Alexis Thompson is adopting a new attitude to dating, love and life.

After my dreadful third date with French Guy last week, I was starting to get a little despairing in my search for love. I was tired of stumbling at the first hurdle in relationships, that all important third date when you start really getting to know someone, and ready to throw the towel in and abandon my search for Mr Right, Mr Right Now, or Mr Whoever. But then something happened. I joined a gym and my life took a turn for the better.

Now, let me tell you a bit about me. I'm the sort of person who has all these big plans and visions for the future, but absolutely no self-motivation to turn my dreams into a reality. The most I can manage is getting out of bed in the morning to work a nine to five shift in my office Monday to Friday, and even this can be a struggle at times. I unwind by drinking wine in pubs and bars with friends and I eat late, grabbing takeaways and throwing frozen pizzas and ready made meals into the oven. Once a month I'll go for a run around my local common, but about 10 minutes into the run I'll get tired and turn back.

I realise that I'm not painting a great picture here, but honestly it wasn't always like this. In my pre-London days I was bursting with life and energy, this was until I moved down south and discovered that people here go out drinking on a week night and suddenly I was sucked into a world of boozy, late nights and days filled with stinking hangovers.

The realisation that I could probably do with a change of lifestyle hit me the other night when I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and noticed how dull and lifeless my skin was looking, and that I had these black shadows underneath my tired eyes.

I made a decision that things had to change, so the next day I took myself down to my local gym and signed up to a one month membership, so I could try it out. On my first visit I felt slightly intimidated by the dedicated gym-goers. These were the tiny, nimble women in leggings and sweat bands, looking effortless and cool while they endured gruelling workouts on their cross-trainers. Well the men, built like outside toilets strutted around, flexing their abs and lifting weights with only their finger tips.

I, dressed in an oversized grey t-shirt and old jogging bottoms went straight to the treadmill which was tucked furthest away so that no one could see me. I eased myself back into exercise with a 20 minute power walk on a steep incline, and after an hour there I was hooked. The adrenaline had kicked in and I remembered how much a visit to the gym could lift your spirits and make you feel so much better about yourself. I've been pretty much every day since signing up.

This new healthy attitude has even rubbed off on my eating habits and my fridge is now filled with vegetables, fresh fruit and lean meat, I even bought a wok to cook them in.

In addition to my regular gym visits and change in diet I, and this is the one I'm most proud of, have cut back on my weekly intake of alcohol. So the two large glasses of chilled Rose I'd normally treat myself to after work, have now been replaced with mango and banana smoothies and peppermint tea.

Sorry if this is all starting to sound a little smug and boring, but seriously I feel fantastic for it. They say feeling good comes from within and I've certainly proved that theory this week.

So when French Guy finally text back to tell me that taking things slowly was no fun for him, and wished me good luck with the rest of my life, I didn't get angry or upset about it, I just simply deleted his number and thought to myself 'good riddance.'

Dating is tough, and after all the false hopes and disappointments you occasionally need to take some time out from it all. My time out has given me a renewed sense of optimism which has enabled me to take on the dating world again. Now I just need to find myself a nice new guy, and there is one person who I have in mind who has caught my attention down at the gym....

Will love blossom for Alexis at the gym? Read next weeks Single in the Suburbs to find out.