Sometimes age can dictate your body's problem areas. Follow our through-the-years troubleshooting guide to stay fit for life.

Although trouble spots vary from person to person, there are some common issues that affect women at specific times in their lives. We've generalised these problem zones so you can proactively avoid or tackle them straightaway.

In your 20s you might have: 'Office Bum'

This is a time when many of us enter the workforce and end up sitting in front of a computer for most of the day. Unfortunately, even when we're in a job that may stimulate the mind, our bottom muscles are bored by up to eight hours of daily inactivity. You can counteract this sedentary situation by doing regular vigorous exercise, and eating healthily. Your workouts should include all forms of cardiovascular training, but especially activities that target the gluteal region, like stepping classes, brisk walking, skipping and running. You can start by doing 20 minutes of each activity, three to four times a week, but build up slowly if you aren't used to this much exercise. As far as strength training, try doing two to three full body workouts a week in the gym, which include 2 sets of 12 lunges, squats, hamstring curls, adductor and abductor (inner and outer thigh) work. Follow this with a five to 10-minute cool down and stretch to keep office bum at bay.

In your 30s you might have: 'Baby Belly'

Many women think they can't ever have a strong, fit body - including a nice flat stomach - after having a baby. But luckily they are mistaken. It's important to realise that pregnancy itself is a form of progressive resistance training, whereby the pregnant woman's muscles and skeletal structure adjust over a 40-week period to added weight. So it is important to follow the advice of your GP or gynaecologist, and wait for their approval, before getting involved with a progressive fitness regime. First and foremost, it is crucial to strengthen and re-establish the connection between your pelvic floor and abdominals. Try this move: lie flat with a towel underneath your lower back for support and draw up the pelvic floor, while pulling your navel into your spine. Take 10 slow breaths, trying to hold and deepen the contraction each time, then release your pelvic floor and repeat twice.

Once this connection has been established, you can do abdominal exercises such as simple sit-ups. Aim to do 25 a day for the first few weeks, then progress up to 50 in a few months' time. Here's how: with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor, hold a pillow between your inner thighs and gently lift your head and shoulders one inch off the floor. Exhale as you lift, then inhale as you return to starting position. Keep it slow, concentrate on form and don't tilt your hips. You can also work your abs, while doing strength training exercises, by keeping your tummy contracted and your pelvic floor muscles pulled in.

In your 40s you might have: 'Triceps Trouble'

Unless a woman does a proper full body resistance workout, two to three times a week, by the time she hits her 40's the muscles in the backs of her arms may be headed south. To counteract this, a progressive resistance programme is strongly advised, which includes shoulder presses, bench dips and triceps kickbacks. Do two sets of 12 for each exercise.

Shoulder presses: Sit up tall in a chair or on a bench with a dumbbell in each hand. If you don't have dumbbells, try using soup cans as weights. Bend your arms and lift the weights up so that your palms face forward and are level with your ears. Slowly straighten your arms upwards, taking care not to lock your elbows. Then, slowly lower the weights until they are level with your ears again.

Bench dips: Sit on the edge of your bed or a sturdy chair, with your palms planted on each side of your hips, and your fingers hanging over the edge. Walk your feet out a little so that your hips are off the chair. Your bum should just clear the edge as you use your arms to lower yourself down. Keeping your knees bent, lower yourself until your elbows are at 90 degrees and your upper arms are parallel to the floor. Use your arms to raise yourself up, and continue to raise and lower yourself 12-15 times. Do two to three sets. As this becomes easier, do the exercise with your legs straight.

Triceps kickbacks: Start with a small dumbbell or some substitute (such as a tin of tomatoes or a plastic bottle filled with water). Bend over at the waist, resting one hand on a chair, so that your back is flat. Grasping the weight in the other hand, bring your bent elbow up to your side and keep it there. This is the starting position. Now, keeping your elbow close into your side, extend your forearm back until your arm is straight, then lower and repeat 12-15 times. Do two to three sets. When this gets too easy, increase the weight.

In your 50s you might have: 'Thunder Thighs'

Maybe we walk around more when we're young, but somehow by our 50s our legs can get out of control. Any form of cardiovascular training done, slowly but steadily, three to four times a week for, at least, 20 minutes will have positive results. These activities can include brisk walking, taking a dancing class or even cycling to and from the supermarket. It's also very important at this age to fight any possible effects of osteoporosis. Practising resistance exercises in the gym will help. Try squats, lunges, hamstring curls, quad extensions and calf raises to, not only, improve the tone of your thighs but also help strengthen your bones.

For more information about Josh Salzmann, visit www.salzmann-fitness.com.