How to keep fit & healthy, whatever YOUR AGE!

As your body's exercise priorities change through the decades, here's what the experts advise

- KAREN EVENNETT

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'Make time for fitness. Find workouts you can do at home to fit around your busy life,' says chartered physiotherapist and Pilates instructor Kate Cadbury.

IN YOUR 40s

Time-poor and stress-rich, you may struggle to fit exercise into your schedule – but this is a decade when your muscle mass is starting to shrink and you’re probably noticing more body fat than you’ve been used to. ‘A lot of women also to start to notice varicose veins at this age,’ says Vanessa Livingstone, specialist vein nurse at ukveinclinic.com.

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Express Pilates or yoga sessions, or a power walk or run, can all help with stress management while also improving overall fitness.

HIIT High-impact squat jumps, plank jacks, and star jumps can reap rewards in just two or three 20 or 30-minute sessions every week.

Seated calf pumps Pointing and flexing your toes with your legs extended – will help your vein health if you have a sedentary job.

IN YOUR 50s

Postmenopause, your joints may feel a little stiffer and you may be more aware of a decline in muscle mass. A combination of cardio exercise and resistance training can help, says Julie Robinson of menohealth.co.uk. ‘Ten minutes a day of flexibility exercises like yoga, Pilates, or tai chi will also help lift your mood, reduce anxiety, and ease brain fog.’

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