I’m retired, but I’m not tired! In a typical week, I look after my grandchildren for three days, do three stretch classes, two dance classes and one resistance training session.
I'll often go for a swim or a long walk, and then of course there’s church, family get-togethers and lots of dancing.
It sounds like a lot, but I wasn’t always like this. Only a few years ago, in my mid-60s, I felt really sluggish.
Back then, I was in pain with my arthritis a lot of the time and I’d get tired just getting my grandson in and out of the pram.
It’s not like everything changed overnight. But bit by bit over the last couple of years, I’ve completely changed my life.
The key for me was my family and the power of doing exercise in a group.
I’m blessed to have a close-knit family, with my mum, children, grandkids, sisters, nieces and nephews all living near me in Essex.
I started small – walking around my garden and then getting out into the beautiful nearby forest with my daughter.
I stopped doing faddy diets and gradually introduced healthier food choices that I knew I could maintain.
After a while I got a membership at a local leisure centre and signed up for stretch classes, then Bollyfusion and Zumba classes and resistance training.
I probably wouldn’t do all this on my own, but my sisters often join me, and being in a class gives me the structure and support I need.
I also walk with my partner, Solomon, who has been really supportive of the changes I've made to benefit my health.
These days, I'm not in as much pain as I used to be. I feel stronger and more alive. That’s important because I’ve seen my mum struggle with her mobility as she’s got older.
So it’s a privilege to be able to run around after my grandkids, dance with them, play football, take them out on their bikes.
Sometimes I think ‘Wow! I never thought I’d be able to do that.’
To any women out there wondering where to start, I’d say start with a walk round your living room, a walk round the block.
Little things, when done intentionally and consistently, can add up to a life change – and remember you don’t have to do it alone.