Self-described "exercise fanatic" Careen Lee, who turns 51 next week, gets a real kick out of life.

The svelte mother of four - she has a daughter and three sons aged from 18 to 26 - enjoys kickboxing.

"It's great exercise plus a great way to vent your frustrations that build up in daily life," says Lee, as she demonstrates some of the punches used in the routine.

The feisty woman says it is her favourite of the several exercise classes she takes regularly.

She averages 10 hours of exercise each week. And that's on top of a full-time job at her family business, which deals with high-end watches.

It's hard to believe that Lee, who stands 1.66m tall, used to be "plump" and weighed 56kg about a decade ago.

She explains that motherhood and a demanding career in accounting left her no time to exercise and pursue her passions like dancing.

So she quit her job, took up dancing - belly, salsa, Latin - and the flab started to melt away. Three years ago, she signed up with gym chain Amore Fitness and fell in love with its group exercise classes, especially those
including dance moves.

When it comes to diet, she doesn't believe in sacrifices. She loves deep-fried treats and red meat. And she enjoys a glass of wine with her lunch, and catching up with friends for cocktails.

But she does avoid carbohydrates at night and drinks her coffee and tea without sugar.

Lee's fitness tip for those over 50: You must exercise regularly, but that doesn't mean you stop enjoying the other aspects of your life, like a glass of good wine or a good meal. But remember, everything in moderation.

SIDE KICK

What it works: Legs and hips
How to do it: Stand with legs about shoulder-width apart, arms held in front in boxing pose. Slowly lift the right leg to the side, keeping the knee bent, and kick to your right side. Bring the leg back to the side, with knee bent, and
return to start position. Do three sets of 15 repetitions with each leg. You can do these kicks to the front or back, too.

CHEST FLYES

What it works: Chest, shoulders, arms and abs
How to do it: Stand with arms open, holding light dumbbells (you can use heavy books too) in both hands at shoulder height. Slowly bring the dumbbells closer together in front of your chest, feeling the crunch in your chest muscles, and return to start position. Do three sets of 15 repetitions each. Do this standing up and your abs help keep your body stable.

FIGURE 8

What it works: Abs
How to do it: This belly-dance move begins with your feet shoulder-width apart and hands at the side of your hips. Raise your right heel and use your core muscles to lift your hips to the right side. Then slowly draw your hips down
while making sure they don't go out of line with the rest of the body. As your hips come back to a central position again, repeat the motion on your left side. Try doing this while standing sideways in front of a mirror to make sure
your hips don't drift forwards or backwards, staying aligned with your body.