Never mind the Ab Cruncher– you can get fit by being an app cruncher

WHO can be bothered with the gym? It’s full of loud music, muscled men and pieces of equipment called the Ab Cruncher.

Despite that, gyms are great places from my point of view – because exercise is nearly always good, and we simply don’t do enough of it.

Ideally, the average adult should do at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise, five times a week. And it has to be split up – you can’t just do 150 minutes at once.

You should also do at least two sessions of muscle-strengthening exercise. And you can’t do those two days in a row.

It sounds like a lot, but doing that amount of exercise can reduce the risk of premature death by up to a staggering 30%.

Don’t worry – I don’t want you kicking down the door of your nearest fitness emporium and trying to bench-press weights like you’re training for Wrestlemania.

If you’re entirely inactive then start with something like a walk, then ramp it up.

Your 30 minutes of moderate activity is anything that leaves you slightly breathless and slightly sweaty — like a brisk walk, or a swim.

You don’t need to get your exercise gear on, either. I often see people driving around car parks looking for the very closest space to the front doors they can find.

Why not leave the car at the far side and enjoy the walk? Or jump off the bus a stop or two earlier than usual.

Do that a few times a week and it’s a great start. But what about muscle-strengthening exercises?

Repeatedly lifting a small weight 8-12 times— enough to tire the muscles – is a good start.

Your smartphone may help, too. There are fitness apps available for your phone which count the number of steps you should take in a day.