The daffodils are out and there is a freshness to the air. This is usually accompanied by the urge to fling open your doors and spring clean your house in preparation for the longer, warmer days. But wait, our time could be well spent taking stock of our exercise to keep fit on body goals and what it needs to see us successfully through the Summer. Even if you currently have exercise as part of your routine, we at Age Fit daily would recommend you take an inventory of where you rexercise to keep fit on body goals might be wishing you would focus. Lets review the list and check how you weigh up in each area.

• Strength - The evidence is undisputed, particularly as we age time and energy should be spent on getting and keeping our large muscle groups strong. What are you doing to challenge the main muscles in your legs and arms? Think resisted or weighted exercise such as step ups and squats.

• Mobility /Flexibility - As we have explored previously, it is all to easy for stiffness to creep upon us, given our sedentary lifestyle. How often do you go through the full range of movement in your back, your neck, your shoulders, hips and knees. Think pilates, yoga or set time aside to stretch.

• Cardiovascular fitness - are you keeping your heart and lungs healthy? Do you manage to fulfil the target of 30 mins moderate exercise (where you have to breathe deeply) 5 times per week. By doing this you are also helping to combat diabetes, heart disease, dementia and a whole host of chronic disease - think walking, swimming, cycling

• Stress management or the JOY factor - what are you doing simply for the pleasure of it? What do you look forward to, that makes you feel good and gets your exercise to keep fit on body goals. Being able to manage stress is sooooo important as too much stress plays havoc on your physical health as it impacts sleep , mood etc. Any activity can fit into this category, whatever floats your boat dancing, gardening, hiking

Another method of taking stock of your health is looking into the future and determining what do you physically need to be able to do? What would impact your life if you lost the ability to perform that task? An example of this might be the avid gardener. Nothing brings greater pleasure to her than an afternoon on her knees putting in the bedding plants for the year. This activity requires kneeling and the ability to get up easily from a kneeling position. In this case strength and flexibility would be the target. Do you have stairs at home? What would be the impact of getting weaker in the legs? The focus is on maintaining those leg muscles so you feel confident in that activity. What about dancing? That requires balance and the ability to turn and stand tall. Balance and posture work are key here. You get the idea. Time spent considering where you should focus is time well spent.

If you are part of a team or and individual with an exercise story to share to help inspire our readers then we would love to hear from you. Please reply to this newsletter and if you have a picture, even better. You might find yourself celebrated in an upcoming edition.

Thursday's exercises focus on concentration and coordination

Gardening isn't strictly a sport but it does have health benefits as well as the pleasure of sitting back and enjoying the fruits of your labour. So what can you expect from an afternoon of gardening health wise ?

• 300 calories burned approximately per hour if you are working at a moderate pace, for example mowing the lawn, digging or pruning a hedge

• working your muscles especially if you are digging, squatting and climbing slopes

• Sunshine adds to your vitamin D to help you keep your bones healthy

• If you are growing your own fruit and vegetables , then you are likely to achieve your 5 portions of fruit and veg per day

• Save your pocket - an afternoon in the garden is free and time well spent

• Getting back to nature gets you away from your electronics and is good for the posture

• Mental benefits - add in that feel good factor for an afternoon well spent

if you need some inspiration there is nothing better than watching 67 year old Monty Don in action

Are you active and would like to feature here? We would love to hear from you! Get in touch, preferably with a picture so we can celebrate and promote you living your best life. Just reply to this newsletter