Steve Barton, Boots chemist scientific skincare adviser, tells Patricia Westonabout his rigorous exercise routine.
What's your exercise routine?
I try to get to the gym at least once a week - that's probably the average - but sometimes I go three times. I also like walking for more than two miles once a weekend. I often take longer walks in the hills of up to 10 miles.
What's your programme at the gym?
I do at least 30 minutes' aerobic exercise combinations of either cross training, cycling or rowing depending on how I am feeling. I use most of the other gym equipment for general all over toning for most of my body, but I especially target knee strength. I also do stretching and flexing, paying particular attention to my knees.
What's wrong with your knees?
I've had trouble with my knees and I've taken a physiotherapist's advice on exercises to strengthen them. I'm fairly good at keeping these up and suffer when I lapse. That's why my gym regime is important to help build strength.
Do you care about how you look?
Yes, I do take care and like to look my best. Knowing what I know about skin, I think I go further than most men my age in looking after my skin.
Do you have a good diet?
I think I do and I love most types of food. I try to balance red and white meat, eat fish and often go for the vegetarian option for a change in restaurants. All of which is accompanied by a glass of wine of course.
Do you take supplements?
I take gingko biloba supplements and I have used ginseng in the past to help cope with travel.
Steve is an internationally recognised skincare expert and the brains behind the revolutionary No 7 Protect & Perfect Serum.
Patricia Weston's exercise prescription:
Knee instability is a common complaint among regular exercisers. Strengthening and stretching the muscles that support the knee, mainly the quadriceps, hamstrings, inner and outer thighs and hip flexors, is the best way of protecting your knees from further injury and knee pain. Perform these stretches after your workout and without bouncing in a slow and controlled manner. Hold each stretch for up to 40 seconds.
•Quad stretch: lie on the floor on your right side with your legs together and slightly bent. Bend your left knee, hold your instep and bring your heel towards your bum, hold then switch legs.
•Hamstring stretch: sit on the floor with your straightened legs out to the sides, bend forward and walk your hands as far forward as you can until you feel the muscles at the backs of your legs stretching, then hold.
•Inner thigh stretch: stand with your feet wider than hip distance, bend your right leg and squat down to the right, hold then repeat on the left side.
•Outer thigh stretch: sit with your back straight and your straightened legs forward, cross your right leg over the left and using your left elbow gently pull the leg in to your body, hold and repeat on the left side.
•Hip flexor stretch: stand straight then lunge forward with the right leg, bending the left knee down towards the floor, hold and repeat on the left side.
Patricia Weston is an NCEHS fitness instructor, personal trainer and Pilates teacher.