A problem shared…GP and mother-of-four Clare Bailey gives her indispensable advice

Q. When my husband turned 50, after years of not exercising much, he suddenly decided to start exercising. At first I was encouraging him because I knew it was good for his health, but over the last few years he’s gone from riding his bike occasionally to going to his gym at least five times a week.

He also has a set of weights at home and goes running. It’s definitely been a vanity project and a health kick as well.

Our kids complain that we hardly ever see him now. When I say he’s an exercise addict, he thinks I don’t care. He’s right is it? Or should I let him tone it down a bit?

An anonymous reader said the 50-year-old now continues to exercise and complains that his children rarely see him.Stock image used

Claire Bailey (pictured), a general practitioner and mother of four, explained that she may be experiencing a “classic midlife crisis.”

a This sudden obsession with exercise certainly sounds like a big change in his lifestyle. sometimes. We also need to miss out on spending time together as a family. Or are you worried he might be interested in his buddy Jim Bunny?

Whatever the reason, change is unsettling. Still, it’s hard to discourage exercise regimes.

This sounds like a classic midlife crisis. A recent study of more than 500,000 people in seven countries found that midlife crises usually occur around the age of 45 and can lead to feelings of overwhelm at work, lack of sleep and a sense that life is going downhill. It is often associated with the fear of being caught.

So you may be doing a “fitness reset” to compensate. But like an addict, it sounds like he needs to exercise more to hit the endorphins. You should sit down and talk to him about his hopes and fears. Discuss your concerns that his obsession is taking over his life and how it’s affecting you and your children as well.

Emphasize that you are doing this because you love it. Avoid using the term “mid-life crisis” as it can be misunderstood. If he ignores your concerns, suggest that he record how many hours a week he spends exercising.

So when does exercise become addicting? Will he feel the exercise wired and have withdrawal symptoms? Will he resist or get angry if asked to cut back on the program? Will he change his job or social arrangements to suit his regime? Does his inability to attend or complete sessions make him anxious? Is he worried about his body image? Do you have?

Whether it’s an addiction or not, if it’s affecting you and your family, it may be time to encourage him to develop a healthier relationship with exercise. See if he does fewer sessions, find other activities you can do together, and schedule rest days to allow muscle recovery.

He has been able to add yoga to his daily routine to improve his balance and reduce stress. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) also helped him change his habits. His obsession may also be masking a condition such as depression or anxiety.

Strengthen your bones with a bowl of prune

Prunes are rich in polyphenols, which help build bones, and vitamins and minerals that keep bones strong.

I love prunes, so postmenopausal women over 50 who ate 5-6 prunes a day (that’s me) had more bone mass and less osteoporosis than those who didn’t eat prunes, a new study found. I was delighted to read the research. Prunes are rich in polyphenols, which help build bones, as well as vitamins and minerals that strengthen bones. It goes great with Greek yogurt and nuts. It has a laxative effect, so start with a small amount!

You can email Claire at: drclarebailey@dailymail.co.uk or Daily Mail, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT.