NEVER TOO LATE `TO GO FOR IT,' COUPLE SAYS.

Byline: Heesun Wee Daily News Staff Writer

Who: Married duo Vivian, 81, and Alec Siegel, 89, of Sherman Oaks.

What: Vivian is diabetic and has phlebitis. Alec suffered a mild stroke four years ago and today is battling arthritis. The ailments further threatened the health of the Siegels, who already were overweight, eating heartily and exercising minimally.

How: The couple is motivated by an old adage - ``It's never too late!''

The couple's journey toward health - and subsequently leaner bodies - began four years ago, following frank discussions with their physicians. Doctors suggested the couple exercise to stave off more severe medical problems.

Although the Siegels initially considered exercising moderately on their own, through such activities as biking, the two eventually decided ``to go for it,'' as Vivian puts it, and joined a private health club in Sherman Oaks.

For the last four years, the two have exercised three days a week, an hour at a time, under the supervision of a personal trainer who tailors workouts around the Siegels' medical conditions.

Both Vivian and Alec said getting started wasn't easy. ``I wondered if I was going to be able to do this,'' Vivian recalled. ``But my motivation was: I wanted to be healthy.''

In the beginning, Vivian, a retired nurse, had a poor sense of balance and needed support walking down a hall. Today, she jogs and pulls 60 pounds in weights using an exercise machine. Previously, Alec, who worked at a kosher meat-packing company, rarely exercised. Now, he handles 50 pounds of weights on a machine and uses the treadmill and stair-climbing machine.

Both report having more energy. They're also enjoying an unintended benefit from routine exercise - weight loss. During the past four years, 5-foot-tall Alec has lost 53 pounds, whittling down from 191 to 138 pounds. The 5-foot-2 Vivian has shrunk from 195 to 170.

``We live a better lifestyle than the average (people who are) 81 and 89,'' Vivian said.

The couple's fitness achievements aren't going unnoticed by other members of L.A. Private Trainers, who say the duo is inspiring.

``You look at them, and you look at what they're doing for themselves, and you think, `I hope I'm like that when I'm their age,' '' said Gail Cyprus, 50, of Granada Hills, who has been working out at the gym for the past two years.

Exercise doesn't have to be intimidating, no matter how old you are, Vivian said.

``They (senior citizens) think they can't do it,'' she explained. ``But it's just like an outing vs. a workout ...

``Good Lord, I'm 81, and I do it!''

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Photo: Vivian, 81, and Alec Siegel, 89, get fit together under the supervision of Pam Cravens at L.A. Private Trainers.

Bob Halvorsen/Daily News