Ben Shephard has been sharing updates with his fans as he embarks on a fitness journey ahead of his 50th birthday.

Ben shared an update with his many Instagram followers

Ben Shephard has been inundated with support from fans after sharing a health update on Instagram.

The ITV presenter, 49, who is known for his roles on This Morning and Tipping Point, recently revealed that he was embarking on a fitness challenge ahead of his 50th birthday.

He had previously asked his 595,000 followers for advice on how to push himself both mentally and physically as he contemplated what being fit at 50 would entail. Ben has just returned after taking a break from This Morning to host a new reality competition in New Zealand called The Summit, Lancs Live reports.

The show, which is already a hit in Australia, sees contestants battling it out to reach the top of one of the world’s highest mountains for a chance to win a share of a large cash prize.

Despite being away, Ben kept his followers updated on his fitness journey, which so far has included cold water swimming, doing 50 pull-ups, running, and using a rowing machine. His latest update, however, sees him reflecting on his current state of health.

He shared: “Of all the things I’m regularly told by you guys in response to my challenge things like ‘take time to rest’, ‘don’t overdo it’, ‘you can slow down’ and things along those lines. As a rule, it’s just not like me, wanting to slow down, but being in New Zealand, having more time, surrounded by this incredible scenery has shifted my thoughts.”

He continued: “I’m intrigued as to how that will feel when I’m back home with Christmas coming and life flying at us, but I’m going to try to hold onto what I’ve learnt – rest isn’t wasted time, it’s the foundation that everything else is built on. That feels quite profound – I’m def getting old!”

Fans offered their support in the comments, with one person writing: “So, so true. Well said Ben and thank you for sharing that.”

Another commented: “Rest is good for mind body and soul and no guilt. Well done”, while another remarked: “Being still isn’t a waste of time if you acknowledge you’re being still.”