“I did my first pull-up in my 50s”

Annie Bath, 63, from Bournemouth

Ayear ago I went shark diving. I’ve been white water rafting. I did a skydive when I was 60. I do slalom water ski and snow ski. I will try pretty much anything. I would say 99 per cent of my friends my age do none of that.

The thing is, I don’t think I’m old. If there is a challenge to do, I don’t think, “maybe not at my age”. I just do it. People fall into a negative mindset as we get older and it’s such a shame. I’ve had six children and I exercised right up until I had my eldest son, which was quite a big thing years ago because women were told not to. I did Jane Fonda with my leotard stretched until it was transparent.

After each baby it got slightly harder to get back into shape but it was important that I was fit to look after my children.

It helps that I’ve always enjoyed exercise, although my daughter says I’m not the norm. The key is to find something that you love. I don’t do normal exercise.

I used to do all the usual weight training, which is fantastic for over-60s because our muscles go, and I used to do Pilates, which sent me to sleep.

Then in my mid-50s I heard about pole classes on the radio and I just knew I had to try it. At that point I couldn’t pull myself up the pole at all, but I persevered. I got a pull-up bar and would use it every time I walked past it in the house.

The key is to find something you love. I don’t do normal exercise

You have to start at the beginning. Now at the age of 63 I can still dead lift myself up the pole.

I’m also addicted to waterskiing, which my partner introduced me to in my 50s. I walk 10k every day and I also stretch every day; I can still do the splits. It’s so important when we get older as our muscles go wrong in all the wrong places, you’ve got to keep stretching them out.

Youngsters can jump straight in, but now I have to warm-up properly before waterskiing and pole.

I’m mainly vegan, but I’m not too precious about it – if my kids stick a roast chicken in front of me when I go over, I’ll eat it.

Over the age of 60 you know that if you eat rubbish and don’t exercise, you’ll feel awful – it’s that simple. There isn’t a secret formula. I’ve recently taken redundancy from the aviation industry and I’m currently pursuing fresh challenges.

In 20 years time I hope I’ll be the same. I’ve promised myself that I’ll do a skydive when I’m 90.