Keep Fit With Camille

Your twenties and thirties can be a difficult time for keeping fit. While your body is at its physical peak, lifestyle challenges such as busy schedules and drinking on the weekends can keep you from staying on top of your fitness regime and your weight and wellbeing can fluctuate depending on whether you're sacrificing your meal prep and gym time from an extra hour at work or a lie in instead.

We know that time is of the essence when it comes to fitting in a session at the gym - but did you know that you could be getting in a little extra exercise while you're at work? Make simple changes such as taking the stairs, offer to do the tea round to get some extra steps in around the cubicles (but keep your hand out of the biscuit tin!)

Among the key health issues that women in their mid forties and above face are fatigue, increased risk of heart disease, and natural bone loss - all of which can be eased with regular exercise. It's important that you embrace a mix of exercises including cardio and strength based exercise - so get your trainers out of the cupboard and roll out your yoga mats ladies, it's time to get your heart racing and strengthen up your joints.

If your weight is on your mind, you'll need to make sure that you're getting a good cardio workout in. Losing weight when you're 40 can be tricky, but even if you can't be tempted along to the gym, there are simple ways to make sure you're getting a good workout in, from taking a brisk walk to carrying the groceries home, or simply gardening.

However, you should try to set aside some dedicated time to exercise each week. We recommend joining an aerobics class, going for a bike ride, playing tennis or enjoying a dance class to keep on top of your cardio, and working on low impact strength training such as Yoga is perfect for strong bones, muscles and joints.

Over 65s may not be as focused on cardio based activities, but it's still important to make sure that you're exercising regularly. However, it's now even more important to make sure that you're exercising safely. Some of the challenges and barriers to a healthy lifestyle for women over65 include reduced mobility, pain managements, and fear of engaging in non-safe physical activity. It's completely understandable that if your joints are in pain and you're finding yourself to be less flexible than you once were, that you'd be nervous to exercise in case of causing further discomfort - but gentle exercise can actually be the key to reducing pain and increasing mobility. You can't forget about cardio completely in your later years, but activity that increases your heart rate such as going for a brisk walk just a few times a week can stave off all kinds of health issues. Combine this cardio activity with joint mobility focused exercise such as Pilates or Yoga, and you're well on your way to making sure you stay fit and mobile for years to come.