It builds muscle mass, improves bone density and is good for your heart, mood and sleep. But how easy is it to get started at 49, when you haven’t entered a gym for decades?

As a middle-aged woman, you would have to be living under a rock (one you’re too weak to lift, maybe) not to know you should be strength training. The headlines just keep coming, ever more persuasive. “Lifting heavy” builds muscle mass and improves bone density; it’s good for your heart, mood and sleep.

I don’t do it, though. Why not? I suppose because I’m lazy, fear gyms and never really feel the need to be stronger (except when I’m trying to lift 20kg sacks of bird food). But I would like to age without crumbling into a heap of dust, could probably do with a mood boost and I’ve heard good things about this “sleep” business. So fine, I give in. Can I learn to LHS (that’s “lift heavy shit”) in six weeks – and will I like it?