Rosemary Conley on how fitness saved her life and why it’s never too late to start exercising

The original diet and exercise guru talks to Lisa Salmon about leading fitness classes at 76, and why asthma and arthritis haven’t held her back.

Rosemary Conley (Alan Olley/PA)

Rosemary Conley has a huge amount to thank fitness for. Not only has it brought her fame, fortune and happiness, she credits it with helping save her life, too.

“When I was two, I developed asthma. I was really very poorly as a child, and my parents were told I was unlikely to live beyond 10 years old,” says Conley – who shot to fame with her Hip And Thigh Diet in 1988, later launching a nationwide chain of franchised Rosemary Conley Diet & Fitness Clubs.

“Thankfully, and obviously, I’ve lived a lot longer than that!”