There was a time, just a few years ago, when Amy Plummer’s life was ruled by her left big toe.

She had a bunion — and all the searing pain that comes with one.

She couldn’t jog or walk. Sometimes she could barely get up from a squatted position. And she had to stop going to the gym because even small movements made exercise difficult. She went from 10 hours of activity every week to nothing.

When Plummer described that period of her life on a recent summer evening just before a walk through Mili­lani, her painful past seemed too nightmarish to be true.

"I would bend down to pick something up, and I’d be stuck," she said. "It’s a scary feeling to think that I’d be forced to have an inactive lifestyle."

But Plummer, a 52-year-old real estate agent, was able to walk off toward a happy ending she once thought impossible.

"It’s great to be active again," Plummer said. "I’m trying to get back to doing something at least five days a week."

Plummer’s problem was a bunion on a bone at the base of her toe. It was most likely caused by the way she walked and the fact that she often wore high heels.

Plummer maintained an active lifestyle for most of her adult life, until the foot pain caused her to cease almost all activity in the fall of 2011.

"The pain was excruciating," she said. "And since I couldn’t imagine not walking normally for the rest of my life, I decided to do the surgery."

In December 2011, Plummer’s doctor made an incision near the big-toe joint and removed soft tissue to relieve pain and restore normal alignment.

Pins, which were later removed, were used to hold the bones in place after the procedure.

The operation was a success, but even though the pain was gone, Plummer struggled to reclaim her fitness. Instead of working out, she remained sedentary for a couple of years. Not being able to work out for a lengthy period of time, Plummer lost both stamina and strength.

"The things that I could do well before had become difficult," she said.

At the time, Plummer was caring for her 86-year-old mother. Watching the older woman’s health deteriorate made her realize she needed to get back on track.

Lacking the motivation to get started on her own, she decided to create her own little support group. In May, Plummer set up a group, Mili­lani Talk and Walk, and things took off from there.

"It helps keep me accountable," she said. "I have to show up, rain or shine."

Members of the group are referred to as "twalkers." They meet on Saturdays at 8 a.m. Routes alternate among the seven recreational centers in the Mili­lani area. The group has nearly 40 members, but an average of a half-dozen walkers show up each week. Plummer wanted a group where members could chat and make new friends while getting active.

The group usually walks about 3 miles, or for about an hour.

"Somebody always shows up," Plummer said. "As long as one person comes, it works out."

All of her group members told Plummer they needed the same motivation she needed.

The walking sessions helped Plummer condition her body and build strength to begin other activities. Now she attends water aerobics classes and started taking a weightlifting/cardio class at 24-Hour Fitness.

"The hardest part was getting started again," she said. "I got out of the habit of working out. I just made a decision to get moving again. Without your health you have nothing, so this year I’ve decided to focus on fitness and wellness again."

And what about her feet?

She takes better care of them with measures that are more feel-good maintenance than workout. She moisturizes, gets the occasional pedicure and often wears sneakers instead of heels.

Plummer plans to keep walking and hopes to shed 10 to 15 pounds in the process.

"I have a lot of work to do, but I’m motivated," she said. "We only have one body, but we tend to take better care of our cars."

For more info on the Mili­lani Talk and Walk group, visit meetup.com or email AmyPakPlummer@gmail.com. Good Fit spotlights inspiring fitness stories of change, self-discovery and challenge, and other fitness-related topics. Tell us what motivates you and how you stay fit and healthy. Email features@staradvertiser.com.