Sara Herold teaches a water aerobics class at the YMCA. Shaylan Owen | INstride

Name: Sara Herold

Age: 45

Profession: Marketing/Membership Director YMCA

Best lifestyle change in the last five years: I quit obsessing over working out vigorously three times a week and now do activities I enjoy. I do activities where I can laugh and have fun, such as: softball, wallyball, tennis, and walking.

Health/fitness advice: Never exclude foods—just eat in moderation and don’t beat yourself up if you do over do it once in a while. Use a smaller plate, eat lots of veggies and meatless dishes, and don’t deny yourself something decadent from time to time. Activity should be fun and enjoyable to you. Move every day—park farther away from building and walk a little faster. I have been involved teaching water fitness for over 10 years after a sports injury, and love how hard I can work the water without hurting my joints. It has made me stronger, so I am able to carry that over to land activities, like softball and tennis.

What motivates you: I dislike routine activity. I get bored easily, so doing activity that is playful and fun keeps me going. I could play wallyball for hours on end because I am having so much fun I don’t realize how hard I am really working.

How do you stay driven: I like how I feel when I eat healthier foods and am active. It does help that I work at a place where people come to be active.

Tools of the trade: If I am not able to laugh and have a good time, I don’t want to do it for very long. I am much more successful with a group. I don’t worry about having the perfect skill for the activity. My husband and I started playing tennis recently, and I still can’t serve the ball, but I love to volley the ball back and forth. The running all over the court not knowing where the ball will go next is the best!

INspiration ingredients

What inspires you: I am inspired to feel good inside and out no matter what age I am. Staying active and taking care of yourself is important at any age. It does catch up with you, and is much harder to reverse as you get older, but not impossible.

Who: Lillian Gantz, a YMCA member in her 90s who comes everyday to swim laps. And many others.

Where: The YMCA is full of inspiration. Just look around at all the different people with different abilities. There is something for everyone.

Sara Herold at the YMCA. Shaylan Owen | INstride