As we get older our bodies change, so it’s important to adapt workout plans to meet your goals and life stage.

Age 20 up to 35

While hitting the squat rack for that perky booty is a go-to, it’s also time to lay down some foundations that will help you in future.

“Use exercise to ‘service’ your body in order to maintain mobility and to gain strength and conditioning,” says accredited exercise physiologist Yujin Lim.

“By participating in regular exercise, you implement what I like to call ‘positive coping tactics’ – rather than diving for that block of chocolate or copious amounts of wine as a stress reliever.”

36 going on 50

“As we gradually move towards our 40s and 50s, our fitness regimen may require more planning, smarter program manipulation and, in some instances, extra recovery time,” says Lim.

Beginning or maintaining an exercise program at this age not only helps mitigate the damage of hormonal change but also helps decrease many of the associated health impacts of menopause.

“Regular exercise has been proven to help cope with and alleviate work-related stress and anxiety,” says Lim.

Later life 51 to 60

The type of movements you are able to perform safely may also begin to change around this time, as mobility decreases and a life well lived begins to catch up with you.

“Joints and muscles may restrict you from getting into certain positions and posture may also begin to change depending on your lifestyle. For example, if you spend many hours at a desk or on your computer, shoulders may round and upper back may flex forward,” says Lim.

“This can be improved with exercise – the only decline you may notice compared to your 40s is in your body’s ability to recover from your workouts.

Exercise, at the correct intensity and duration, is the single most multifactorial health intervention possible.”

For types of exercises for fat loss, muscle tone and cardiovascular fitness at various ages, grab the May edition of Women’s Health and Fitness magazine.