ONE of the questions I always get asked is, “What do you do to keep fit?”

And I often think the person asking it is hoping that I’m going to reveal some secret strategy that I’ve been keeping to myself, which makes keeping fit or staying healthy easy – the type of “insider” advice that only a medical professional would know about and no one else.

Well, the bad news is I don’t really have anything top secret like that!

That’s because no such strategy exists. And besides, it’s not really needed.

Keeping physically fit and healthy boils down to one thing, and that’s keeping moving. I’ve heard it said by many of my clients in their 50s, 60s and 70s, that the biggest difference they can make to their own lives is to simply keep moving.

It might seem like a really simple piece of advice, but it’s a really timely one, too. With the dark nights drawing in and the weather making it increasingly less likely that you’ll want to get out and do something, then it’s a good time to make some plans about ways you’re going to keep moving this winter.

I’ll let you in on my own plans for the winter ahead, so that you can get one or two ideas of how you might be able to form your own “keep moving” routine for the next few months.

Please note this is just what works best for me. I’m showing you how easy it is to create a structure to your weekly routine that will see you feeling a lot healthier.

Monday: 60 minute swim at lunchtime at the Mill House baths

Tuesday: 45 minute jog around the town (reflective and protective clothing on)

Wednesday: 90 minute bike ride after work

Thursday: 30 minute jog after work

Friday: Back in the swimming pool of the Mill house baths

Saturday: two-hour bike ride

Sunday: 1-2 hour walk around the Headland or at Seaton.

As you can see, I try to do something every day.

In the summer, I’d not be in the pool and I’d be more likely to replace swimming with bike riding or another walk.

In between that I like to do something like Yoga or Pilates, too. And I start every day with at least 5-7 minutes of stretching, usually in the warm water of a shower at 7am.

But that routine is just what works for me. I’m fairly addicted to exercising as I find it really helps me relax and enjoy my evenings at home a lot more when I’ve had chance to unwind.

My tip for you – if you’re struggling to find a routine or have no idea where to start at keeping active, just go for a long walk – and while on that walk start to think about some of the things you might enjoy doing.

Then commit to doing them even just once a week. Amazing things happen when you’re active and you’ll find it much easier to come up with ideas to keep active this winter and keep stiffness and tension at bay.