ASK DR MOSLEY YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

I AM an active 62-year-old woman who has run two miles a few times a week for as long as I can remember. However, in recent months, and especially over the Christmas period, all I’ve managed is a daily hour-long walk with the dog. I’m worried my fitness levels will drop. Does walking count as enough exercise? I AM pleased to read that you’re doing lots of walking. It absolutely counts as exercise, but if you want to maintain above-average fitness you might need to up your challenge a little. Perhaps add the occasional burst of speed-walking, particularly up hills, so that you feel slightly worn out.

Pushing your heart rate up is important for maintaining and increasing your fitness level. I would also suggest fitting in some resistance exercises to maintain strength. When I get out of bed in the morning, I almost always do a few minutes of lunges, squats and push-ups. Before you start, visit the NHS website – nhs.uk – for instructions on how to do them properly to avoid a strain or injury.