I’ve been physically active since I was a teenager. At first, like many adolescents, three hours in a gym never seemed enough. At 20, all we think about is having muscles like The Rock. Back in my day, Sylvester and Arnold were the role models.

In my 30s, I reached a stage where I didn’t want to be muscular anymore. Instead, I wanted to be athletic. I started running. What began as 2 or 3 km a day turned into 21 km sessions. I even participated in a couple of amateur-level competitions.

Now, approaching my 50s, you realize it’s not the amount of exercise that makes you feel good. Instead, it’s a balance between healthy eating, rest, and minimal stress. This is mixed with 40 minutes of daily exercise tailored to your body and age.

I no longer spend long hours at the gym. I also do not run a half marathon in an hour and a half. My workout routine now focuses on a few repetitions using body weight and dumbbells. I try to concentrate on my back, legs, and abs. These are the muscles I’ll need to keep strong as I enter old age.

Of course, none of this would work without protein and ridiculous amounts of fruits and vegetables. No tobacco, no drugs and alcohol only socially. Likewise, exercise is pointless if I don’t get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. I also need to keep my worries to a least.