THERESA: My gym partner Wendy has completely abandoned me. She has not been to the gym in weeks and weeks. (How long HAS it been, Wendy?) For months we'd head to the company gym at the same time three times a week or so-- bugging each other to keep at it, making it a social thing. That was GREAT. Then the company gym closed several days for cleaning and that threw us completely off. We all know what it's like to take time off and then have trouble getting back into an exercise routine. I'm back in the weight room now (and it's been tough getting back up to speed) but Wendy seems busier than ever, and can't seem to make the time. I think fall can be an especially tough time of year to stay motivated. Anybody have any tips or advice to share about keeping up exercise momentum and getting back to workouts after a break?

ELLEN: I have had the same problem after some recent surgery. I’ve learned that people like Theresa and me are "social" exercisers and we need people to make our workouts, well , work out. I have this need to go someplace in the morning and have them speak in gentle tones to me. I am not particularly good in the morning in general. Maybe our pal Wendy has a different exercise style. She seems to be the sly, silent type to me. And now I suppose you’ll ask me why I have not been down to the company gym in five years. I just have to have a place close to home. Getting gussied up at work doesn’t work for me. I’m always forgetting something essential. I recently joined a gym in Ardmore. I admit I do find the perky people there a bit scary. I need to tell them to speak softly in the ayems. I hope it works out. It’s kind of expensive.

APRIL: I am also one of those people who needs a workout buddy to stay motivated. Theresa and I have run up to 12 miles together because time passes quickly while we chat. But by myself, it would be hard to find the motivtion to pass 5 miles. Fall is especially tough for me, since I can't run outside, and the gym can get so boring when I head to it solo. So I end up using little tricks to get myself motivated. I keep a collection of CD's at work, and change them each day so I can run to different music. Or I set a specific time for running, for example before lunch each day, which helps me make sure I get the workout done and get rewarded with lunch. When I do go several days without running (I skipped four days last week!) the first gym visit is always the toughest. But I find that setting a realistic personal goal, like running just a couple of miles, can help. I end up feeling great and sometimes even running more than that because my body is well-rested from the break.

THERESA: Well, as I recall, April, during the last two miles of our 12-mile run a couple weeks ago, my conversation mostly consisted of "Oh-h-h-h, man, my legs hurt. When do you think we'll be done?" But it is really great in our workplace that we have plenty of friends to exercise with. I've been doing weights this week with Yvonne, and she had me doing some ab crunches that were completely brutal. And you're right, April. Starting nice and easy when you start back at it is the best way to go.

LAURIE: I have gotten out of my exercise pattern the last few weeks because of an injury. Now I'm getting back in the swing, and it's hard. What I try to do is ease back in slowly and not beat myself up for having missed exercise sessions. What's done is done! I try not to make up for everything the first time I go back to the gym or the dance studio. Otherwise I just end up sore.

YVONNE:When I am completely unmotivated to work out but know I really should I tell myself to just go through the motions of getting ready. You don't have to pretend you're particularly spirited. As a matter of fact, I wallow in my dread. But I still change my clothes, head to the gym or outside. Very slowly. And I start the workout slow. Two or three minutes into the workout my body overtakes my mind. Once I am warmed up the body is like, "Yes, this is what I needed." Now in some instances or for some people rest might do a whole lot more good for the mood. But if I know I am avoiding working out because I just don't feel like it, not because I am tired, I don't allow myself the out. Because I am so much more pleasant when I get that blood and oxygen through my muscles. My two immediate bosses are not shy about telling me when I am being a grump - and I hate being told I am a grump!

LAURIE:Yvonne, I love that idea of just going through the motions, acknowledging you don't want to do it but doing it anyway. Because of course, once you get started, you don't stop.

JENICE: Where's Wendy? What does she have to say about all this?

ELLEN: Yeah, Where is Wendy?

...In other news, I have a friend who works out at a tony center city gym. She tells me that there’s a bunch of women who exercise together. Some days it’s just too much so they all arrive in their gym clothes and head for the steam room. They don’t even get on a treadmill. The wisdom here is that at least they got to the gym and they are building muscle memory by putting on their gym clothes to go have a steam. Ha! I wish I was them.

WENDY:Thanks, gals, for all the ideas and not bitching me out for my TERRIBLE lapse in exercising! I'll tell you, the two ideas that were most helpful for me were Yvonne's idea of just getting started and allowing myself to say "I'll just take it easy today." I'm the type who would use that to get started but then push it a little. The other idea is this: HELP ME! I respond very well to nagging, so all of you folks should nag me to go to the gym. And anyone who is lurking out there: E-mail me at girlfriends@phillynews.com; please nag me too (or send me your ideas on this problem, which I suspect is widespread!). I will tell you, I do prefer to work out with a buddy -- it combines working out with my favorite activity, which is talking.

Thanks for all the motivation and support, gals -- I will promise to try to do better.