Tubby like Pooh? Not me

Liz Hodgkinson on the benefits of a

Next year I shall be 80. But am I a sad old biddy, taking buckets of pills every day, grappling with a dodgy hip, high blood pressure, osteoporosis and rheumy eyes?

I am not. Apart from a certain amount of annoying hearing loss, I would say that I am as fit and healthy as I was 30 or 40 years ago. Every day I am climbing up and down 50 steps to my fourth-floor flat and I walk with a spring in my step. Most years, I go on a walking holiday, often over tough terrain.

But that is not all.

The secret to my continuing good health into what many people might consider extreme old age is, I believe, mainly down to my rigid daily exercise routine. I started doing exercise in earnest about 40 years ago to help me give up smoking and have continued ever since. When people ask whether I enjoy it I have to answer no, not really. I am by no means a natural athlete and hated gym at school, added to which I am basically lazy. So it is not easy but it has become such an unbreakable discipline that I feel I shall instantly turn into a wobbly old slob if I miss even a day.

My regime includes about 40 minutes on my home exercise bike, high impact interval training (HIIT) and weightlifting at my local gym, plus the gentler routines of Pilates, yoga and tai chi. Apart from the Pilates, all these sessions are intense enough to work up a sweat and I am usually dripping by the time I get off the bike or finish the aerobics class. And even at my age, I continue to improve.

My HIIT instructor, all of 24 and therefore 55 years younger than me, has seen my fitness levels increase as he takes me through high knees, jumping jacks, burpees – horrible but satisfying (when over) - squats and mountain climbers. I can say that if you have never done an HIIT class, you have no idea how long 30 seconds lasts. But in a masochistic kind of way, I look forward to these workouts. Or, at least, I look forward to the feeling of wellbeing when they’re over.

The benefits of regular, intense exercise have been well documented and include a certain level of protection against many chronic and age-related diseases. Around two-thirds of people in the UK are considered to be overweight and exercise can certainly help here. A woman friend lost three stone in a year by exercising with a personal trainer. I enjoy my food and would far rather exercise off excess eating than go on a nasty restrictive diet.

It may sound obvious but if you are overweight, huge extra strain is put on joints, muscles, the heart and

daily work-out

and it definitely improves mood. If I feel anxious or under stress, I can guarantee that a vigorous workout will lift my mood. It is impossible to think about anything else when performing a strenuous exercise routine and I often find that by the time the class or session is over, I have forgotten what I was worried about. At the very least, I know that 30 minutes on the treadmill at the gym, for instance, will put my problems into perspective.

the digestive system. Frequent rigorous exercise also ensures a quick throughput, meaning you get rid of waste matter fast, not allowing it to clog up and remain in the body. Wrinkles cannot be avoided whatever you do, although exercising enough to work up a sweat keeps skin supple and soft.

So how much exercise should you do to make a difference? The latest advice from the American Physical Activity Guidelines is that adults should aim for 150 minutes or 2.5 hours of moderate to intense exercise a week, which is more than it sounds. I also find that it helps to exercise with a friend. My next door neighbour is a gym bunny and we go to many classes together. Often when I meet her outside, especially in cold, snowy or rainy weather, we say to each other: ‘I really don’t want to do this; we must be mad.’ But we make the effort and come back agreeing what a good workout we have just enjoyed – or endured.

There are no guarantees of course but I am convinced that my exercise regime over the years and decades has ensured that I am not on any prescription medication whatever – I just don’t need it – and far from overburdening the health service, I have not been to see a doctor for many years. It is also more than 50 years since I was last a patient in an NHS hospital and that was to have a baby, not because I was ill.

It is also never too late to take up at least some exercise. Pilates is ideal for older, less fit people and swimming is also excellent. You may not be able to manage a highintensity workout but even the most unfit can cope with a tai chi class. And if you do sign up for a suitable class this year and keep at it, you will be very glad you did.

New to exercise? Consult a personal trainer near you at www.ukfitness.pro