‘I crave it’: Carol Vorderman, 65, uses this tough but transformative move to stay toned all over

At 65 years old, Carol Vorderman seems to be here, there and everywhere. There she is, popping up to fight for political causes she cares about. Then, bam, there she is being a pop culture icon. Oh wait, there she is again, writing a book about how to make Britain better. And she’s on our screens on Celebrity Puzzling.

Somehow in the midst of all this, the media personality manages to fit in a commitment to fitness. Carol often shares photos and videos of herself in the gym on her social media, and is well worth a follow for the fitness inspiration alone – particularly for anyone wanting to make a start in midlife.

While she once said she couldn’t ‘be bothered’ to go to the gym and found it ‘the most boring thing on earth’, everything changed for Carol in her 60s. A few years ago on her Instagram, she shared: ‘I only started with barbells and Olympic plates last year, as when you get older you lose muscle mass rapidly, and I mean RAPIDLY. Little did I know that weights are addictive and enjoyable and so good for you. I think it’s the numbers for me, watching them grow. Usually takes two or three weeks to see a big change. Looking forward to it LOADS.’

These days, she says of exercise: ‘I crave it’.

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The host is a big fan of all things strength training, working with experts including Mel Deane. And there’s one move in particular that Carol loves: the Romanian deadlift. In a response to a comment on Instagram, Carol described the Romanian deadlift as ‘I think my favourite exercise’.

Good Housekeeping’s resident fitness expert Kim Hawley says she can see why Carol is a fan of this move. ‘The Romanian deadlift is one of those exercises that looks deceptively simple,’ she shares. ‘Done well, it strengthens your hamstrings and glutes, which help everyday movement such as walking, climbing stairs and getting up from a chair. Stronger muscles around the hips and thighs can also support your back, which is one of the first problem areas to start playing up as we get older.’

If Carol’s doing it, we’re keen to give Romanian deadlifts a go, too. So… how do we nail it? Kim shares her quick and easy guide below:

How to do a Romanian deadliftStart with your feet hip-width apart and a soft bend in your knees.Brace your middle and keep your head and hips in a line – so don’t lift or tuck your chin. Push your hips backwards and close the gap between your hip and thigh.Lower only as far as you can while keeping your back flat; you’re looking for a stretch in your hamstrings, not a trophy for touching the floor.Drive through your feet and bring your hips to their start position to stand tall.If you feel confident, you can hold a weight in front of your thighs but start light and build up gradually.You should feel your hamstrings and glutes working, not pain in your back. READ MORE HEALTH & WELLBEING