As we get older and life seems to get more complex, not to mention busy, responsibilities at home and in our working lives can overwhelm, leaving us with what feels like precious little time to ourselves. It's easy to understand how exercise can take a back seat to other seemingly more pressing priorities.

Lack of exercise and also childbirth can all weaken the pelvic floor muscles in women. This can lead to problems which affect your quality of life. It's estimated that around one in three women have a weak pelvic floor and in the over 55s this number rises to half.

Planks are in the top 10 of the best abdominal exercises to do, according to to the American Council on Exercise. There's no doubt about it that planks have become a go-to strength exercise which has great benefits for the whole body. If you have not yet harnessed the power of the plank then it is time to find out what's so great about them! What is a plank? A plank is what is known as an isometric exercise, which means that during contraction you do not change the angle of the joint or the muscle length.

To really feel the benefit of a good workout you don't need to invest heavily in expensive equipment, if you join our fitness center. However, like many other women who get involved in regular exercise, you may need to check out your workout wardrobe first.

If you have set your exercise goals and created a fitness strategy, then you have the main ingredients to make really positive steps towards transforming your life; affecting your lifestyle, your physical wellbeing and possibly even your relationships.

Women really are doing it for themselves! Whilst there is a preoccupation in magazines and in the media with what women should, could and would look like, there are many women who are focused on achieving happiness through living a balanced life and a healthy lifestyle.

Does anything scare you when it comes to your lifestyle and your level of fitness? Do you sometimes feel afraid that you are not doing enough to keep fit and that you might have to face a health scare in the future as a result? What about your diet? Is it filled with late night snacks or unhealthy bites, or is it wonderfully enlightened? If you are in the dark when it comes to whether you need to make positive changes with your exercise regime then it might be time to face fitness frights this Halloween! Don't be scared! People who put their head in the sand and ignore dealing with lifestyle issues are often scared of knowing what the reality of their situation is.

While we are all so similar in so many ways, we also have different needs when it comes to looking after our health. Women have different dietary requirements than men, for example, and it's important for women to recognize and respond to these nutritional differences.

If you've decided to change your lifestyle to lead a healthier life and to get fit, then firstly well done for making that mental decision to make a difference for the better. Your next stage is to strike while your motivation is high and get practical.

Negativity can get you down and when you are making a valiant attempt to make healthy changes to your life, it can also slow you down and create an uphill struggle. Of course, you can simply try and battle your way through the negative obstacles in your way but you might save energy and get further if you confidently and proactively find ways to deflect negativity successfully!

You don't have to bounce around with a big grin on your face every time you work out - although with us we wouldn't blame you! - but you do need to keep motivation levels up and this means feeling positive about what you can achieve and how you are going about it.