Consistency, not perfection: that’s what keeps wellbeing expert Liz Earle on track in her quest for fitness in her 60s – and to demonstrate exactly what she means, she recently shared a typical week of workouts on Instagram, including the exercises that make her feel her best.

‘I vary my exercise routine throughout the week… remember, the body loves variety!’ she comments. ‘Consistency is key when it comes to working out... and getting a routine is a really easy way just to keep the variety going, working out different parts of the body. This is my current weekly workout split.

‘It’s nothing extreme, just a weekly rhythm that keeps me moving, flexible – and strong. Frankly, I find any kind of movement helps lower my stress levels, too – I just can’t beat it for keeping me feeling uplifted and calm…’

Liz’s weekly workout

Mon: strength (weights or PT session) ‘Monday, I like to start the week strong. I grab my weights, the heaviest ones – 22kg in each hand – and do some weighted squats. It’s tough but you feel good.’

Tue: cardio (walk, run or intervals) ‘Tuesday it’s time to get a bit of a pump on – so I come outdoors, maybe a nice brisk walk... sometimes a run, but never more than a 5k.’

Wed: yoga or Pilates ‘Just to really stretch out those muscles and work on that all-important core strength.’

What to read next

Thurs: strength again ‘If I’m away from home, I don’t have my weights to lift, so I just use my body weight. Push-ups, obviously the classic, [you can do them] literally wherever you are – either full body or on your knees.’

Fri: skipping or jumps ‘Jump for joy! It’s Friday and this is the day when I do some jumping – either jumping up and down, which is great for the cardiovascular system and really good for our bones (especially for our spine and our hips), or I’ll grab my skipping rope and do some skipping.’

Sat: yoga + a family walk (even in the rain!) ‘On to the weekend! I love to start my Saturdays with some yoga. I try and do it every Saturday morning – such as great way to stretch out the week. And then in the afternoon I might go for a stroll – not only for movement but to get some of that all-important daylight.’

Sun: rest + gentle movement if needed ‘Sunday is rest day, which is really important – it’s actually active rest, because it’s the time the body takes on all those changes you’ve made during the week.’

‘That’s it! Consistency over perfection – that’s always my motto.’

So, what does our resident GH fitness expert Kim Hawley think? ‘Liz has a wonderful attitude towards health and wellbeing, and the programme she has created is wonderfully balanced. Not only does it tick all the boxes from a fitness perspective, but it’s also realistic and easy to stick to. Most of us would benefit from moving more, and finding sustainable ways to do so is key.

‘Strength training now has a huge body of research behind it showing that the benefits extend beyond feeling confident in a strappy dress. It can support metabolic health, including healthy blood pressure, cholesterol levels and insulin sensitivity, while also increasing bone density, balance and mobility. The list of benefits is extensive.

‘Varying your routine from day to day helps keep motivation high and makes exercise feel more enjoyable. As time is precious, it also means you don’t need to spend hours completing long, gruelling workouts. Instead, you can build movement naturally into your daily routine, creating a habit that benefits both physical and mental health.

‘Interspersing strength and cardio sessions with gentler activities, such as yoga, Pilates and walking, provides an opportunity to slow down, reconnect with yourself and appreciate just how remarkable your body is.’