{"id":553047,"date":"2026-07-16T17:29:10","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T17:29:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/553047\/"},"modified":"2026-07-16T17:29:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T17:29:10","slug":"sue-barker-70-keeps-fit-with-cardio-strength-training-and-neat-exercise-her-lifelong-fitness-formula","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/553047\/","title":{"rendered":"Sue Barker, 70, keeps fit with cardio, strength training and NEAT exercise \u2013 her lifelong fitness formula"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sue Barker may have stepped away from professional tennis in 1985 at the age of 29, but she’s continued to prioritise fitness<\/a> and movement.<\/p>\n

‘During the winter, I try to exercise at least three times a week at the gym, and in the summer I like to get outdoors. I love jogging, cycling<\/a> and walking my dogs,’ the 1976 French Open champion and former world No. 3 told Express<\/a>.<\/p>\n

She shares her varied routine \u2013 which includes cardio, strength training and plenty of everyday movement (also known as non-exercise activity thermogenesis, or NEAT<\/a>) \u2013 with her husband.<\/p>\n

‘As a rule, Lance and I do a lot of exercise \u2013 we have two dogs to walk [twice a day], we cycle a lot and have a personal trainer we see a couple of times a week,’ the former long-time Wimbledon presenter told Sheerluxe<\/a>.<\/p>\n

‘So, I do keep fit. Lance plays golf and I’m thinking of taking it up, but I’ve been saying that for quite a few years\u2026’<\/p>\n

Despite retiring from both tennis and broadcasting, she remains drawn back to the court.<\/p>\n

‘Going back to Wimbledon [in 2023] reignited my love for the game, so I’m going to play there on the grass,’ she added.<\/p>\n

Sue Barker uses exercise to stay fit for life<\/p>\n

Movement plays a central role in her approach to healthy ageing<\/a> and maintaining her independence.<\/p>\n

‘It’s vitally important to me that, even later in life, I stay fit and focused,’ she told Express. ‘For me, it’s a question of self-preservation. While I can’t fight time, I can help myself stay fit and focused through good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.’<\/p>\n

She also remains keen to embrace new experiences and make the most of the years ahead.<\/p>\n

‘I can’t wait to see where my life is going to go from now on. Age is but a number,’ she told Riverstone Living<\/a>. ‘I want to go out and do all sorts of things \u2013 I want to travel, I want to keep living life to the absolute full.’<\/p>\n

How Sue Barker first fell in love with sport<\/p>\n

Her love of staying active started at home.<\/p>\n

‘My father was very sporty and played a lot of tennis,’ she told Sheerluxe. ‘He was also a very good golfer and, as a family, we did a lot of active things together like rowing<\/a> and swimming. My siblings did all sorts of sports too and I learned to play tennis mainly with my sister.’<\/p>\n

Playing tennis in an era before modern recovery methods and training techniques helped forge her into a resilient athlete.<\/p>\n

‘We didn’t have the facilities and the training and the technique that goes with it now \u2013 the stretching, the ice baths,’ the former champion recalled.<\/p>\n

‘We wore Green Flash tennis shoes that didn’t have any sponge in them at all, and we were using wooden rackets. Every part of your body ached.’ <\/p>\n

One of our most frequently asked questions here at Women\u2019s Health? How to build muscle and burn fat at the same time. So, we asked superstar trainer Oyinda Okunowo<\/a> exactly how to do it. In this 4-week plan \u2013 created exclusively for Women\u2019s Health COLLECTIVE members \u2013 you\u2019ll get the workouts and nutrition guidance needed to help you on your way to better body composition. Tap the link below to unlock 14 days of free access to Oyinda’s plan and start training today.<\/p>\n

Get the plan<\/a><\/p>\n

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