Find time to stay fit

Can you remember when no part of your body sagged, drooped or wobbled? What goes wrong when we hit mid-life? 'The greatest physical decline in the human body occurs between 30-40 years of age,' says exercise physiologist John McCarthy. 'During these years, muscle mass is lost, metabolism slows down, bones lose density, flexibility and strength decline and body fat increases.' In fact, the average woman gains approximately 20lbs between the ages of 20-65.

This physical decline is partly due to the metabolism go-slow that creeps on as we leave our youth behind, but experts now believe that the problem is more a case of inactivity. Think about it: do you drive where you used to walk? Sit at a desk for long hours when you used to be constantly on the run? Do you eat our more, go dancing less and always get a taxi home?

'It's so easy to slip into habits of inactivity especially when we're busy juggling different areas of life,' says Jamie Baird, a personal trainer who recently helped Linda Gray get in shape for her role in the stage production of The Graduate. 'Then we look in the mirror one day, and wonder when it all went wrong.' But even if you've reached that stage, it's not too late to regain fitness and improve your health.

Regular aerobic exercise can aid weight loss and reduce many health risks as well as providing time-out from a hectic schedule. 'Rhythmic aerobic activities - such as dancing, cycling, swimming or running appear to work best in dispelling stress and anxiety,' says Stuart Biddle, exercise psychologist at Loughborough University. 'Such activities have also been shown in scientific studies to combat mild to moderate depression as effectively as prescription drugs.'