Last night, something happened while I was working out that really boosted my motivation. No, I wasn't suddenly bench-pressing 200 pounds or running 6 minute miles. Out of the blue, I was asked out on a date.

Some background: The gym is actually a YMCA, nestled in a suburban neighborhood close to several schools and a park. When I think of the social vibe, it's more kids and family than a singles dating scene. I'm usually hitting the gym around 7:30am, and trust me, at that hour noone is looking for a date. Like me, most morning YMCAers have just stumbled out of bed and into their workout clothes, and most of them need to get through their routines and on to work.

Yesterday I ended up skipping my morning workout to take my daughter to an early flight, but brought my workout clothes to work and headed over around 7pm. Did my usual stretch and then started 30 minutes on a cardio Wave machine while listening to music and reading a book. A few minutes into my workout, a guy I had never seen before stops by to ask me about the Wave. Is it fun? We talk for a bit, then he moves on to an elliptical and I keep working out. I'm still there when he comes by again and says "Look, I know this is a bit strange, but I think you're very attractive. I don't know what your situation is, but would you be interested in going out for a coffee or dinner or something?"

I was completely floored. I'm in workout clothes (NOT cute ones, I might add), hair is pulled back in a ridiculous cross between a bun and ponytail, I'm wearing my reading glasses, and of course I'm sweating up a storm - not to mention, I'm still 20 pounds away from a normal BMI. And someone finds me really attractive?! Someone who's also cute, very toned, and as it turns out, 14 years younger than me.

Of course I gently declined; I've been living with my boyfriend/fiance/common law husband for seven years and I'm not looking to get out or start anything on the side. Still, I made sure to tell him how flattered I was, and that if I was single I would most certainly have accepted. I have to say I admire the courage of someone who can just come right out and ask a virtual stranger out.

The whole experience has me rethinking how I view myself. If I used adjectives to describe myself, I'd probably say average, middle-aged, settled, perhaps a bit dumpy. But attractive? Still hot at 51? Who wudda thunk it?!