track and cross country in middle school and haven't stopped running since.

At home I had little access to necessary equipment or a good environment for exercising. Once I entered college, however, the college gym was not only well-equipped and easily accessible, but the college itself was very conducive to walking/running outside.

I was on a highly competitive swim team from the time I was 12, so daily cross-training workouts were part of the game. It really taught me what hard work it is to be truly in shape, and not just sort of!

i played volleyball starting in junior high, and when i entered high school, they started us doing weight training and intense cardio during the summers before the season. my parents got me a membership to the ymca so i could train on my own, as well...and i've been working out ever since (but now at a much better gym than the good ol' y).

I was a total couch potato up until my sr. year of high school. I was the girl that wouldn't run in P.E. or anything like that. But a couple things happened that year... I had gained some weight the previous year and I didn't want to start college so overweight (nevermind that I ended up putting on the freshman 15 and then some), plus I was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma. Thanks to the asthma meds, suddenly working out was NOT PAINFUL for the first time in my life! Before that I had really thought that everyone's lungs hurt when they exercised.

My parents are both really active and loved to have little fitness challenges with us (my sister and I). The living room was challenge central: who could do the most push-ups, sit-ups... touch their toes, do a back bend, at the park my dad would be pull ups and I always wanted to try; we had many impromptu foot races..."hey guess what...onetwothree GO!). I was in dance from 7th grade until I graduated high school.
I first worked out in an actual gym in college and since then I've always had a gym membership.

During high school..when I was 13..best decision of my life

I did gymnastics when I was young, then tennis in middle school, and nothing in high school. I hit the gym in college, where I did weights for the first time. I'm such a gym snob though, because I like only the cleanest and well lit gyms. :/

It took me a couple years after high school to start working out. I wish I started earlier.

i danced several hours a week from age 3-17 so that plus good genes (thanks mom) i was very thin through highschool. then i discovered college, college food, and college parties! and put on some weight. luckily i discovered the colelge gym too but i wasn't really into it all that much, just the occasional work out. after college when i wanted to get back in shape i hit up the gym more regularly!

Played soccer since I can remember & started swimming competitively when I was in fourth grade. Although not competitively - I still swim and coach/teach swimming. Started working out in the gym during highschool.

I remember skipping gym class and hiding on mile day... I didn't consider myself an athlete, so I avoided exercise.

But during college, exercise seemed to have less to do with who you hung out with, and more to do with health. So I started lifting and running, and now I'm more active than my high school self could have ever imagined.

sports in High school... actually working out at the gym college.

i've been using cardio and weight equipment since i was probably seven or eight, which was when i started to get heavily into gymnastics...gave me good habits for life

The first time i worked out was in 7th grade. My friend told me that she did crunches and leg lifts every night so I started. I still kind of follow this routine, but now I just incoprate more exercise into my life as well.

i wish my early gym years had been a bit healthier. young girls should definitely be initiated with a personal trainer. especially someone who can ask them about their goals, and the origin of the goals.

During college, but I was on-and-off with it. But two years after I graduated in '04 did I start consistently working out, and now a year later I can't go a day without exercising.

i think most people they start in high school because theres the oh i want to do as many extracurriculars as i can blah blah but also theres always popularity in the sport teams equaling and easier high school year.

i started when i was even younger though with kick boxing and such then in high school i kicked it up a notch to be more toned.

i played basketball during middle school, but don't consider that "working out". i was pretty out of shape for an "athlete" until my sophomore year. then i took things seriously and started lifting and running. now the goal is to beat the freshman 15.

Around 17-a late bloomer.

I've always been small... I still am, but after gaining my freshman 15 times 2, it was time to shape up. My stomach has never looked the same. I should have started before high school!

I started when I was 12 with dancing and aerobic classes. And I haven't stopped except for short periods of time due to extra workload or a health problem. But the more I work out, the healthier I am

I've always been sporty but I never considered it working out. It was just good fun. I've never enjoyed the gym much.. I need to chase a ball or run for a purpose. I'm so glad I had sports in school as it really gave me a sense of purpose and belonging. I feels so good to be active. I love how my body feels when I'm fit. I'm 30 now and still play soccer twice a week. I hope I stay injury free so don't have to give it up.

Honestly, I did Ballet 3 times a week for 13 years. When I started college, I became lazy! After I started my allergy meds, I blew up.
I was tired of people asking me If i was expecting!
Now I take this class 4 times a week, and all my friends see a big difference, plus i'm happier.

I started young I wanted to be like my brothers and play in junior minor league baseball but the folks were not hearing it.

So I started playing tennis at around the age of 7 and then continued to do that - sprinkled a little track and field by the time I got to high school and when I was in college played very little tennis and running but mostly went to the gym.

I have tried to start up the tennis thing again in fits and starts but mostly I try to make it to the gym a minimum of 2x per week and as many as 4-5x per week.

since 5 years old!