Re
gular exercise helps you to be strong and healthy, feel good about yourself, improve your sleep and concentration, maintain a healthy weight and feel happy (because when you exercise, your brain releases ‘good mood’ chemicals). You should aim to exercise about three times a week for at least half an hour.
Can you think of more ways exercise would be beneficial to you? (eg you could join a sports team and make some new friends). Identifying as many benefits as possible will help motivate you to exercise and to keep exercising regularly!
Too much of a good thing?
Ask yourself the following questions.
Do you:
• Force yourself to exercise, even if you don’t feel well?
• Get upset if you miss a workout?
• Prefer exercise to being with friends?
• Worry that you’ll gain weight if you miss a day of exercising?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may have a problem. Compulsive, over-exercising can cause serious and permanent health problems. Find someone you can talk to about this issue, such as a family member, doctor or a counsellor.
