How to exercise when you're over 35

Over 35! I'm only 29.

But what about your waist-size? No, the point is that only  44% of men aged 25 to 34 get enough exercise - and levels fall further afterwards as family and career take priority.

You know I can't exercise since I broke my leg snowboarding.

That's part of the problem. Every year there are 22 million sports injuries in the UK. A quarter of those injured quit sport altogether.

It wasn't my fault, it was that tree.

Clumsiness is indeed one of the main causes of accidents but even more important are over-exertion and lack of preparation. All three are more likely to affect older sportsmen than younger ones.

But I warmed-up for my snowboarding.

A double brandy is not what we mean by warming up — we're talking about stretching the muscles. How long you do this for depends on how energetic the sport will be and how old you are — smarter, older footballers often warm-up for half an hour or so.

I thought taking up sport would keep me fit.

No, you need to keep fit to play sport. If you haven't exercised for a while, keep it gentle. Start with swimming and stretching and then move onto jogging before you even think about contact sports.

Does sex count as a contact sport?

It can certainly keep you fit — you can burn 100-150 calories an hour.

An hour! Perhaps I'll stick to watching.

Even that can burn calories.

I'm talking about watching sport, smart arse.

Now, that I can't recommend. One Scottish football fan yelled at the telly so much that he made himself deaf. And when the Dutch team were knocked out of Euro 96 on penalties, the number of heart attacks and strokes in Holland increased by 50%.

But Holland are one of the best sides in the world. I'm an England fan — it's virtually a death sentence.

Don't forget to warm down after exercise. That'll help the muscles recover more quickly. Finish a jog with a walk, for example.

And a hot bath?

Actually, yes. Research shows they improve exercise endurance.

Great, pass me the soap.