When one is young, in their twenties, it often appears so easy to keep fit and stay healthy no matter what is thrown at the body. One just seems to be able to bounce back quickly.

Well I can tell you guys that fast forward to middle age, thirty years, and the tables begin to turn.

Eating becomes a science, drinking needs forward planning and a darkened room to recover in, getting up each morning requires a little more effort and cursing at the aches and pains and exercise is damned hard work.

The body ages and also niggling injuries haunt your every day and add that to a lack of free time and one is almost facing a losing battle.

Hey, its not all doom and gloom. The challenge of completing an eight mile jog is quite daunting but when finished the sense of achievement is immense. That gut-busting bike ride, yeah the one with pedals that doesn’t have an engine or electric motor, leaves one feeling rather sick but the joy and proud feeling produced is just fine. Mother-natures natural drugs.

Eating something healthy and not too much is very difficult for those of us with a craving for cakes, crisps, sweets, biscuits and chips.  Fruit and veg doesn’t appeal quite as much. I don’t feel comfortable unless crisp central and Mr. Sweet tub are not in good stock.

Temptation is far too easy and the urge to give in is massive at times.

Saying all that I do try and keep my plump little self as fit as I can. Not just physically but mentally too. Reading, writing, listening to music and chatting are some ways of maintaining a reasonable mind and I love jogging and cycling and walking to keep the old ticker pumping.

Working as a postman also has its benefits and challenges as the rounds get bigger and the walking grows. Trust me by the end of a delivery one is ready for a pint of builder’s tea and several rounds of doorstep toast.

I’m not looking to be the eternal Adonis or live to the age of two hundred but equally I would like to put off being unable to walk to the end of of the road and die before I retire.

So is there a right time to start keeping fit? Yes there is. Now is the time to change a few habits and lean towards a slightly better physique. It doesn’t mean rushing out to join a gym or clearing out all the cupboards but why not try spending half a lunch break walking or replace the thick sliced loaf with a thin. Walk to the pub and back instead of hailing a cab.

I realise I will never be able to run that five minute mile any more or jump around and be as agile as I was thirty years ago but I am proud that I can still manage a ten mile jog, a 40 mile bike ride, a 10 mile a day step average at work and keep a resting heart rate of 60bpm at 50 years of age.

Mentally I am still mad so that is by far the healthiest part of me.