ROCKPORT — After two bags of Tostitos scoop chips and queso dip, a box of Reese’s Pieces, a McDonald’s fish sandwich (“easy on the tartar”) and about the equivalent of two boxes of wine this week it’s safe to say, I’m destined to wear my Give Ups (translation: sweat pants) into the 2014 New Year unless something is done about it.

Luckily for all of us, Mid-Coast Recreation Center in Rockport offers ice skating — a great way to stay social in the winter while staying fit — for a very affordable price. They offer an Open Skate time from noon to 2 p.m. every day, and since our Cheap Dates series is all about the adults, I’m going to give you the inside scoop.  For nine bucks, you can have two hours of skate time with an ice skate rental and burn 575 calories (I looked it up) while whipping around a rink to the inspiring blare of Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack.”

The adults I talked to the other day when I went skating said the trick is to go on the week days. Sometimes there’s literally no one on the rink. But even when there are, it’s usually a handful of adults. You can practice your cross-overs, your backwards skating and the art of falling on your ass without too much people interference.

I just like to put on my headphones and pretend I’m 10 again, skating casually up beside some boy with the Star Wars jacket and corduroy flares, hoping he’ll notice my new Dorothy Hamill haircut.

After a good vigorous skate and the added bonus of watching Zamboni Man clean the ice, you can take a break with your sweetie or your pals and sit by the fire in the lounge, or grab some grub at their mini convenience store/food counter. (Seriously, $3.75 for a cheeseburger.)

Cheap Date for the Cheap Skates. This stuff just writes itself.

Happy New Year!

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com