Ask Dr Miriam

Q I’m in my mid-50s and I feel I’m getting more and more unfit. What kind of exercise do you think I should be doing? A Your core muscles become increasingly important as you get older because strong abdominal muscles protect your spine.

So find an exercise that focuses on your core. Pilates is a good exercise for these muscles. Then do some form of exercise for your heart and lungs. Running, cycling and swimming are all good for cardio.

The exercise trainer Matt Roberts believes you should do interval training once a week. This means going as fast as you can for short bursts during your run, cycling or swimming. It’s also the best way to burn fat. In middle age he recommends you lift weights to replace muscle mass which declines with age (from about 25 onwards, men lose a fifth of a pound of muscle a year). Lifting weights also improves bone strength which is important for women to counteract the possibility of osteoporosis after the menopause.