Exercise can be a song and dance

THE weird thing about pain is that if you are laughing and having fun at the same time its potency is diminished. This is one of the sublime by-products of a session of Swing Train – an exercise class set to swing and be-bop music and with the sort of moves that would have Cab Calloway jitter bugging in his grave.

The class I went to was full of women (men welcome, too) of all ages, shapes and levels of fitness and one thing we had in common was our smiles were all bigger than our waistlines.

Developed by Scott Cupit, a dance teacher

WE HAVE become a nation of grazers. Not just walking and texting while noshing fast food, but we like to have a snack at the ready to boost our blood-sugar levels.

But it is not all chocolate bars and crisps hidden in desk drawers. and entrepreneur whose pitch secured investment from Deborah Meaden via the BBC’s Dragons’ Den, Swing Train is an exercise experience accompanied by the vintage vibes of swing, blues and jazz – a marked difference to the headsplitting techno music that accompanies most exercise classes.

We attempted the Charleston, wagged our fingers in cool jive moves and barely kept up with some crazy waiter moves.

It was fun, taxing and sweaty and I’m utterly hooked. Recharge your chuckle muscles and get fit, too. FOOD makes us happy so graze for happiness or as one wit said: “My life is a series of awkward and embarrassing moments interspersed with snacks.” Anyone going to the shops?

I’M NUTS FOR A LITTLE NOSHING

Research reveals we are reaching for nuts, fruit, olives and protein to keep us going.

In my handbag I always – along with lipstick and brush – make sure I have a packet of peanuts.

Some handy nuts help prevent my daily grump slump. WWW.REALCOACHINGCO.COM